President Rodrigo Duterte has admitted to suffering from Barrett’s esophagus, a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, as illustrated in the images here from the famed Mayo Clinic in the United States.
READ: Duterte: I've undergone colonoscopy
According to gastroenterologists working in various Metro Manila hospitals interviewed by Manila Standard, Barrett’s increases the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma—a serious, potentially fatal cancer of the esophagus.
The doctors—who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak on the President’s health by their hospitals—said although the risk of this cancer is higher in people with Barrett’s, the disease is still rare.
Less than 1 percent of people with Barrett’s esophagus develop cancer, they added.
However, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday said a “growth” was found in Duterte’s digestive tract following his medical examination at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Thursday.
