Someone was telling me today that after having an endoscopy procedure to check for acid reflux/gerd, that if the initial endoscopy did NOT reveal that the person being tested had barrett's esophagus, then even if the acid reflux went unchecked (i.e. amount of reflux was not reduced), that it was very unlikely that barrett's would develop in the future.

Does this person know what they are talking about ?

Thanks

Someone was telling me today that after having an endoscopy procedure to check for acid reflux/gerd, that if the initial endoscopy did NOT reveal that the person being tested had barrett's esophagus, then even if the acid reflux went unchecked (i.e. amount of reflux was not reduced), that it was very unlikely that barrett's would develop in the future.

Does this person know what they are talking about ?

Thanks


From what I understand that is technically correct. Only something like 10% of people wiht untreated reflux with develop Barrets. Someone correct me if Im wrong?

And actually when I say Barrett's, I mean that will lead to cancer of the esophagus.

Thanks.

And actually when I say Barrett's, I mean that will lead to cancer of the esophagus.

Thanks.

In that case I think the percentage is even less. I think 10% will get barrets then another 1% of that will get cancer. So thats .1%, 1 out of 1000 will get it with untreated reflux. If my math is correct :D

Just this year I went for an endoscopy to be checked for Gerd and dysphasia the results from the test were that they found pre cancer cells (barrett's) from massive acid reflux I have to take medicine to hopefully repair the esophagul lining and take aciphex (which works wonders for me) for the rest of my life to help reduce the acid reflux I miss one dose I will know it.

wpshooter. I think you are asking that after an endo, if they didn't find Barretts in the first place than you shouldn't get down the road? That is absolutly
false. People who have silent GERD and don't realize it, even get BE. Only 1 per cent of BE patients turn to cancer. They have 2 new procedures to burn out the bad cells and grow them back as new. And it works. It hasn't been done for that long now, so they are not too sure about buried barretts cells.
If you have severe or even mild to severe GERD, you should take to PPI's.
They are a big help for your esophagus. Take care Linda

Linda is right on the money. Just because you don't have Barrett's now doesn't mean that it isn't possible to get it later, especially if acid reflux is left unchecked and continues to destroy your esohpagus. I wasn't born with Barretts but I have it now. Also, just because we have Barretts doesn't mean we will get cancer. An earlier poster is correct in that 10% of people with chronic acid reflux will get Barretts but I have read now that they believe it is actually under !% (.5%) that will get cancer. I have read about the ablasions but don't know how successful that is.