When the distal esophagus is bathed in acid reflux over a long period of time it is thought that the lining of the esophagus changes. This is not something that happens overnight. It is something that happens over years. It is estimated that 20% of the US population has symptoms of acid reflux. Of those about 12-15% of those people have Barretts esophagus. About 0.5-1% of those patients have esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer is one of the most rapidly rising cancers in the United States today. For more information, call: 1-800-MD-SINAI.
