Knowing you have Barrett's oesophagus is a good thing - Dr Rehan Haidry - and a patient - explains скачать в хорошем качестве

Knowing you have Barrett's oesophagus is a good thing - Dr Rehan Haidry - and a patient - explains

Heartburn Cancer UK wants people to view being diagnosed with a potentially pre-cancerous condition as something that could save their life, not threaten it. HCUK is urging people not to fear finding out they have Barrett’s oesophagus - a condition where there have been cell changes in the food pipe - because it DOESN'T MEAN it will definitely become cancer, but it DOES MEAN people will be regularly monitored for any changes. Cancer of the oesophagus is the 7th biggest cancer killer in the UK – the 4th biggest for men - despite being only the 14th most common Around 8,000 people are diagnosed with it each year. “Sadly, survival rates for cancer of the oesophagus are really poor, but this is because it’s often found late after it has spread to other parts of the body,” explained Fiona Labrooy, Heartburn Cancer UK’s chief operating officer. “When someone is diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus, it does mean that cells have changed, but it doesn’t mean that cancer will develop. In fact, it’s quite rare for someone who has Barrett’s to go on and develop cancer. But it is a warning sign which means people can get help and treatment - and make lifestyle changes to help themselves. “A diagnosis of Barrett’s also means that people will be on the radar of their GP and other medical experts. They are likely to be regularly monitored so that if it does change, it can be successfully and more simply dealt with at the earliest stage, “ said Fiona. She added: “Beyond doing things to stop it developing in the first place – such as not smoking or drinking too much or ignoring persistent heartburn/reflux - finding cancer early is the best chance of success we have. And if we can find the warning signs, even before cancer has developed, we can keep more people alive. It’s almost like hitting the jackpot,” said Fiona. It’s estimated that about 50,000 people in the UK have Barrett’s oesophagus, but most are completely unaware of it. This is sometimes because they ignore or mask persistent heartburn with over-the-counter treatments such as Gaviscon or Rennie. Between 3 and 13 people out of 100 (between 3 and 13%) with Barrett’s oesophagus in the UK will develop oesophageal adenocarcinoma, oesophageal cancer, in their lifetime. Barrett’s is often caused by stomach acid leaking into the oesophagus where it damages the cells. The most common symptom of this happening is persistent heartburn or acid reflux. Heartburn Cancer UK urge people who have heartburn for more than three weeks to go to their doctor and get it properly checked. “Persistent heartburn is not normal. If it hangs around for THREE WEEKS, go to your GP and ask for it to be checked out properly. For most people, there will be no problem at all. But it could mean you have Barrett’s and can then be regularly monitored,” said Fiona. To help reduce the fear, the charity has also created some social media videos featuring experts and patients explaining why being diagnosed with Barrett’s could be seen as a good thing. Nicola Packer, who was diagnosed with Barrett’s in her 20s, said: “If you told me you’ve got Barrett’s, I would say you’ve been given the early warning siren. Well done. Listen to it. And act on it. Don’t ignore it but don’t be frightened by it either. You can be the best advocate for your own health.” Jennifer Bushell, who was diagnosed with Barrett’s in her 30s, said: “I’d rather know now that I can do something about it than find out I have oesophageal cancer in 10 years time.” Allan Gavin, another Barrett’s patient, said: “Go and get it checked. It takes an hour of your life to save your life, potentially. That’s how I see it.” See HCUK's website at www.heartburncancerUK.org for more information.