Apr 1, 2021
During the month of April each year, Coast Plaza Hospital (CPH) recognizes national Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month and aims to educate their patients about the initiative. CPH is dedicated to community education and awareness about the risk of Esophageal Cancer posed by persistent reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and providing care to those who need it.
An estimated 1 in every 5 American adults suffers from GERD, which is a chronic condition caused by changes in the gastroesophageal valve that allow stomach contents to flow back up into the esophagus. Left untreated, GERD can be a lifelong disease and lead to bothersome symptoms and potentially other life-threatening health conditions. Adenocarcinoma, the type of cancer typically caused by long-term reflux disease or GERD, is increasing at a faster rate than any other cancer in the U.S.
"In my medical experience esophageal cancer is a condition which is often found when a patient presents with late stage symptoms - the difficulty of swallowing or the regurgitation of food. Usually, the patient has had a long preceding history of heartburn or acid reflux," said M.D. John S Kim of Coast Plaza Hospital.
Medications or life-style modifications may offer mild symptom control for GERD, but they don't stop or prevent reflux. Additionally, those who may become dependent on daily medication can develop severe complications from GERD, even if no symptoms are experienced. When left untreated, GERD can lead to other health complications including: damage to the throat or esophagus, inflammation or narrowing of the esophagus, respiratory complications, Barrett's Esophagus, and Esophageal Cancer.
The best way to diagnose Barrett's Esophagus or Esophageal Cancer is to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Coast Plaza has a highly experienced team of GI physicians and medical staff dedicated to providing care for those suffering from gastrointestinal issues. CPH is also one of the few locations in the county with the technology and expertise to perform the TIF procedure.
Early screening is key. "Increased awareness of risks of esophageal cancer such as chronic heartburn, and judicious use of diagnostic procedures, such as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or imaging studies should be considered in populations at risk, to better identify disease in the early stages," said Dr. Kim.
If you or a loved one suffers from GI discomfort, please reach out to us at (562) 868-3751 ext.3031.
About Coast Plaza Hospital
Coast Plaza Hospital is a 117-acute-bed hospital that has been serving Norwalk and the surrounding areas of Southeast Los Angeles county for over 55 years. It is accredited by the Joint Commission and is a licensed provider for Medicare and Medi-Cal programs, along with many HMOs, PPOs and managed care organizations. The hospital provides affordable, high-quality healthcare with consistency and compassion, and offers a wide range of services, including 24-hour adult and pediatric Emergency Department services, complete intensive care, critical care and progressive care services. For more information visit www.coastplazahospital.com.
# # #
AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes has caused a stir online after taking aim at Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) in-flight meals, claiming the food served by the carrier lagged behind his own airline’s offerings. “Just flew with Singapore Airlines, couldn’t get AirAsia, service was great, internet amazing, food was poor, Santan is far far better and crew admitted. Great flight but we are not far off,” Fernandes wrote in a social media post on Thursday, referring to AirAsia’s in-flight dining brand. The...
As citizens embrace the technology for entertainment, relationships and even farming advice, the government is stepping up efforts to set limits.
Malaysia’s long-standing strategy of non-alignment amid US-China rivalry in the South China Sea could soon be tested, with the eastern state of Sabah sitting near a potential flashpoint involving Philippine territory. Observers pointed to comments by Malaysian Defence Minister Khaled Nordin, who last week voiced concern that a conflict or “unexpected incident” in the maritime region could spill over into Malaysia. Khaled, who singled out Sabah, added that Malaysia was looking to strengthen its...
Indonesia’s new police chief faces a difficult task to balance growing public demands for accountability and independence as the force seeks to repair its image following a series of scandals in recent years. Even as Suyudi Ario Seto, 53, replaced Listyo Sigit Prabowo on Thursday, the government is weighing recommendations to reform the powerful institution, including changes to its work culture and limits on police officers holding public positions outside the force. In addition to appointing...
One of the Malaysians unaccounted for following the devastating floods in Nepal has been confirmed safe and has returned to Malaysia, according to the group representing Malaysians missing in Nepal. Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (Masfih) spokesman Manivannan Rethinam said the person had reported themselves to the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu. “For Masfih and the other families, the finding of a safe Malaysian 37 days later is an extremely relieving and meaningful development,”...
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s reshuffling of his cabinet signals an urgent need to address criticism and dipping ratings by banking on experienced technocrats and trusted figures in key positions. But while the appointment of a new foreign minister has raised hopes of some restraint on Prabowo’s more impulsive foreign policy decisions, analysts say the president’s self-imposed role as “chief diplomat” is unlikely to change. In his second senior cabinet change in under three weeks,...
US artificial intelligence company Anthropic appears to have stepped up enforcement of geographical restrictions on its Claude models in Hong Kong, with local users reporting abrupt account suspensions after accessing the service through virtual private networks (VPNs). A wave of complaints surfaced on social media platforms X and Reddit on Thursday, as users who had operated accounts for months using VPNs found them suddenly disabled. One Hong Kong-based user posted on the “r/claude” subreddit...
The first apartment came up for auction and nobody moved. More than 60 people crowded into a room in Singapore to watch seven properties seized in one of the world’s biggest money-laundering cases go under the hammer. Their opening prices totalled more than S$43 million (US$33.6 million). But when bidding began for a luxury unit at Gramercy Park, an upscale condominium near the city state’s Orchard Road shopping district, not a single hand went up. Next came a 2,658 sq ft (247 square metres)...
Capt. Smit Machchhar suffered stab wounds while fending off an attack from his co-pilot, saving the lives of around 170 people on board, officials said.
A sell-off in technology stocks pushed mainland Chinese equities to their lowest level in more than a year, even as Beijing stepped up support for the economy with a key interest rate cut. At the same time, Chinese government bonds attracted fresh interest as US Treasury yields climbed to a new high. Here are some figures that have captured market attention this week. China’s CSI 300 Index hits 13-month low Mainland China’s CSI 300 Index dropped 2.2 per cent on Monday to its lowest level since...
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday threatened unspecified measures against Ukraine unless Kyiv acknowledged what Seoul says was a confidentiality agreement covering the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers and apologised. “If the refusal to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology continues, we will take additional measures,” Lee said in a social media post. Lee also expressed “grave regret” over what he described as Ukrainian remarks about an imminent military...
Thitu Island and its residents have come under the spotlight after the Philippines, in a bid to reinforce its claims in the South China Sea, announced plans to file an updated maritime chart with the United Nations. Observers say the filing would not establish Philippine sovereignty but could help Manila identify and challenge competing claims in more precise legal terms. More than just a technical document, the updated map is a means for the government to formally document its presence and...
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.