Diagnosis and hospital visit
Gala reports that Kardashian consulted several doctors and had been deeply troubled by the issue. She said she had shared it with few people because it was emotionally difficult to confront, and she hoped medication would resolve it.
A preview for the next episode shows Kardashian arriving at a hospital, where her mother, Kris Jenner, 70, comforts her. Kardashian explains that a doctor found irregularities in her esophagus that required surgical removal, and she compares the findings with what her father had experienced.
The outcome of the procedure and the precise nature of the tissue changes have not been disclosed, according to Gala. The abnormalities do not necessarily indicate cancer. Gala expects the next episode to provide more information.
Why her father's illness weighs on her
Her father, attorney Robert Kardashian, died of esophageal cancer in September 2003 at age 59. According to ABC News, his death came about two months after he learned of the diagnosis, which was reported as July 2003.
UCLA Health honored him in 2019 by opening the Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health. At the time, Kim Kardashian said the family was "proud to pay tribute" to him and hoped the partnership would "save lives."
What esophagitis means
Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus. MedlinePlus, a resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, identifies gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD, as a frequent cause. Possible symptoms include coughing, difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing, heartburn, hoarseness and a sore throat.
MedlinePlus lists alcohol use, smoking, obesity and vomiting among the risk factors. Others include lying down after a large meal and swallowing certain medicines, including potassium tablets or vitamin C, without sufficient water.
The National Cancer Institute says ordinary esophagitis alone is not a precancerous condition, though esophageal adenocarcinoma is strongly associated with GERD. MedlinePlus also notes that GERD lasting for years can cause Barrett esophagus, a change in the esophageal lining that may lead to cancer. The nature of Kardashian's abnormalities remains unknown.
The episode and her film work
Kardashian discusses her diagnosis in the October 29, 2026, episode of "The Kardashians." Season 8 began October 8 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, with episodes released on Thursdays. The series is available in Germany on Disney+.
The October 29 episode also follows Kardashian as she films Netflix's upcoming comedy "The Fifth Wheel." She serves as a producer and plays a crasher who disrupts a Las Vegas getaway for a group of longtime friends. Fortune Feimster, Nikki Glaser and Brenda Song also star.
