What is the best treatment for my diagnosis of Baretts Esophagus with High Grade Dysplasia?
I am 51 and otherwise in very good health and physically fit. I've had GERD for decades,self medicating with Tums. Three months ago biopsies, taken during an endoscopy, were diagnosed as Barrets with High Grade Dysplasia. My doctors say that the only sure way to prevent this from turning into cancer is an esophagectomy. They say ablative therapy is not perfected and might just "cover up" the potential cancer.
A second biopsy is scheduled to double check the initial diagnosis. (Cleveland Clinic looked at the first one, Stanford and Johns Hopkins will examine the second, Stanford also looked at the first one but said they couldn't confirm HGD due to inflamation in the cell samples. Thus the 2nd biopsy using the EMR method).
So,is esophagectomy truly the only sure fire way to stop this HGD from becoming cancer?
Hi Kevin C,
You can read about Barrett's here. There is also a great section here by Dr Eisner regarding Barrett's and options for treatments available.
Online sites are great places to get the information you need to be able to ask all the right questions. But it should never take the place of your doctor's sound medical advice. If you are feeling angst over the recommended treatments, then get a second opinion!
I hope this gives you something to go on! Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!
Vicki M
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