Esophageal Cancer & Barrett's Eso - All You Should Know!

There are a number of reasons that lead to oesophagal cancer, and Barrett’s Eso is one of them. Recent medical studies have revealed that Barrett’s Eso increases the risk of oesophagal cancer by 10 times. Let’s have a look at the symptoms of Barrett’s Eso and its linkage with oesophagal cancer.

What is Barrett's Eso?

Barrett’s Eso is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is a condition where the inner lining of the oesophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to the stomach) resembles the lining of the intestine. This happens due to the backward flow of food from the stomach.

Some of the common symptoms of Barrett’s Eso include heartburn, burning sensation at the end of the throat, chronic cough, laryngitis and nausea.

Treatment for Barrett's Eso:

• Cryotherapy, which uses endoscopy to freeze and thaw the abnormal cells simultaneously. This process destroys the damaged cells in the oesophagus.
• Photodynamic therapy that applies light to the sensitive cells
• Surgery to remove cancerous cells of the oesophagus

What is Esophageal Cancer?

Oesophagal cancer develops in the oesophagus – the tube connecting the throat with the stomach. It is extremely difficult to detect and is mostly detected at an advanced stage. Initial symptoms include difficulty in swallowing, heartburn, and malnutrition due to loss of appetite. Its symptoms are almost similar to that of Barrett's Eso.

How is Barrett's Eso linked to Esophageal Cancer?

If one is diagnosed with Barrett’s Eso there remains a high chance of development of fatal oesophagal cancer. The abnormal cells of Barrett’s Eso in most cases are identified as precancerous. However such cases are extremely rare, less than 1%. Still as a precautionary measure, one should undergo tests to identify pre-cancerous cells to avoid complications.

Prevention Measures:

Since Barrett’s Eso is connected to oesophagal cancer, prevention of on leads to prevention of the other as well.

• Healthy Diet – To prevent Barrett’s Eso, one must control the influx of acid in the stomach. Avoid excess caffeine, chocolate. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and avoid smoking.
• Medication – Medication to control stomach acids should be taken only under the supervision of the physician.
• Lifestyle – Maintain an active and healthy lifestyle and include exercise in your daily routine.

Apart from this, it is necessary to go for timely checkups to detect early signs of Esophagus cancer and Barrett’s Eso.