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Am I at risk?
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The exact cause of esophageal cancer remains unknown, but the disease seems to be associated with several risk factors, including:
- Chronic abuse of alcohol
- Long-term smoking or tobacco use
- Age (most likely to occur in people over 60)
- Gender (more common in men than women by a ratio of 3:1)
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Diet low in fruits and vegetables
- Injury to the esophagus caused by ingestion of corrosive fluids such as lye or cleaning solutions
- Anatomic defects that affect swallowing (e.g., achalasia, a sphincter defect)
We are here for education, support and to help you navigate your way through your diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Call (925) 947-3322.
For adenocarcinoma (which develops in the glandular tissue located in the lower one-third of the esophagus), a growing body of evidence suggests that changes in the lining of the esophagus caused by chronic acid reflux can be a forerunner of cancer. Normally, a muscle known as a sphincter at the lower end of the esophagus opens to allow food to enter the stomach and closes to prevent digestive juices from backing up into the esophagus. In patients with acid reflux, the digestive juices seep back into the esophagus, creating heartburn (a burning sensation behind the breastbone). Chronic acid reflux - known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD - can cause changes in the lower lining of the stomach. This condition is known as Barrett's Esophagus and can potentially lead to the development of adenocarcinoma.
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