Chronic heartburn, left untreated for a long period of time, can lead to many medical problems including esophageal cancer.
“The stomach lining is made up of certain cells that can deal with the acid,” explained Dr. Daniel Timmerman.
When the valve between the stomach and esophagus isn’t working properly, stomach acid can travel up into the esophagus. The esophagus is lined with a different type of cell which cannot handle the acid.
“The lining of the esophagus tries to change the nature of the cells and that’s what cancer is,” Dr. Timmerman said.
The TIF procedure – Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication – can repair the valve between the stomach and esophagus, preventing stomach acid from traveling into the esophagus.
To learn more about the TIF procedure, call 856-279-2842 or visit smc.health/services/digestive-health.