How A Gastroenterologist Helps Those With Barrett's Esophagus
Posted on: 11 May 2020
Digestive system cancers are often quite devastating and require careful attention to catch before they spread too wildly. Unfortunately, there are conditions that may increase a person's risk of developing certain types of cancers, such as Barrett's Esophagus. This sometimes hard-to-diagnose health problem is something that a high-quality gastroenterologist can figure out and treat for a person, helping them decrease their risk of cancer.
The Problems Caused By Barrett's Esophagus
Barrett's Esophagus is a unique condition that causes the lining of this part of the body to change and resemble that of the lower intestine. The exact cause is uncertain, but it can become a problem because of the ways that it changes the makeup of the body's chemistry. For example, it is possible that Barrett's Esophagus could increase a person's risk of cancer in many problematic ways.
Unfortunately, this condition is one that can be hard to notice because it doesn't always cause a lot of symptoms or noticeable effects. As a result, somebody who has it may not even know that they have a higher risk of esophagus or stomach cancer. However, doctors have noted that visiting a gastroenterologist may help to spot this condition when a person has a flareup of GERD.
How a Gastroenterologist Can Help
A gastroenterologist can diagnose Barrett's Esophagus by taking a sample of the esophageal lining from a person's body. If they find that it has changed, they can give advice on what can be done to manage this problem. Regular checkups with a cancer specialist are often necessary because a person's risk of developing this condition increases so heavily when they develop this problem.
Patients may also have to work with a gastroenterologist to change the lining of the esophagus slowly over time. There is a chance that some medicines may help with this condition or at, the very least, decreasing its severity. These steps may help to decrease a person's risk for cancer, particularly if they can balance their lining to make it more like that of their esophagus again.
Typically, it is also a good idea to get a biopsy of the stomach and other areas that may be affected by this condition. By understanding the state of a person's lining and the organs throughout their digestive system, it should be simpler for a person and their gastroenterologist to diagnose and treat Barrett's Esophagus as much as is possible with modern medicine.
For more information about gastroenterology, contact a local physician.
Share