The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation

Barrett’s esophagus is a medical condition which is caused by reflux of stomach acid into the muscular tube which connects the throat to the stomach.

Up until most recently, those who suffered from Barrett’s esophagus were thought by medical professionals to be 30 to 40 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer.

Recently, results from a Danish study indicate that the risk is actually only 11 percent as opposed to 30-40 percent as previously thought.

However, Health Day interviewed Anthony Starpoli, a gastroenterologist at New York City’s Lenox Hill Hospital.

Starpoli stated, “I don’t think based on this one study alone, we can actually make policy changes and certain societal recommendations about screening. For me, what this does is let me tell the patient, ‘I think you have a little less to worry about.’ I think we can reassure our patients to allay the fear.”

Health Day also spoke with Dr. David Bernstein, chief of gastroenterology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.

Health Day reported Bernstein “praised the study as “important and interesting” but emphasized that the cancer risk is still significant in those with Barrett’s esophagus.”

To read Health Day’s full article click here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 3:58 pm and is filed under The Salgi Foundation - Esophageal Cancer Awareness, Early Detection & Research. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.