Kim Kardashian Says She Must Have Surgery for ‘Irregularities’ After Esophagitis Diagnosis
Kim Kardashian has revealed that she must undergo surgery for “irregularities” in her throat after being diagnosed with esophagitis, a health scare she said weighed on her because her father died of esophageal cancer, People reported.
On the 29 October episode of The Kardashians, the 46-year-old Skims founder said she had consulted doctors about the problem. “So I’ve seen a couple of doctors, and it’s been heavy on my mind lately,” Kim said in a confessional, according to People. She said she had kept it largely private: “I haven’t really told too many people about this, just because I think it’s something that really hits home for me and I just don’t really wanna go there.”
Kim linked her worry directly to her family history. Her father, Robert Kardashian, died of esophageal cancer in 2003, when he was 59. “With my dad having passed away from esophagus cancer, hopefully I can just take medication and this will go away,” she said, People reported.
But a preview for the next episode suggests a procedure lies ahead. In the preview, Kim is shown entering a hospital, People reported. In a voiceover, she says: “The doctor says my esophagus has these irregularities, and I have to have them cut out. It’s the same thing my dad had.” The preview shows her mother, Kris Jenner, consoling her by a hospital bed, according to People. The report does not say when the procedure is due to take place.
What is esophagitis?
Kim was diagnosed with esophagitis earlier this season, People reported. The condition causes a “swelling and irritation, called inflammation, of the tissues that line the esophagus,” according to the Mayo Clinic, as cited by People. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a leading cause, although a build-up of white blood cells or medication can also cause it, People reported.
People noted that esophagitis and esophageal cancer are different conditions, although esophagitis can be associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. The University of Washington’s Division of Gastroenterology calls chronic esophagitis “very common” and notes that one in 10 reflux patients could develop Barrett’s esophagus, in which the lining is replaced by one prone to cancer, according to People.
A familiar scare for the family
It is not the family’s first such scare on the show. In 2024, Kris Jenner shared that doctors had discovered a tumour on her ovary, prompting her to undergo a hysterectomy, People reported.
Kim had hoped the problem could be managed with medication, but the preview for the next episode shows her facing surgery instead. New episodes of The Kardashians stream on Thursdays on Hulu, People reported.
Sources: People, 29 October 2026; The News, 29 October 2026.