LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT) — Kim Kardashian has undergone a medical procedure to remove irregularities in her esophagus, a health scare that brought back painful memories of her father, Robert Kardashian, who died from esophageal cancer in 2003 at age 59. The reality television star revealed the experience on The Kardashians, explaining that the findings were especially frightening because of her father’s rapid decline after his cancer diagnosis.
Kim, 46, said she had been feeling unwell and experiencing severe throat pain before seeking medical advice. A physician told her that imaging suggested inflammation of the esophagus and diagnosed her with esophagitis, a condition involving irritation or inflammation of the tissue lining the esophagus.
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Her doctor recommended medication and a further procedure to examine the area and determine whether additional treatment was necessary. In a preview of an upcoming episode, Kim described the next step: doctors had found irregularities that needed to be surgically removed.
“That’s the same thing my dad had,” Kim said while describing the procedure in the show’s preview.
The similarity has an emotional significance for Kim because Robert Kardashian died just weeks after learning he had esophageal cancer. The Los Angeles attorney, who was widely known for serving on O.J. Simpson’s defense team during his 1995 murder trial, was diagnosed in 2003 and died on September 30 of that year. He was 59.
Kim has spoken previously about how quickly her father’s illness progressed. His death came approximately eight weeks after his diagnosis, according to contemporary reports. The experience appears to have made the discovery involving her own esophagus particularly difficult to process.
Kim said she had not told many people about her condition because it brought her back to her father’s death. She initially hoped medication would resolve the problem, but acknowledged that she did not know what the medical evaluation would ultimately reveal.
Esophagitis and esophageal cancer are different conditions. Esophagitis refers to inflammation of the esophageal lining and can have several causes, including acid reflux and certain medications. A diagnosis of esophagitis does not mean a person has cancer, and the information released about Kim’s condition does not establish that she has esophageal cancer or a precancerous condition.
Esophageal cancer develops when malignant cells form in the tissues of the esophagus. Some conditions involving long-term irritation and changes in the esophageal lining can be associated with an increased cancer risk, but the significance of an individual’s findings depends on medical evaluation and testing.
Kim’s family has also supported efforts to raise awareness of esophageal disease. In 2019, the family partnered with UCLA Health to establish the Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health in his memory, supporting research and care for people with a range of esophageal disorders.
A preview of The Kardashians appears to show Kim preparing for and undergoing the procedure, with her mother, Kris Jenner, nearby. The footage suggests the procedure went ahead, but detailed medical findings and the specific nature of the removed irregularities have not been publicly disclosed in the information provided.
Robert Kardashian’s death remains the central reason the health scare has been so personal for Kim. While both situations involve the esophagus, there is no public evidence that her current condition is the same disease that killed her father.
The medical procedure was discussed on The Kardashians, which follows the family in Los Angeles and surrounding communities in Southern California. The map below identifies the general Los Angeles area; Kim’s specific treatment location has not been publicly confirmed.
Google Maps: Los Angeles, CA (general area)
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