Recent study on GERD or Acid Reflux has brought out that repeated and prolonged exposure to acid reflux condition can cause Esophageal Cancer. However, no specific time period can be laid out, this may vary from individual to individual.
Normally the tissue lining in the stomach is similar to that of the tissue found in mouth, however in case of prolonged exposure to stomach acids, these thin lining of tissue is replaced with hardened tissue similar to that found intestines. Esophageal cancer rates are on the increase and a cause that can be attributed may be to obesity, various medical research institutes have pointed to this fact. This is due to obesity often causing hiatus hernia and acid reflux is a by product of this condition.
Esophageal cancer comes with terrible implications, but the good news is the treatment on esophageal cancer patients have been showing considerable improvement and treatment success rates are overwhelming, provided the condition is detected in time for medication. Early detection is a must in this case since this is a silent killer.
Previously, those patients who needed to esophagus removal, for esophageal cancer or Barrett’s esophagus had to undergo highly invasive surgery which involved opening the chest and abdomen. But now with advancement in surgical techniques a new procedure called transhiatal esophagectomy is being widely used, through which esophagus can be removed only with abdominal and neck incisions, doing away with the requirement of opening chest and abdomen.
After esophagus removal, the stomach is freed up from attachments holding it in the belly and it is pulled up through the chest. The stomach is then connected to the remaining esophagus in the neck.
Also the risk of infection in this kind of surgery is significantly lower. This was an important development in surgery since doctors believe obesity being one of the main reasons behind large number of acid reflux cases. Twenty years ago squamous cancer was the most common type of esophageal cancer, which arises from the squamous mucosa that lines the normal esophagus.
Follow the following tips to avoid esophageal cancer
1.Work on losing weight
2.Don’t lie down after eating
3.Sleep propped up
4.Take an antacid
5.Talk to your doctor
