Is there alternatives to surgery with a Barrett's esophagus?

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With a hiatus hernia and Barrett's esophagus, is there any different alternatives to surgery than living hooked to traditional medicines or stomach "protectors"?
If even following ALL the typical indications (lower your weight, take care of your diet, sleep with a high pillow, avoid alcohol, this and that...) you still have the annoying pain and the acid, it is necessary to get a surgery? Does the "photodynamic" therapy work in all cases? Any website where I can check alternatives to surgery?
Well, it is not essential, but Barrett's esophagus is a precancerous condition. Because of the changed epithelium in such an esophagus, the risk of developing cancer eventually is very high, so it is strongly recommended to do the surgery. In the period before the development of Barrett's esophagus, medication helps (and can possibly prevent it), but after it occurs the epithelium is changed and it is very necessary to make the surgical correction. At that point no alternative is available.  (+ info)

Female 48 just diagnosed with Barrett Esophagus after few mos of acid reflux. Does it mean I have precancerous?

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only after a few months of experiencing acid reflux (I had an examination of the esophagus) Does that mean that the canges in the esophagus lining are pre-cancerous? Is it anything I can do to reduce the risk of cancer? Is Barrett esophagus synonym with esophageal cancer ?
THANK yOU!
Barrett's esophagus is an inflammatory scarring process and can happen even without reflux symptoms. It is not exactly precancerous, but does raise your risk significantly. Follow your doctors recommendation for follow up and monitoring with the scope.  (+ info)

I need to find assistance for medical help and medications for treatment of Barrett's Esophagus cancer?

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My son has this cancer and is unable to work, has five children and no insurance. I am unable to provide the money for the expensive cancer treatments and medications. I need to find where we can get assistance for him.
Barrett's esophagus isn't cancer. It is known to usually develop after have GERD for years. OTC meds, like prilosec reduces the irritation from stomach acid backing up into the throat. If, by rare chance, it's turned into adenocarcinoma, he may can get public assistance.

Disability approval isn't contigent upon not owning your own home. My home is only months from being paid for and I'm on disability. I wasn't asked to disclose my living conditions. Once you're approved, there's a 6 month waiting period starting at the time your condition disabled you. Nor is it contigent upon your spouse's income.  (+ info)

Anyone have Barrett's Esophagus and a Hiatal Hernia?

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I just found out I have Barrett's esophagus from 28 yrs of acid reflux. I was on every RX and OTC medication there has been, but meds no longer work, and I can't eat that many foods without acid reflux. I recently saw a specialist, and am going to have a hiatal hernia repaired where they will stitch the opening of the stomach to keep acid from coming into my esophagus. He said, they would pull my stomach back down into place. Can someone please tell me how your stories of Barrett's and if you have been treated for a hiatal hernia. I was told that I will need to be monitored every so often to make sure the erosion doesn't turn to cancer, and that it was slim that it would. Any information, is appreciated, and what to expect for a few months after the hiatal hernia. How was your recovery, any problems? Bless you for sharing with me.
I am a 53 yr old female.
I worked for a gastro for over 13 years and assisted with endoscopy. We saw many Barrett's esohagus cases and hiatal hernia. Yours must be bad to warrant a hernia repair. But it does work. We followed up every few months on all our Barrett's patients. Out of the many that we had, we had one that went cancerous and after surgery, he did well. That was 8 years ago and he is still alive and well. I don't work there anymore but keep up with what is going on and our old patients so I know he is doing great. Just make sure you follow up faithfully. The hernia repairs that our patients had went smoothly. Most people were up and going within 24 hours of surgery. They said they could eat whatever they wanted and suffered no reflux at all. Good luck with your surgery. You will do well.  (+ info)

What is the lifespan of someone diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus?

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I think the same as someone with out it. It is treatable and leads to heartburn... only other bad thing is an increased risk of esophagus cancer but it's not all that big of a chance really anyways so they'd probably live as long as the next guy.  (+ info)

How often does Barrett's Esophagus become cancer?

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Quoting from Harrison's:

"Barrett's Esophagus

The metaplasia of esophageal squamous epithelium to columnar epithelium (Barrett's esophagus) is a complication of severe reflux esophagitis, and it is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (Chap. 77). Metaplastic columnar epithelium develops during healing of erosive esophagitis with continued acid reflux because columnar epithelium is more resistant to acid-pepsin damage than is squamous epithelium. The metaplastic epithelium is a mosaic of different epithelial types including goblet cells and columnar cells that have features of both secretory and absorptive cells (incomplete or type III metaplasia). Barrett's esophagus is arbitrarily divided into long-segment (>2–3 cm) or short-segment (<2–3 cm) groups; long-segment disease is present in 0.5% of the population and short-segment disease may occur in up to 15%.

Barrett's epithelium progresses through a dysplastic stage before developing into adenocarcinoma. The rate of cancer development is 0.5% per year; those with long-segment disease have a risk of developing esophageal cancer that is 30 to 125 times the risk of the general population. Barrett's esophagus can also lead to chronic peptic ulcer of the esophagus with high (midesophageal) and long strictures."

Much more to the article if you are interested, e-mail me...  (+ info)

What is the best treatment for Barrett's Esophagus without the doctor?

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Barret's esophagus is a serious condition that needs precise medical attention,because it can cause the esophageal cancer,Thus it is important to be under the attention of a gastroenterologist.But you must personally avoid from the high fat diet,chocolat,tea,and some of other foods.you must recive a H2_blocker drug such as cimetidine ,ranitidine,and so on ....  (+ info)

I have Barrett's esophagus and now my third cousin has esophageal cancer?

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She is younger than I am (she is 30 and I'm 36). She is on my mother's side of my family. She had no risk factors, including no Barrett's esophagus and no being overweight. There are GI problems on both sides of my family (colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and GERD). Does this mean my chances of my Barrett's turning into cancer are greatly increased?

(It should be of note that I have an endoscopy twice a year and a colonoscopy once every five years ... with my first endoscopy being in 2004 and my first colonscopy being in 2006)
It sounds as though you have some hereditary factors increasing your risk of such a thing happening. But I also sounds as though you are doing everything possible to catch any problem. Keep up the good work.  (+ info)

I would like to "talk" to people that have been diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus.?

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I was recently diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus and have been reading a lot on the internet about the condition. There was no dysplasia but I am concerned about progression of the condition. I had no symptoms of heartburn but did have a cough, sore throat and tongue which is why I went to my physician and was referred to have a surgeon to do an EGD where a biopsy was done to confirm. How has Barrett's affected other diagnosed people and what are the outcomes?
Hi there. I have Barretts Esophagus..with dysplasia !
I was scheduled for surgery on the 20th, but it has been cancelled as I have pneumonia right now.
I have had 4 EGD's. and colonoscopy. 1-normal & 2-pre-cancerous.
the surgery is called Barxx surgery, and they are going to kill the lining of my esophagus until its gone.
my dad died from this disease, so I am very glad they have this procedure for me, as soon as i get well.
i use nexium and pepcid and no anti-inflammatories at all.  (+ info)

What is the diagnosis for Barrett's Esophagus?

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"Barrett's esophagus is marked by the presence of columnar cell epithelium in the lower esophagus, replacing the normal squamous cell epithelium—an example of metaplasia. The columnar epithelium is better able to withstand the erosive action of the gastric secretions; however, this metaplasia confers an increased cancer risk of the adenocarcinoma type."  (+ info)

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