Can You Develop Cancer from Barrett’s Esophagus?
Barrett’s disease can lead to a wide variety of complications. Complications associated with this condition include narrowing of the esophagus, chest pain, cuts in your esophagus, or rupture of the esophagus.
Studies show that people with Barrett’s esophagus are more likely to develop esophageal cancer [5]. However, this cancer only occurs in about 5% of people with the condition. According to the NCBI statistics, only 10 out of 1,000 people with Barrett’s disease will develop cancer.
If you have been diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, your doctor may want to watch closely to detect any signs of cancer. You may need to undergo scheduled biopsies regularly. Your healthcare provider will carry out tests to check for precancerous cells.
Going for screening tests regularly will help detect cancer early enough to prevent fatal symptoms.