GERD Can Lead to CANCER
April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month
FRAMINGHAM, MA — April 9, 2019: Dr. George Dickstein at Greater Boston Gastroenterology, PC, is committed to increasing awareness about the links between chronic heartburn and adenocarcinoma, the most common type of esophageal cancer in the U.S.
Chronic heartburn or acid reflux also known as GERD, results when the gastroesophageal valve (GEV) sometimes called the lower esophagus sphincter (LES), allows stomach contents to reflux (wash backwards) into the esophagus, causing injury to the esophageal lining. GERD is the most common gastrointestinal-related diagnosis made by physicians during clinical visits in the U.S. and is a major risk factor associated with esophageal cancer. In fact, as many as 15 percent of patients with reflux damage already have precancer changes in their esophagus.
“GERD impacts one in five adults and can be complex to fully diagnose and treat,” said Dr. Dickstein. We are addressing this disease in our community by using the most advanced treatment options available to comprehensively manage our patients and improve their GERD-related quality of life.”
“For some patients, medication alone can help them manage their GERD symptoms. For others, GERD is an anatomical problem which needs an anatomical solution,” says Dr. Dickstein. “Reflux medication like PPIs—proton pump inhibitors—can help relieve patients’ heartburn symptoms but don’t solve the underlying anatomical problem—the leaky valve-that allows reflux to occur.”
The TIF procedure is a solution for the anatomical problem and aims to fix the root cause of GERD, relieve symptoms, prevent further esophageal damage. “The TIF procedure allows me to repair the faulty valve and prevents stomach contents from refluxing back into the esophagus. This option can significantly improve quality of life for many our patients,” said Dr. Dickstein, the first specialist to be trained in the area. “After the TIF procedure, clinical studies show that most patients are no longer dependent on medications for symptom relief. Reflux no longer impacts their lives like it previously did.”
To learn more about Esophageal Cancer and its links to GERD, visit resource sites like www.americancancersociety.org and www.ecaware.org.
For more information, contact:
Rebecca Meehan,
Greater Boston Gastroenterology, PC
475 Franklin Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-367-9865
greaterbostongi.com