WHAT IT IS:
Esophageal Cancer is a malignant cancer that can occur anywhere along the lining of the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach.

ESOPHAGEAL CANCER STATISTICS

Estimates for new cases of EC in the United States
for 2008 were as follows:

*New cases: 16,470
*Deaths per year: 14,280
*Five-year relative survival rate for localized stage: 34%
*Five-year relative survival rate for all stages combined: 16%

This information is from the American Cancer Society's
Esophageal Cancer Fact sheet. Go to www.cancer.org to download the EsophagealCancer.pdf file.

*National Cancer Institute (NCI) statistics show that esophageal adenocarcinoma increased at a greater rate between 1975 and 2001 than any other major type of cancer in the U.S. Incidence and mortality among African-American males has steadily declined over the past two decades. This is not the case among white males.

*The information on this page has been provided by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.

**For a more in-depth study of EC, please refer to the Esophageal Cancer links (to the right) for organizations with extensive information on this disease.

Esophageal Cancer Information Links:

American Cancer Society

National Cancer Institute

American College of Gastroenterology

American Gastroenterological Association

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Barrett's Esophagus

National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials

National Institute of Health (NIH)

Healthline, Connect to Better Health

Mayo Clinic

Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association

Heart Burn Alliance

RISK FACTORS:
Factors, which when present, may predispose an individual to developing EC:

GERD: (GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISORDER): A condition where stomach acid regularly backs up into the esophagus, often causing heart-burn/indigestion.

BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS: A condition which results from long-term reflux disorder. Individuals with this condition are at a highly increased risk (estimated at 30-100X normal) for developing esophageal cancer and need to be closely followed by their gastroenterologist.

TOBACCO USE: Responsible for a high percentage of esophageal cancers.

ALCOHOL USE: More likely to be a cause of EC when combined with tobacco use.

DIET: A diet low in fruits, vegetables, vitamins A, B2 and C increases the risk for EC.

AGE, GENDER, RACE: Nearly 80% of people diagnosed are between ages 55 and 85. Men have EC at rates nearly 3X greater than women do, largely due to use of tobacco and alcohol. African American males are 2X as likely as white males to have EC.

OBESITY: Development of EC is increased by approximately 50% in obese men.

IRRITATION: caused by swallowing caustic substances.

HOW ESOPHAGEAL CANCER OCCURS:
There are two main types of EC: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Since the esophagus is lined with squamous cells, squamous cell carcinoma can occur anywhere along the length of the esophagus. Squamous cell carcinomas make up less than 50% of esophageal cancers.

Adenocarcinoma mostly occurs in the lower esophagus, as a result of a condition known as Barrett’s Esophagus, or GERD. Barrett’s Esophagus develops as a result of on-going reflux (GERD) which has damaged the lining of the lower esophagus, causing abnormal glandular cells which are more resistant to stomach acid, to replace the squamous cells that normally line the esophagus. The adenocarcinoma begins in the abnormal glandular cells.