Don’t be a Turkey
GET THE FACTS
Thanksgiving is GERD Awareness Week
Do you have these symptoms of GERD?
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Heartburn
Difficulty Swallowing
Chest Pain
Coughing, Choking, Wheezing •
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Sour taste in mouth
Hiccups
Nausea after eating
Hoarseness or Change in Voice
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Regurgitation
Belching or Burping
Excessively
Feeling that food is stuck behind breastbone • Sore throat GERD is Not Just an Annoyance
• GERD means that acid is splashing up from the stomach, burning the lining of the esophagus.
• T hat can cause the cells of the esophagus to change in a way that reduces heartburn symptoms, but those changes can also be the early signs of a precancerous change in the esophagus.
• This condition is known as Barrett’s Esophagus: only one out of 20 people know they have it.
Heartburn can cause CANCER
• P
atients with Barrett’s Esophagus have 25 times the chance of developing aggressive Esophageal Cancer compared to the average person.
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nce you’ve got Barrett’s Esophagus, no medication can undo the precancerous change – it will never go away on its own.
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ew outpatient procedures that remove those cells have shown promise for getting rid of the condition and may lower the risk of developing cancer.
• T he kind of Esophageal Cancer caused by GERD is one of the fastest increasing cancer diagnoses in the western world.
• E sophageal Cancer kills more than 80 percent of its victims, largely because it’s usually detected at late stages; Early detection saves lives.
Are you or someone you love at risk?
Talk to your doctor about the need to be screened if you:
Have more than occasional heartburn symptoms
Have experienced heartburn in the past, but the symptoms are now gone
Have any pain or difficulty swallowing
Have a family history of Barrett’s Esophagus or Esophageal Cancer
Have an ongoing, unexplained cough
Have been speaking with a hoarse voice over several weeks
Have a long lasting, unexplained sore throat
Cough or choke when you lie down
Get the facts.
Download the free
Guide for Patients
www.ecan.org