COUNTRY queen DOLLY PARTON is hiding secret cancer surgery from her fans!
In a bombshell exclusive, The ENQUIRER can reveal that doctors implanted a state-of-the-art medical device into the 67-year-old superstar’s esophagus during a tense five-hour operation.
A source says a terrified Dolly opted to undergo the experimental treatment after a sudden dramatic weight loss sparked fears that she was suffering from deadly esophageal cancer.
“Dolly didn’t want her friends, family and fans to worry about her, so the entire procedure was done under the tightest secrecy,” a source close to the country music superstar told The ENQUIRER.
“She researched her condition and knew that, without treatment, developing cancer was a real possibility. Dolly always projects an upbeat, positive image, but underneath that she was terrified.”
Dolly – one of America’s most successful and beloved performers – has suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease, or severe acid reflux, for at least several years, the insider says. The condition can cause heartburn, sore throats, hoarseness, coughs and difficulty swallowing – and it can lead to cancer of the esophagus, medical experts say.
The source says a desperate Dolly finally decided to seek a cure when her weight dropped an alarming 20 pounds, triggering fears that she was stricken with esophageal cancer. The deadly disease claims more than 15,000 lives in the U.S. every year and celebrity victims have included attorney Robert Kardashian, “Family Feud” host Richard Dawson and “West Wing” actor Ron Silver.
“Dolly knew something had to be done – or she could die,” said the source. “Her weight was dropping dramatically, she was chugging antacid medication, and she couldn’t eat anything but soft, bland foods.”
And, still, every time she ate, stomach acid washed up into her esophagus, triggering nausea and pain, said the source.
“That’s especially difficult for a singer,” noted the source. “Dolly was afraid that if she didn’t get the condition corrected, she’d never sing again – and for Dolly, that would be worse than death. She says she wants to keep singing until the day she dies.”
Dolly decided to undergo surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., revealed the source.
She was driven from Nashville to the posh Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach in her oversize tour bus, called the “gypsy wagon,” on May 30.
She remained secluded in her luxury hotel suite with a few close associates, ordering room service. She only emerged when it came time to board an unmarked SUV for her ride to the clinic’s back entrance, said the source.
“Dolly was hustled straight out the back door into the SUV,” said the source. “No one at the hotel saw her, and her tour bus was hidden during her entire stay in Jacksonville.”
Dolly’s personal physician flew in from Los Angeles to Jacksonville at the time of the surgery to consult with the surgeons set to implant the device, called LINX, in the ailing singer.
The device was approved by the FDA in March 2012. The Mayo Clinic is one of the first medical centers to offer the experimental treatment, which is designed to help the nearly three million people suffering from chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease.
“Dolly was worried at first that she wouldn’t be able to have the procedure,” said the source. “When she learned about this treatment, she knew it was her last hope.”
The laparoscopic procedure was conducted under general anesthesia on June 4, said the source. Surgeons made five small incisions in Dolly’s abdomen then implanted a ring of tiny magnetic titanium beads around the junction of the stomach and the esophagus. The beads allow food to be swallowed but block the flow of acid back into the food pipe.
During the operation, “surgeons discovered masses of scar tissue, which had to be removed and biopsied for cancer cells,” said the source.
“The procedure was supposed to last just two hours, but it took five. When it was over, Dolly said she wanted to get on her bus and head home that same day. But the doctors insisted that she stay overnight for observation, and the next day Dolly walked to her bus and climbed on board for the eight-hour trip back to Nashville.
“She told friends there, ‘It went very well. I’m going to be fine.’”
But medical experts warn that Dolly may not be completely cured, and she’ll need to undergo regular endoscopies to check for abnormalities.
“The device does not eliminate stomach acid,” Dr. Jerome Spunberg, radiation oncologist from West Palm Beach, Fla., who has not treated Dolly, told The ENQUIRER.
And Dr. Jamie Koufman, author of “Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure,” questioned the cutting-edge procedure because it’s so new. Koufman, who has not treated Dolly, warned that a future scope could possibly reveal “tiny titanium beads floating around the esophagus,” which meant the device fell apart.
Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Green of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center, who has not treated Dolly but is a leading authority on gastrointestinal diseases, told The ENQUIRER: “Having the procedure does not prevent esophageal cancer. She will need to be closely monitored.”
The petite 5-foot-1 singer has already undergone further tests in Los Angeles, but she’s still very thin, said the source.
“Dolly may not weigh even 100 pounds, but she has a clean bill of health so far,” said the source.
“While doctors told her the scar tissue showed no signs of cancer, they want to continue monitoring her carefully. She’ll need regular checkups for the rest of her life.”
