This is episode 184 of the Swallier Pride Podcast and today's guest is Ed Steiger.

He is a head and neck cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the base of his

tongue and oral cavity in 2005.

After hitting some rough patches in 2006 and 2007,

he has had no evidence of disease since October 2007.

Ed's dysphasia is severe and began in mid-2006 after a 12-hour salvage surgery,

which required removal of his left lower jawbone, part of his tongue, a large section of tissue, muscle, and nerves from the upper back part of his esophagus and quarter-sized hole in his soft palate.

In his quest to regain a social eating style he contacted and was seen

by Dr. Peter Bilowski. This clinic visit was the start of a new friendship which

included an introduction to Sonia Blue, the formal

former National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders,

NFOSD President.

Sonia and Ed began working together.

To make a long story short, Sonia surveyed the

NFOSD Board of Directors, gained a consensus and then asked

Ed if he would take over as President of the Foundation. Ed viewed this as a gift and

accepted the presidency effective September 1st, 2012.

Ed spent many years as a volunteer patient

research advocate at the University of Texas

and D Anderson Cancer Center, where

he has been treated since his original diagnosis.

Ed's career before cancer was a management consultant and program manager

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