Call for people to mind their gut health and not ignore heartburn ahead of World Barrett’s Day

Next Friday, May 16, marks World Barrett’s Oesophagus Day and the Irish charity OCF (Oesophageal Cancer Fund) is urging people to know the symptoms of Barrett’s and to visit their GP if they have persistent reflux, heartburn, indigestion or difficulty swallowing food. 

OCF suggests that people need to mind y/our gut health through a good diet, maintaining a healthy weight and perhaps increased exercise, reduced stress and to stop vaping or smoking.

Barrett’s Oesophagus is a potentially pre-cancerous, inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the oesophagus (that is the 12-inch food pipe or gullet connecting your mouth to your stomach).

While it is estimated that over 35,000 people in Ireland could have Barrett’s, the majority are unaware, undiagnosed and possibly under the illusion that persistent heartburn or reflux is no big deal.

Furthermore, they don’t go to the GP and are treating it themselves with over-the-counter antacids for far too long, according to OCF.

The main symptoms of Barrett’s are persistent acid reflux or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

People can experience heartburn which is a burning feeling that arises from the stomach or lower chest up towards the neck.

Other common symptoms include regurgitation, stomach pain and chest pain, feeling sick, an acid taste in the mouth or belching.

An endoscopy can usually diagnose Barrett’s oesophagus.  This is a camera test where a thin, flexible tube is passed down the oesophagus into the stomach.

To put this is context – Barrett’s Oesophagus affects around 1 in 10 of those with persistent heartburn or GORD.

However, the main concern is for the small number of Barrett’s patients who may go on to develop oesophageal cancer and the need to diagnose and treat them as early as possible.

The good news is that regular monitoring increases early detection of oesophageal cancer which has a 5-year survival rate of 25% in Ireland.

Around 500 people a year are diagnosed in Ireland with oesophageal cancer which is the sixth-leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide.

Many people diagnosed with oesophageal cancer never knew they had Barrett’s to begin with.

Over the last 15 years, OCF, through its annual Lollipop Day fundraiser, has invested €2.5 million into the Barrett’s Registry and Biobank in Ireland, under the expert stewardship of Jacintha O’Sullivan, Professor of Translational Cancer Biology at the Trinity Saint James’s Cancer Institute.

More recently, OCF’s partnership with Precision Oncology Ireland for this National Barrett’s Biobank and Registry has opened more doors to research collaboration, further enhanced through the involvement of the All-Ireland Oesophageal Cancer Network which helped combine the registries both north and south of Ireland.

According to Professor O’Sullivan “‘Outcomes for Barrett’s patients will do better in research active environments and OCF has facilitated the strong foundation for this clinical and scientific research to happen.”

According to Carmel Doyle CEO, OCF whose husband was diagnosed with Barrett’s and subsequently with oesophageal cancer in 2011 “We need to stop the fear of going to the doctor and to show people how being diagnosed with Barrett’s is a good thing.

“Knowledge is power.  Yes, having Barrett’s means that cells have changed which must be monitored regularly, but it doesn’t mean that cancer will develop.

“As my family knows too well, once you are in the system with Barrett’s, you are on the medical radar and will be sent for endoscopy or biopsy, if needed, every two years or so.

“It was through one of those routine scopes that my husband’s oesophageal cancer was picked up very early.

“That gave him the very best chance of survival and I’m glad to report he has done really well.

“As part of our regional patient support meetings we try to raise awareness and to get people to be more proactive about their health.

“Therefore, we are urging people on World Barrett’s Day, and every day, to know the symptoms and to visit their GP with any concerns EARLY.

“We will collaborate with everyone in the care community –  charities, medics, researchers, policy makers – to spread the word and to get people into action mode, because it’s action and early detection that will save lives.  So please watch out for:

 

• Reflux

 

• Heartburn

 

• Regurgitation of food

 

• Nausea

 

• Pain in the abdomen

 

• Strange or metallic taste in mouth

 

• Sore throat due to reflux or reflux that wakes you up at night.”

 

Unfortunately, approximately 70% of patients experience possible symptoms of oesophageal cancer for 3 months before contacting their doctor.

OCF says that awareness is still a big problem for both Barrett’s Oesophagus and for oesophageal cancer.

The charity commissioned an Amárach survey in January 2025 that revealed that nearly 1 in 3 (30%) men in Ireland are unaware of oesophageal cancer.

It also showed a significant misunderstanding of oesophageal cancer symptoms with 64% of males surveyed unaware that prolonged, chronic heartburn or acid reflux can increase the risk of this cancer.

While women surveyed displayed a greater awareness of this cancer, 10% still reported being unfamiliar with the disease.