Procedure Reduces Risk of Cancer forBarrett's Esophagus Patients
WEST BEND, WI (May 4, 2009) - St. Joseph's Hospital is one of only two hospitals in southeastern Wisconsin to offer a new procedure that virtually eliminates the risk of cancer of the esophagus for patients with a precancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus.
"When the doctor told me about the treatment, it didn't take much to convince me to have the procedure. It was going to eliminate any risk for esophageal cancer," said David Lundberg, 60, of West Bend, who had the procedure done in January at St. Joseph's Hospital by David Dozer, MD.
Dr. Dozer and Madhuri Trivedi, MD, gastroenterologists with the West Bend Clinic, perform this new, minimally invasive outpatient procedure using HALO ablation (heat) therapy, which eliminates diseased tissue in the esophagus - the swallowing tube that carries foods and liquids from the mouth to the stomach.
"Hundreds of patients in our area alone have been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus, and many more may have Barrett's and not be aware of it. Patients are looking for options to eliminate the disease and reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, which is affecting more and more people in the United States," said Dr. Dozer. "This treatment has been shown to have a 90 to 98 percent eradication rate."
Dr. Dozer noted that St. Joseph's Hospital is conveniently located for patients from a wide area who are seeking a cure for Barrett's esophagus. The only other hospital in the region to offer the procedure is in Milwaukee.
Barrett's esophagus is a precancerous change to the thin layer of tissue lining the esophagus and has been known to be associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, in which stomach acid and enzymes cause injury to the esophagus lining and produce symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation and chest pain. In some people, this chronic acid exposure can damage normal esophagus cells and actually alter the tissue to become Barrett's esophagus. It is estimated that 13 percent of people who have chronic acid reflux also have Barrett's esophagus.
"Since Barrett's tissue is very thin, we are now able to use HALO ablation technology in conjunction with upper endoscopy (EGD) to completely remove the diseased tissue without damaging underlying structures," said Dr Dozer.
The HALO system offers new hope for patients like Lundberg, who retired after 40 years in the insurance industry and now works at the admission desk at the hospital. Like other patients with Barrett's, he had to undergo regular upper endoscopies with biopsies to check for cancer.
"At one point I was going in every three to four months for an endoscopy," he said. "I was a frequent flyer."
While Lundberg will still need to watch his diet to control acid reflux, he no longer faces a lifetime of monitoring and regular endoscopies, or fears about getting cancer of the esophagus.
Overall, 10 to 20 percent of Americans experience GERD symptoms every day, making it one of the most common medical conditions. Gastroenterologists Dr. Dozer and Dr. Trivedi recommend that people who experience heartburn symptoms more than three times a week consult their physician. For more information, contact Dr. Dozer or Dr. Trivedi at the West Bend Clinic at 262-334-3451.
