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Benny Andújar has traveled a long way from his native Utuado, Puerto Rico, to tell an important story.
“Cancer doesn’t always send a warning,” Andújar says about his experience with a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus. A routine endoscopy gave him the information he needed to unmask esophageal cancer before it developed. “When they did the endoscopy they discovered I had Barrett’s esophagus,” recalls Andújar. His doctor referred him to gastroenterologists at Mayo Clinic.
Andújar, who retired from detective work with a New York police department and now lives in Orange Park, Florida, visited Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, for state-of-the art treatment to correct the lining of his esophagus before cancer cells began to propagate.
Barrett’s esophagus is a precancerous condition that affects the lining of the esophagus. Long-term exposure to stomach acid can change the color and composition of the walls of the esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus is often diagnosed in people who have chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), although only a small percentage of people with GERD will develop Barrett’s esophagus.
Andujar and his doctors chose treatment with radiofrequency ablation. In this minimally-invasive procedure, doctors use an endoscopic tool through the mouth and lower it into the esophagus to deliver radiofrequency energy to the affected area. The outpatient procedure takes about an hour and the patient can return home the same day.
“I consider the procedure to be comfortable for the patient,” Andujar says. “I never had any complications from it.” Now, every six months, Andujar comes back to Mayo Clinic to monitor his esophagus through an endoscopic biopsy. “The last three have been negative, which indicates my esophagus was restored to its original condition before I had a problem.”
“My impression is that I had the best of luck to become a patient at Mayo Clinic,” Andujar concludes. “If we wait to have symptoms, it’s already too late. The consequences are much worse than if you find out the problem on time, as I had the opportunity.”
This is useful info. Suggest that whenever something like this is posted and shared, a link should be provided on the same page whereby readers can click to read about symptoms and other info related to the disease. thank you
Thank you for your comment. We have provided a link in the post to more information regarding Barrett’s esophagus as well as added a link in the YouTube video.
I have Barretts Esophagus but since the cells were “not advancing” I was told by an endocrinologist to come back in 3 years for another endoscopy. I am also on Tecta to eliminate stomach acid. I have some small problems with the drug but feel mostly well.
A nurse told me to not wait for 3 years, get one done annually. Now I’m not sure what to do.
Thank you for your note to Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. However, I have attached a couple of links to pages on our website that you may find helpful: http://www.mayoclinic.org/barretts-esophagus/, http://www.mayoclinic.org/medicalprofs/barretts-esophagus-new-treatments.html. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices in Arizona at 480-301-1735; Florida, 904-953-0323; or Minnesota, 507-284-2511.
Ms Davies’s story highlights what I perceive is a growing problem in the Medical field. My boyfriend recently underwent an upper GI and they think he may have BE… What is making my angry is the cavelier attitude this cadre of physicians he has to deal with. He has a GP, this gastroenterologist, a cardiac specialist (who put a pacemaker in him pretty much without him consent – I’m still not even sure it was therapeutically necessary, however I digress), and none of these doctors speak to each other about his various treatments for a host of problems! He may have BE because one doctor kept putting him on a GERD drug, and the other would take him off it. They’ve played with his drug therapies, dosages, and health… I think doctors are slowly killing him. IF it turns out he had BE, AND I could convince him to get it treated aggressively instead of insurance companies and local docs telling him what to do, would there be an advantage of transferring his treatment to Mayo? Can the Mayo clinic business staff deal with workman’s comp care also? It’s a legal tangle that keeps him seeing a doctor that I personally don’t feel is treating him well.
Amy – Thank you for sharing the concerns about your boyfriend. We aren’t able to offer advice through this social media platform but you can certainly call any one of or campuses to see about making an appointment. Here are the phone numbergs to request an appointment: Arizona: 800-446-2279 Florida: 904-953-0853 Minnesota: 507-538-3270 Best of luck…
Barrett’s esophagus is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach is damaged by stomach
I am 52 and I was diagnosed with barrett esophagus with no dysplasia 6 months ago. After being diagnosed I had the Nissen fundoplication surgery done and my acid reflux is 100% gone now.
At this stage,what is less risky, continue surveillance or go ahead with the barrett ablation and what is the best procedure for ablation ?
Hello, Mike. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a second opinion or treatment recommendations through this form of communication. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation with one of our gastroenterologists, then please contact our Appointment Offices at Arizona, 800-446-2279; Florida, 904-953-0853; and Minnesota, 507-538-3270. Thank you.
It’s not clear to me whether Mr. Andujar had dysplasia or just Barrett’s Esophagus. Should one have treatment before any cell change?
I was diagnosed with BE and my GI doctor wants to do another endoscopy in one year because there were no suspicious cells.
Now I’m wondering if I should be more proactive.
Is there a special diet I can follow that can help me deal with this diagnosis? Thank you