November 8, 2009
- Eugene, Oregon
Heartburn can lead to cancer
By Laura Rillos
People who suffer from chronic heartburn are at risk of more serious conditions, including cancer.
Esophageal cancer cases jumped six fold over the past two decades. People with frequent heartburn should be screened for conditions that could develop into esophageal cancer. Gastrointestinal reflex disease can cause a more serious condition called Barrett's esophagus. It occurs in one out of every 100 Americans. "What the body does to try to fight that is line the bottom part of the esophagus with a different type of tissue that's more resistant to acid," said Andrew Mirhej, a gastroenterologist. "Unfortunately, that change in tissue is precancerous." Only 1 percent of Barrett's patients will develop esophageal cancer, but the disease is often caught to late to treat successfully. That's because nearly half of Barrett's sufferers don't have any symptoms. But it can be discovered with a simple procedure called an endoscopy. A doctor puts a small video camera down your throat looking for an irregular pattern in the lining of the esophagus which could signal the precancerous condition. If you only experience occasional heartburn, you aren't at risk. But if you've had episodes more than twice a week for the past five years, you should contact your doctor. |
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