Question

I have bad acid reflux. I've just got my test results back; the doctor said I had Barrett's esophagus, with some pre-cancerous lesions. I don't understand this and was in too much shock to think of the questions to ask. Would surgery help?

Answer

We certainly understand your concern and the shock of hearing your diagnosis. We can provide information about Barrett's esophagus which will help you understand your condition better. The important word to remember is the �pre� (meaning �before�) cancer � it�s not actually cancer. However, you should be guided by your doctor regarding treatment.

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and saliva from the mouth to the stomach, changes so that some of its lining is replaced by a type of tissue similar to that normally found in the intestine. This process is called intestinal metaplasia. Less than 1% per year of patients with Barrett�s get esophageal cancer.
 

Barrett's esophagus does not itself cause symptoms, and is important only because it seems to precede the development of a particular kind of cancer.
 

The link below may be helpful to you in learning more about your problem and its treatment.

Related Links
NDDIC: Barrett�s Esophagus