UCI doctors offer minimally-invasive treatment for early esophageal cancer

IRVINE, Calif. (KABC) -- In the last 20 years, the number of Americans getting diagnosed with esophageal cancer has increased five-fold.

The survival rate is bleak, but even in early stages, the treatment involves extensive, major surgery.

Now, local doctors are offering a new minimally-invasive treatment.

When it was time for 59-year-old Al Kong of Foothill Ranch to get a colonoscopy, his doctor noticed he used to use acid reflux meds.

"I didn't have any symptoms anymore, I said no to all of his questions," Kong said.

Although the heartburn stopped, Al's doctor urged him to get an endoscopy, too.

The hunch paid off.

"He discovered a tumor about three quarters of the way down my esophagus," Kong said.

"Esophageal cancer is actually the fastest growing cancer in the United States," said UC Irvine Interventional Gastroenterologist Dr. Jason Samarasena.

He said obesity and heartburn may be behind the increase in new cases.

Kong caught it early.

But even at this stage, standard treatment requires extensive surgery.

"They'll remove part of the esophagus and part of the top of the stomach and then reconnect the stomach with the esophagus," Samarasena said.

Now, Samarasena is one of a few doctors trained in a minimally-invasive procedure called Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection or ESD.

"The procedure actually started in Japan for the treatment of early gastric cancer," he said.

Through an endoscope, doctors inject fluid under the tumor creating a blister, separating it from healthy tissue.

Surgeons then cut around and under the tumor.

Patients go home the next day.

"Within three days, I was on my normal routine, my daily routine," Kong said.

ESD can only be performed when the tumor is contained, but most esophageal cancer isn't caught until people report trouble swallowing. By this point, it has usually spread.

"Even with the best chemo therapy, radiation and surgery, the five-year survival for esophageal cancer is only about 19%," Samarasena said.

That's why he recommends people with acid reflux should get screened.

"Especially people with risk factors, family history for esophageal cancer, they probably need an endoscopy," Samarasena said.

"Just take the time to ask the questions," Kong said.

It could save your life.