| | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 75 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 75 | Hi All!
What is Barrett's Esophagus? Is it dangerous? A friend of mine was just diagnosed with having it and I would like as much info on it as I can get. Her dr said we will just watch it. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Boston
Squamous cell / BOT with lymph node involvment, Stage 4, HIV-, cisplatin 3 weeks of 7, stopped due to kidney issues and neuropathy,35 radiation treatment started 5/6/09,started weekly erbitux on 6/2/09. Completed tx on 6/24/09, biopsy 8/11/09 clean, PET Scan 10/5/09 clear, PET Scan 6/11/10 clear
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 | Hey, Boston -- Do a search for Barrett's (with the apostrophe) or Barretts (without) in the search box in the upper right corner of this page. There are a number of posts that discuss it. In one, Brian Hill describes Barrett's as a response to acid reflux disease, where the stomach overproduces acids that come up and cause "burns" on the esophagus -- it's the cellular changes that are designed to protect the esophageal tissues from the excess acid but that also can turn to cancer, so it needs to be monitored. A regular poster here, EZJim, has it.
Leslie
April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | Barrett's does convert eventually to malignancy, usually an andeocarcinoma. I have had it do so, as well as other here. This can be managed with a good gastro doc, and watched VERY ROUTINELY AND CAREFULLY WITH AN ENDOSCOPE PROCEDURE. This person should be on proton pump inhibitors, OTC h blockers as needed and for peak heartburn liquids like Maalox. But long term use of PPI's. like Prilosex, Nexxium etc. is a must to get this under control. There is also a surgical laproscopic procedure to tighten up the pyloric sphincter that I have had that helped some, but also caused new problems.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I have Barretts Espphagus and like Brian says it can yurn to Cancer kind of fast if it isn't checked quite often. In fac I go for my scope, which is supposed to occur every 3 months, on the 13th of this month. I had a surgery called Nissen Fundiplication, in 1996 to ease the reflux it causes. They wrapped 1/3 of my stomache aroung my Esophagus but has done it's job so far. Barretts is not to be taken lightly but watched continously. They put you to sleep and scope your esophagus and take biopsies . You can ask me anything you want and I will do my best to answer them. One good thing about this operation is that you could eat out of a trash can without reflux happening anymore and you also lose the ability to Vomit anymore. But there are times you wish you could. Good luck and keep us posted Boston. I'm at your disposal at anytime.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 75 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 75 |
Squamous cell / BOT with lymph node involvment, Stage 4, HIV-, cisplatin 3 weeks of 7, stopped due to kidney issues and neuropathy,35 radiation treatment started 5/6/09,started weekly erbitux on 6/2/09. Completed tx on 6/24/09, biopsy 8/11/09 clean, PET Scan 10/5/09 clear, PET Scan 6/11/10 clear
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 | Barrett's Esophagus is a precancerous condition and needs to be followed and treated very closely by a gastroenterologist.
I Brook MD | | |
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