Focus on your controllable risk factors, such as smoking cigarettes and drinking heavily.
Esophageal cancer is still a relatively uncommon disease—but it is also the fastest rising cancer in the United States. According to the latest statistics, esophageal cancer has increased six-fold over the past 30 years.
Esophageal cancer occurs when cells in the innermost layer of the lining of the esophagus (the tube that moves food and liquid from the throat to the stomach) begin to grow uncontrollably and spread outward through the multiple layers of the esophageal lining. The cancer can start in the squamous cells—the thin, flat cells that line the esophagus. This type of cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma, and the number of cases is actually on the decline in the United States. Adenocarcinoma—where the cancer first grows in the glandular cells lining the esophagus—is the type that is increasing dramatically.
What puts you at risk for esophageal cancer?
Like most cancers, there are some risk factors for esophageal cancer over which you have no control, for instance, being older than age 40, being male or black, or having had cancer in the head and neck area. But other risk factors are well under your control, such as smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol heavily and regularly, being overweight, and having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Protecting yourself from esophageal cancer is all about focusing on the controllable risk factors we’ve just mentioned. Here are seven essential steps you can take to lower your risk.
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Quit smoking and don’t use smokeless tobacco products. Nicotine contains numerous cancer causing agents and can worsen GERD. The longer you use nicotine products, the greater your risk of esophageal cancer.
Reduce alcohol intake.Alcohol in moderation (up to one drink a day for women and up to two for men) is fine, but heavy consumption of liquor, beer, and wine over many years has been proven to increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Avoid very hot liquids. Drinking exceptionally hot liquids on a regular basis can also damage the lining of the esophagus, increasing the risk of esophageal cancer (particularly the squamous cell type).
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Researchers have found that people who eat a diet low in vitamins A, C, B1(riboflavin), and beta-carotene, and the mineral selenium, have a higher risk of esophageal cancer.
Don’t ignore heartburn. There is no reason to suffer the symptoms of frequent heartburn or GERD, especially when refluxed acid from the stomach can damage the esophagus and predispose you to Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.
Manage your weight. Being overweight by 20 lbs. or more—in particular, being obese—raises the risk of esophageal cancer (as well as other diseases).
Have an upper endoscopy on a regular basis if you are at high risk. If you have strong risk factors for esophageal cancer, such as GERD or Barrett’s esophagus, you should have an upper endoscopy on a regular basis to look for cancerous changes in the cells that line the esophagus.
