Acid reflux – a backward flow of stomach acid into your esophagus – can put you at risk for esophageal cancer if not controlled. If acid reflux worsens or occurs two to three times each week, it can develop into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), several precancerous conditions or even esophageal cancer.
The key to preventing esophageal cancer, says leading thoracic surgeon Igor Brichkov, MD, is to manage acid reflux before it can progress into GERD, esophageal scarring or a potentially precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Dr. Brichkov specializes in treating lung and esophageal cancers and related benign disorders using robotic and minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Stopping the Acid
The first step for patients with acid reflux is an endoscopy to assess the condition of their esophagus with a specialized scope. Your doctor may prescribe medication and recommend lifestyle changes, including:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Stop smoking and limit alcohol.
- Eat small meals slowly.
- Skip acid-triggering foods (fried, fatty, chocolate, peppermint).
- Don’t eat or drink for at least two hours before sleeping.
- Raise the head of your bed.
- Sleep on your left side, which helps safeguard the esophagus-stomach connection.
“We have many excellent proton pump inhibitor medications that decrease stomach acid production to reduce reflux,” says Dr. Brichkov. “However, we are limited in prescribing them in younger patients or for long-term use because of their side effects, including bone loss, abnormal platelet clotting and kidney disease.”
Minimally Invasive Treatment Options
If a patient’s acid reflex develops into GERD, Dr. Brichkov may perform a minimally invasive surgical procedure. If Barrett’s esophagus is diagnosed – when acid erodes the lining’s cells and increases the risk for the development of precancerous cells or cancer – the patient may be eligible for endoscopic radiofrequency ablation, a same-day procedure that uses energy sources to burn off the abnormal Barrett’s cells.
If esophageal cancer is detected, CentraState’s Statesir Cancer Center offers comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, support and management services, including a nonsurgical procedure called endoscopic mucosal resection. During this innovative procedure that’s available at only a limited number of hospitals in New Jersey, Dr. Brichkov uses special instruments inside an endoscope to suction the inner lining of the esophagus, cap the cancerous tumor and then remove it. “This highly successful procedure offers patients with early-stage esophageal cancer a tremendous advantage over traditional surgery, which is complex and requires a lengthy recovery,” says Dr. Brichkov. “Patients can usually return to their daily activities within one week.”
GASTROENTEROLOGY SERVICES AT CENTRASTATE
Learn more about gastroenterology services at CentraState.
