My prayers are with you and your family.
It may have been acid reflux that caused it, was he on Nexium?
I'm on it even though I never had acid reflux because it helps with a lot of other ailments, I was taking Maalox and Milk of magnesia and it was tearing me up.
I finally got my Nexium script refilled and over night it was like night and day.
I hope everything works out for him, maybe a resection is in store if it hasn't spread much.
Yes it does give one a whole new perspective on a lot of things.