April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. There are two types of esophageal cancer risk factors: Those we can control and those we can’t. We don’t have any say over our sex (men have a far higher risk of esophageal cancer), age (adults over 50 are more likely to have it), or a family history of this cancer. But we can change other risk factors, including:
- Smoking
- Alcohol use
- Unhealthy diet
- Obesity
- Habit of drinking very hot liquids
Patients who have one or more of these risk factors, heartburn, or acid reflux should be taken seriously, even if it doesn’t happen every day or even every week. You probably know that heartburn is actually a misnomer as it has nothing to with the heart. Instead, it happens when the acid our stomach uses to digest food travels up into the esophagus, damaging it.
It’s important not to ignore long-term heartburn. When it continues for a long time, a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs. If GERD is not treated, it can lead to Barrett’s esophagus. In Barrett’s esophagus, the cells that line the esophagus begin to change in ways that make cancer more likely. Identifying and treating this condition is a key way to prevent esophageal cancer, and one way to do so would include getting an endoscopy.
Barrett’s esophagus: Watch for these symptoms.
Though it’s best to catch Barrett’s esophagus before it turns into cancer, it’s also important to be on the lookout for “alarm symptoms.” If you experience any of these, tell your doctor:
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Weight loss without trying
- Chest pain, pressure, or burning
- Chronic heartburn
- Coughing or hoarseness
Although the symptoms above can be symptoms associated with Barrett’s esophagus, it is also common that Barrett’s esophagus may have no symptoms related to the condition.
Esophageal cancer doesn’t occur overnight. It starts with inflammation, pre-cancer, and then turns into cancer. Stopping that cycle by controlling your heartburn or treating a damaged esophagus is the best way to prevent esophageal cancer.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit GetScreenedToday.com or call (407) 609-7395.
