Barrett’s Esophagus: How to Treat a Condition with No Symptoms
On rare occasions, patients who deal with GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) experience a condition called Barrett’s Esophagus, in which the cells of the esophagus begin to take on the characteristics of intestinal cells.
This transformation is typically painless, and it doesn’t arrive with any telltale symptoms, but if left unrecognized and untreated, it can increase the patient’s risk of developing esophageal cancer.
So how can patients get ahead and stay ahead of this condition? In other words, how can how you control your cancer risk when GERD evolves into Barrett’s Esophagus, but cancer cells haven’t yet been detected? In most cases, if your profile and medical history place you in a high-risk category, your doctor will begin a schedule of careful monitoring and a wait-and-see approach. Regular examinations with an endoscope and biopsies (when needed) can catch cancer early and keep it in check.
A more proactive approach can attack the unusual cells before they have a chance to become precancerous. This can be done through photodynamic therapy (PDT) in which lasers are used to destroy the abnormal cells, or endoscopic spray cryotherapy which uses cold nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas to freeze them. Some patients may require endoscopic mucosal resection, a form of endoscopic surgery that cuts the abnormal lining away from the wall of the esophagus.
In addition to these options, an advanced technology is now available that uses radio waves (radiofrequency ablation, or RFA) delivered through an endoscope to target and destroy the abnormal cells. The Barrx System is a state-of-the-art endoscopic procedure that’s fast, almost painless, and uses RFA to remove the Barrett’s cells without hurting the healthy esophageal cells underneath.
How do I know if I have Barrett’s Esophagus?
If you have unusual cells in your esophagus, you probably won’t know for sure until the cells are identified through an endoscope. And you probably won’t undergo this examination unless you experience GERD symptoms. If you suffer from GERD and you’re in a high-risk category (if you’re overweight, white, male, over 50, or you’ve ever had a hiatal hernia), make an appointment and address your concerns with a doctor.
While Barrett’s is rare and the risk of cancer is even more so, it’s better to identify and remove the unusual cells before they have the chance to increase your odds of receiving a scary diagnosis. Contact our team today and find out if the Barrx System can help you stay safe and cancer-free.
References
GERD, barrett’s esophagus and the risk for esophageal cancer. (n.d.). asge.org. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.asge.org/home/for-patients/patient-information/understanding-gerd-barrett-39-s
ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of. . . : Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology | ACG. (n.d.). LWW. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://journals.lww.com/ajg/Fulltext/2016/01000/ACG_Clinical_Guideline__Diagnosis_and_Management.17.aspx
Barrett’s esophagus – Symptoms and causes. (2022, March 5). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/barretts-esophagus/symptoms-causes/syc-20352841
Barrett’s Esophagus. (2011, August 15). American College of Gastroenterology. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://gi.org/topics/barretts-esophagus/
