Kim Kardashian Shares Esophagitis Diagnosis Related to Dad's Cancer

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Kim Kardashian is opening up about a health issue that carries an especially emotional connection to her family.

In the newly released Season 8 trailer for The Kardashians, the 45-year-old reality star reveals that she has been diagnosed with esophagitis, an inflammation and irritation of the tissue lining the esophagus.

Kim is shown lying in a hospital bed when someone off camera asks whether the condition is what her late father, Robert Kardashian, died from.

Kim confirms the connection, making the moment visibly emotional for her family.

Robert Kardashian Died of Esophageal Cancer

Kim's father, Robert Kardashian, died in September 2003 at age 59 after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Robert and Kris Jenner shared four children: Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob Kardashian.

His illness progressed rapidly. Khloé Kardashian recalled in a 2025 episode of her podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, that their father died only several weeks after receiving his diagnosis.

For Kim and her siblings, the diagnosis was a devastating loss that has continued to influence the family's work surrounding esophageal health.

Esophagitis Is Not the Same as Cancer

While Kim's diagnosis has an obvious emotional connection to her father's death, esophagitis itself is not esophageal cancer.

The condition refers to inflammation of the esophageal lining and can have a number of causes. According to medical information cited by E! and other outlets, untreated chronic esophagitis can sometimes lead to Barrett's esophagus, a condition associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.

The trailer does not reveal what caused Kim's esophagitis or provide details about the severity of her condition or her treatment.

The Kardashian Family Turned Grief Into Medical Advocacy

Robert's death also inspired the Kardashian family to support research and treatment for esophageal conditions.

In 2019, the family helped establish the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health, named in his honor.

Kim has previously spoken about how meaningful the center is to her family, saying that although they could not save their father's life, the work allows them to help other patients.

The center focuses on research, diagnosis and treatment related to esophageal diseases.

Kris Jenner Gets Emotional

Kim's diagnosis appears to hit her mother, Kris Jenner, particularly hard.

In the trailer, Kris becomes emotional while discussing the situation, underscoring how strongly Robert's death still affects the family more than two decades later.

For Kim, seeing her own health issue connected to the same part of the body affected by her father's cancer appears to have brought those memories back to the surface.

A Personal Story on the New Season

Kim has previously shared other health scares publicly, but this revelation carries a different kind of weight because of her family's history.

The Season 8 trailer does not indicate that Kim has been diagnosed with cancer. Instead, it shows her dealing with esophagitis while confronting the fear and memories associated with losing her father to esophageal cancer.

Season 8 of The Kardashians premieres October 8 on Hulu, where viewers will see more of Kim's health journey and the family's reaction to her diagnosis.

Source: E! News