Ask the doctor: Using PPIs to fight cancer risk.

Q. Do PPI drugs for stomach acid reduce the risk of cancer in people (like me) with Barrett's esophagus?

A. Probably so. But before explaining why, I'll define some terms.
Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs—such as omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and lansoprazole (Prevacid)—powerfully suppress stomach acid. These drugs have been a boon for many people with heartburn caused by acid reflux (also called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD).

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