Kim Kardashian reveals esophagitis diagnosis, recalls late father’s cancer

Kim Kardashian has disclosed her esophagitis diagnosis, which reminded her of her late father Robert Kardashian, who died of oesophageal cancer in 2003. — AFP pic

By Malay Mail

First Published: Friday, 18 Sep 2026 5:16 PM MYT

LOS ANGELES, Sept 18 — Kim Kardashian has revealed she has been diagnosed with esophagitis, a condition that brought back memories of her late father Robert Kardashian, who died from oesophageal cancer in 2003.

The 45-year-old reality star disclosed the diagnosis in the trailer for the eighth season of The Kardashians released yesterday, with E! News reporting that she was shown in a hospital bed when someone off-camera asked whether it was the same condition that killed her father, to which she replied yes.

Esophagitis refers to inflammation and irritation of the tissue lining the oesophagus and, if left untreated, can progress to Barrett’s oesophagus, which is associated with an increased risk of oesophageal cancer.

Robert, who had four children with Kris Jenner — Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob — died from oesophageal cancer in 2003 at the age of 59.

Khloé previously spoke about her father’s illness on her Khloé in Wonder Land podcast in April 2025, saying his condition progressed rapidly after he was diagnosed.

“My dad died really quickly,” Khloé said.

“He had esophageal cancer and I think he died six or seven weeks after diagnosis.”

She also recalled struggling with guilt over not spending more time with Robert during her teenage years, saying the feelings eventually turned into anger because he had not told the family his illness was terminal.

Khloé said she later found relief after discussing her grief during the first season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians in 2007, describing the experience as lifting “a house” off her.

She said that conversation allowed her to let go of her guilt and anger and remember her father with “smiles and happiness and admiration and understanding”.

The Kardashian sisters later channelled their experience into the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health, which they helped establish in 2019 to support research and treatment for disorders affecting the oesophagus.

Kim previously said on The Kardashians in 2025 that the family could not save her father with the medical technology and access to specialists available today, but hoped their work could help save other lives.