The story by medical editor Marilyn Brooks first aired on Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m. on March 28, 2006.

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Doctors said heartburn is fueling the nation's fastest growing cancer, esophageal cancer.

The question is can it be prevented?

Doctors think they can prevent the deadly cancer but they can't agree how to do it. Meanwhile, they do know that anyone with severe heartburn or gastric reflux should not rely on symptom-easing drugs.

Charles Mosley suffered with chronic heartburn or gastric esophageal reflux for 15 years. Medication stopped the symptoms so he didn't know the seriousness until a gallstone attack three years ago

"I went up to Erie and they went in to try to crush up the stone and saw the Barrett's esophagus then," said Mosley.

Barrett's esophagus is a constant acid reflux that causes damaging changes to cells in the esophagus. Patients with it are 30 times more at risk for esophageal cancer.

Doctors said what happened to Charles Modley is happening to millions of people who take prescription medication for their heartburn or gastric reflux. The medication stops the symptoms but not the damaging backwash of acid into the esophagus and that's why those people are at risk for cancer

But can doctors prevent it?

"I think the straightforward answer is yes," said chief thoracic surgeon Dr. Robert Keenan.

Currently patients with Barrett's are watched with regular exam and the esophagus is removed at the first sign of cancer. Approximately 80 percent have survived.

"Every patient that we operate on and treat their high grade dysplasia is one less patient with the potential to go on to cancer," said Keenan.

Doctors are now looking at less invasive endoscopic options like photodynamic therapy which uses a light-sensitizing drug with a laser to burn away damaged tissue.

Another option is to use radio frequency ablation that uses high frequency radio waves.

"If you don't stop the insult then it theoretically could come back," said Keenan.

The hunt for options has taken on new urgency because doctors have seen a six-fold increase in esophageal cancer.

Out of 15,000 patients diagnosed this year, only 16 percent will survive the next five years.

"I elected to go ahead and have it done before it gets worse," said Mosley.

Doctors suggest that people taking prescription drugs for gastric reflux should make it a short-term treatment.

Experts said one should not be on medication for years but rather weeks.