New Treatment to Prevent Esophageal Cancer Caused by GERD/Heartburn Available at Silver Cross Hospital

An outpatient treatment that destroys pre-cancerous tissue in the lining of the esophagus is now available at Silver Cross Hospital.  

The procedure, endoscopic radiofrequency ablation therapy using the HALO System, is a highly effective treatment for complete eradication of Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition that affects 1 million to 2 million adults in the U.S. each year.  

According to Dr. Kamran Ayub, a gastroenterologist on the medical staff at Silver Cross who is specially trained in the ablation therapy and performed the first procedures at Silver Cross, Barrett’s esophagus occurs when the esophagus is chronically exposed to contents of the stomach caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD or heartburn. 

With prolonged acid exposure, normal cells in the esophagus can undergo a genetic change and are then vulnerable to further changes that can lead to cancer.  

Individuals with Barrett’s esophagus have a 40 to 130 times higher incidence of developing esophageal cancer than those without the condition. Esophageal cancer is presently the fastest growing form of malignancy in the United States.  

“The main purpose of the ablation procedure is to remove the abnormal lining of the esophageal,” says Ayub. “The tissue then regenerates and normal tissue grows back. This reduces and even eliminates the chances of cancer developing. Data from studies shows that the treatment is highly effective.”