Barrett's esophagus to Esophageal cancer

I would love the answer to the same question. I was diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus in June 2017. Nothing seems to really make it feel better. I hope we both find the answer.

Can't answer your question in regard to how fast Barrett's Esophagus(BE) proceeds to cancer. But a question for the both of you is did you get treatment for the Barrett's such as an RFA or are they just monitoring it? Assuming they did biopsy's at what stage is the BE, no dysplasia, dysplasia, or High-grade dysplasia. The higher the dysplasia the closer you are in developing cancer. I'm not a doctor but I believe I was told that without treatment such as a RFA, BE doesn't go away. If you are anywhere near Mayo in Rochester I would strongly recommend you get a referral to it. The department that treats BE is fantastic; my grading of them on a 1 to 10 scale is 14!

Thank you for your reply's. I was told at my last endoscopy that there was no dysplasia. I haven't had any real symptoms as long as I am careful about my diet. However, over the past four months my symptoms have been worse...sore throats, shortness of breath when lying down at night, and a feeling of
pressure in my upper chest. My PCP has sent me to a Cardiologist and a Pulmonary Specialist and every thing has checked out OK. I still believe it's from
the BE.

I have been diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus since 2008 but only in June 2017 did it progress to low dysplasia. Then in February 2017 it progressed to high dysplasia. That really worried me as I have had no symptoms of BE.i have never had symptoms but about six different times over the years I have been aware of GERD. But I do have a family history of cancer with my Dad dying at age 59 with lung cancer and my sister dying at age 35 of breast cancer. I had two RFA TREATMENTS TWO MONTHS apart and they both came back high dysplasia. Then in June I took myself to
MDAnderson for an appt and they did an endoscopy and an EMR and found a small stage 1 adenomacarcinoma cell. cell. Three months later I had another endoscopy where they did smother EMR and found just high dysplasia. Then I. November and February 2018 I had another RFA treatment. I am scheduled to go back in June of this year. I am going they will show that the BE is eradicated but I understand that I will
Have to go back every three years for the rest of my life to have these endoscopes. I hoping to hear from someone who can tell me that they have cleared the BE and are not having to go back so often. Is there anyone out there hi is being monitored as I am. How long have you been treated? I have not had many people to talk to about this. I appreciate this connection.

I would like to go to mayo in Rochester but I live in Texas so it is closer and still sometimes for me to get there. I went yesterday with my son and we flew down and back the same day but it was expensive for both of us. I doLike my doctor there but I want to be sure and stay on top of this. I understand it comes back easily. I am trying to watch my diet but I do have one mug of coffee in the mornings and weak tea later in the day. I try to eliminate spicy and have cut back on red meat and do not over eat. I do like fresh orange juice however and hate to give that up and have been enjoying it during this cold season. I hope it is not hurting me. I cannot tell what hurts since I have no symptoms when I eat less. 

I'm surprised that you were told that if no dysplasia you can go 3 years without a scope with your history. My BE never got worse than high grade dysplasia and have been told I will need to be scoped every year for rest of my life once BE is gone. Currently, I go every 3 months since when I went out to 6 months, BE returned.

I went to UW Madison Digestive Health Center, for both a colonoscopy and an endoscopy .... the colon part was just a small benign poloyp... the edndo discover a 4 in BE, low grade dysplasia, came back 3 months later and it turned into high grade. I have had about 4 RFA treatments, first one was the worst, a 360, others have be 45. I am scheduled for another endo and possible RFA in March. I too take omeprazole 20mg once daily.

I was told by two different gastroenterologist's that even if you have no dysplasia that most insurance plans pay to be
scoped every 2 to 3 years if you have BE. I am scheduled for April but I kept trying to get in earlier but it is really difficult
to get in to see a specialist. Just wondering what meds have worked the best for BE. Originally I was prescribed Dexilant
that worked really well but the insurance companies usually required your PCP to submit a prior authorization.

I use Esomeprazole Magnesium which is the generic for Nexium. I take 4 20 MG a day which is way over the recommended dosage but is needed because without it I would have tremendous reflux at night. Since that dosage is very high and effects calcium uptake, I take D3 which supposedly aides in the uptake. I'm not a candidate for the wrap or LINX since my hiatal hernia & Barrett's is where the wrap would be and would cover up the area which would over time go cancerous. So I'm pretty much stuck with the high dosages of meds.

I also take 80 mg per day in two doses of 40mg each. I worry about the dosage when they have come out that it can cause liver problems etc but am told that I must take it also. The problem I have is that I don’t think I have many symptoms of GERD. I GUESS I have what they call silent GERD. I am hoping I can be cured of BE. BUT I wonder if that means cancer will not happen. What are your dietary restrictions. I worry if fresh orange juice which I love is too much citrus or sugar both of which I am told to restrict. I have tried to limit my intake of red meat but I get so tired of chicken and fish. I also have to have one mug of morning coffee and I like dark chocolate. I do eat a lot of plain wallaby yogurt which is the best very creamy and soothing. Any other suggestions from anyone out there who has succeeded in getting over Barrett’s esophagus with no more dysplasia and goes in only every six months instead of every three months for endoscopes?