SEKY April 2023 | Page 37

By KEEGAN HARRIS
Most everyone knows that what you eat goes to your stomach , but rarely do people think about whose job it is to get that food to the stomach .
That ’ s the job of the esophagus , a muscular tube which propels food down to the belly and also does its best to reduce heartburn by keeping stomach acid and food in the stomach .
Unfortunately , the esophagus is at risk of developing cancer , as are most parts of the body . Though the cancer is rare , it can occur , and thankfully Dr . Joseph Eid , General and Bariatric Surgeon at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital , is more than willing to share some tips about avoiding this type of cancer .
Dr . Eid ’ s job as a bariatric surgeon involves working with the stomach and abdomen . Appendectomies and solving issues with the gallbladder are his repertoire and he also helps those suffering from morbid obesity lose weight through things like gastric bypass surgery . “ I always wanted to get into the surgical field ,” said Eid . “ I was always attracted to human anatomy and being able to fix things with my hands .”
Eid ’ s homeland is Beirut , Lebanon . He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Balamand then moved to Rochester , Minnesota to do his internship . He then fulfilled his residency requirements at Ascension Providence Hospital in Detroit , Michigan .
“ Unfortunately for my wife , she ’ s been with me the whole way ,” he said with a laugh .
Thankfully , both he and his wife enjoy traveling , but they hope Pulaski County will be the final leg of their journey where they can settle down and raise a family .
As for his tips about esophageal cancer , the biggest risk factors are smoking and excessive alcohol consumption . Another risk factor is uncontrolled heartburn , which causes damage to the esophagus .
Due to its proximity to the lymph
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April 2023 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 37