Get the Facts on Esophageal Cancer and Barrett’s Esophagus

The 9/11 community has an elevated risk of developing many respiratory diseases and 68 different types of cancer — including esophageal cancer, as well as Barrett’s esophagus which could precede esophageal cancer.

Barrett’s esophagus occurs when the esophagus becomes damaged by acid reflux, causing the lining to thicken and become red.

The condition results from stomach acid leaking into the esophagus, as happens with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), another condition that appears frequently in the 9/11 community.

On Monday, April 26, 2021, Barasch & McGarry is hosting a free informational webinar on esophageal cancer and Barrett’s esophagus in the 9/11 community along with Dr. Geoffrey Ku, M.D., a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

For those with Barrett’s esophagus or GERD, regular checkups with careful imaging and extensive biopsies of the esophagus could find precancerous cells (known as dysplasia), allowing for treatment to prevent esophageal cancer from developing.

Symptoms of both esophageal cancer and Barrett’s esophagus can include difficulty swallowing, unintended weight loss, pain, pressure, or burning in the chest, worsening indigestion or heartburn, and coughing or hoarseness.

The risk factors for esophageal cancer and Barrett’s esophagus are smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, acid reflux disease, GERD, and exposure to Ground Zero toxins after 9/11. 

If you have any of these symptoms or risk factors, we highly recommend you discuss with your primary health care provider screenings for esophageal cancer and Barrett’s esophagus.

We also encourage all members of the 9/11 community to join our free webinar on April 26, 2021, to learn more about these diseases. To RSVP, visit www.911victims.com/april. 

If you are diagnosed with esophageal cancer, Barrett’s esophagus, GERD, or any of the other cancers or respiratory diseases impacting the 9/11 community, know your rights. Please contact us for more information on free health care and compensation. 

Visit www.911victims.com or call 212-385-8000 today.