Reduce Your Risk Seek Early Treatment for Barrett’s Esophagus
Every bit of nutrition you take in travels down your esophagus, so when that path is painful, it not only disrupts your nutritional intake, it takes away all the pleasures of eating. If you suffer from frequent acid reflux or vomiting, or you have other risk factors, your esophagus can become damaged to the point where the cells lining this important path to your stomach begin to change.
Called Barrett’s esophagus (or Barrett’s syndrome, Barrett’s disease, and BE), this condition is quite rare but can lead to an increased risk of esophageal cancer. Your team at AdventHealth Tampa is here to help catch Barrett’s esophagus early and provide the care you need to heal. With leading-edge technologies, our gastroenterologists and other Tampa hospital team members will work to slow or halt its progress, while reducing your acid reflux and managing your risk for esophageal cancer.
We’re here to help you find the right physician or a location that’s convenient for you.
Put Barrett's Esophagus in Your Rearview Enjoy Eating Again
- Minimize Your Risk of Barrett’s Esophagus with Regular Screenings
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You might not think too much about your acid reflux, but if you’ve experienced it for a long time, it may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If you suffer from ongoing GERD, you’re more likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus. Though they’re not always present, common symptoms include frequent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting. If you have GERD, we may recommend regular screenings. Other risk factors that could be cause for regular screenings include:
- Age Over 50
- Being a Man
- Being White
- Being Overweight
- Family History of Barrett’s Esophagus or Esophageal Cancer
- History of Smoking
Your screening will always be delivered with the utmost attention to your comfort. The first step is an endoscopy, which uses a tiny camera on a flexible tube to examine the cells in your esophagus. If we notice signs of Barrett’s esophagus, we’ll take a small amount of tissue to examine more closely. This process, called a biopsy, also lets us check for early signs of cancer. At every step, your team will make sure you’re as comfortable and informed as possible. And if something is wrong, we’ll be by your side to provide the care and support you need to begin your journey back to whole health.
- Managing Your Diagnosis
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If you're feeling worried and uncertain about your screening, just lean on us for care and support. If your screening shows signs of Barrett's esophagus, we’ll begin treatment right away. Barrett’s esophagus is extremely treatable, and spotting it early is the best way to minimize the risk of esophageal cancer.
Your biopsy may or may not show signs of dysplasia (the presence of precancerous cells), but whatever your screenings reveal, we’ll be here to give you expert care, comforting your mind, lifting your spirits, and helping you feel whole again.
- Leading-Edge Treatments for Barrett’s Esophagus
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You want to move past your symptoms and rediscover peace and comfort. We want that for you, too. That’s why your team takes the time to design a care plan specifically for your needs and goals. They may recommend one treatment option, or a combination of treatments. Either way, they’ll work hard to answer your questions and keep you moving forward with confidence.
At AdventHealth Tampa you have access to some of the most advanced Barrett’s esophagus treatments available, including minimally invasive thermal ablation. With this technique, we insert a small, flexible tube into your esophagus to deliver heat or radiofrequency waves directly to damaged tissue. We’ll then prescribe medication to help your esophagus heal and regrow healthy cells. Your team will also work closely with you to create a specialized diet to help reduce your heartburn.
Other treatment options for Barrett’s esophagus could include:
- Dilation
- Endoscopic Resection
- GERD Prevention Techniques (Like Weight Loss Counseling and Support to Quit Smoking)
- Medication to Prevent Acid Reflux
- Esophageal Surgery
Whatever your Barrett's Esophagus treatment plan, you can trust that we'll be with you throughout the process, guiding every step, answering your questions and alleviating your fears, until you're back on your way to whole health.
Expert Care. Specialized Doctors. Digestive Care You Can Count On
You’ve got this, because you’ve got us. Our digestive health specialists are here to provide the care and support you need to feel whole again.