Scott Pudil is accustomed to answering calls for help. As assistant chief of the Wild Rose Fire Department, he has supported many people through some of their most difficult moments. When health concerns affected his own daily life, Pudil became the one in need of support. He confronted a potentially life-threatening diagnosis – esophageal cancer – with help from his nearby ThedaCare team.
Pudil’s health saga began in 2024 after he passed out at home one August morning. Tests revealed blood clots in both of his lungs. Doctors weren’t sure what caused them.
Pudil, 53, was treated for the blood clots. His medical team recommended continued monitoring. He resumed his busy schedule, including working full time for an Oshkosh logging company in addition to serving on the Wild Rose Fire Department.
His health continued to decline. Over the following months, Pudil developed acid reflux symptoms that he initially chalked up as a side effect of his blood thinner medication.
“It felt almost like somebody had a golf ball and was pushing it up underneath my ribcage,” he recalled.
Help Close to Home
In fall 2025, Pudil sought care with Molly Szymanski, a nurse practitioner with ThedaCare in Wild Rose and Waupaca.
“Molly really listened and delved into it and started asking questions,” he said. “She took the time to go through my chart and figure out what was going on and then she recommended I see Dr. Schultz.”
David Schultz, MD, a general surgeon who performs procedures at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah and ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca, ordered an endoscopy. The test revealed an abnormal lesion in Pudil’s esophagus.
Tim Edison, MD, a gastroenterologist with ThedaCare Gastroenterology, treated Pudil with an esophageal endoscopic mucosal resection. The minimally invasive, outpatient procedure is used to remove precancerous growths and early-stage cancers.
Follow-up surveillance showed some cancer remained. Dr. Schultz recommended Pudil have a robotic-assisted esophagectomy at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. Surgeons perform the procedure through small incisions in the abdomen and chest.
“We were able to bring him to the Neenah hospital and he was able to undergo the latest in minimally invasive robotic surgery,” said Raymond Georgen, MD, a general surgeon who assisted Dr. Schultz in the procedure. “We successfully removed the tumor and found no lymph node involvement, which was fantastic.”
Following his surgery, Pudil recovered at the hospital where he received respiratory, speech and physical therapy. Once home, his recovery continued better than expected.
“Dr. Schultz figured 10 to 12 weeks before I went back to work. I was back at work in eight,” Pudil said. “I attribute that to the fact that it was done with the expertise of Dr. Schultz, with the help of the robot.”
Back to Living Life
Today, Pudil is doing well. He continues follow-up with both Dr. Schultz and his oncologist, Thomas Klinkhammer, MD, of ThedaCare Cancer Care.
“It’s probably the best I’ve felt in 10 years,” Pudil said of his health now.
Reflecting on his experience, Pudil said he feels grateful. Esophageal cancer has a five-year survival rate of just 22.2%, often because it’s diagnosed late.
“I was extremely lucky. There a lot of people who aren’t as lucky as I was,” he said.
The robotic surgery he experienced was made possible in part through the ThedaCare Family of Foundations, generous donors and the innovation they support.
Pudil is back to work, serving his community and spending quality time with his wife, Tonya, and family. He’s also on a mission to help educate others about the importance of caring for their health, especially his fellow firefighters. Those in the profession are more prone than the general population to esophageal and lung cancer. He often reminds others that “caring for yourself starts with your primary care team.”
“They are there for a reason and they are there to help you,” he said. “If nothing else, make sure you do your annual wellness checkup.”
