I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus over ten years ago. Do I need an endoscopy?

Yes, you need an endoscopy. A change in synlotims can indicate a change in the condition.  This must be investigated. 

Schedule one ASAP. 

YES, you need an endoscopy. You need to have them routinely. Barrett’s seldom turns cancerous, but I can assure you that It does sometimes turn to cancer. The goal of routine endoscopes is to find any changes early on. Finding Stage 1 cancer is much better than not finding cancer until it’s a stage 3. The thing is, you most likely won’t have symptoms at stage 1 so you have to purposely look for it. 

I’m writing this while waiting to be discharged from the hospital after having my esophagus removed a week ago. I’m one of the lucky ones whose cancer was found at a Stage 1. I was diagnosed with Barrett’s 30 years ago. I’ve always had the routine endoscopies. The biopsies always came back fine, until the day they didn’t.

 

Thank you. I'm home now and doing very well, under the circumstances. Although breast cancer and esophageal cancer are different, they are the same in that you don't want them and you don't want the constant threat of them hanging over your head, so do what you can to prevent and watch for both.

Hi Ronna

?I think you should listen to your doctor and go for the endoscopy. If you don't you will never rid yourself of that nagging doubt.

Hi I agree with group colleagues that you should have an endoscopy, I was diagonosed with Barretts 4 years ago, and had annual endoscopes but now they have said that wont do anymore, because of cost, so I am in a different position of now thinking i should pester my GP to get one as not had one for two years, and dont know if my condition is better or worse!  It is important for peace of mind to know exactly where you are with it, and of course more fundamental if there is a progressive change so that it can be managed quickly.

Best wishes

My motto has become "better safe than sorry".  I had silent reflux and the Barrett's was found because I was bleeding from a hiatal hernia.  It turned out I had high grade dysplasia and was about six months away from having cancer. That scared me enough that I'm willing to be scoped whenever they want.  I've had several procedures since the diagnosis.  If I would have known I had acid reflux and been checked on a regular basis, I wouldn't have had to go through this extensive treatment.