Esophageal Cancer Risk Factors
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Understanding Esophageal Cancer Risk Factors
The esophagus is a muscular tube that carries food and liquid to the stomach. The muscle layer of the esophagus is lined by a mucous membrane (the mucosa), a moist tissue that is composed of the epithelium and the lamina propria. The epithelium, made up of squamous cells, lines the pathway that food and liquids travel through on the way to the stomach.
Risk factors for esophageal cancer (cancer of the esophagus) are often linked to behaviors or conditions that cause chronic irritation or damage to the lining (epithelium) of the esophagus. The most common type of esophageal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, starts in the epithelium layer of the mucosa. Adenocarcinoma, the other main type of esophageal cancer, starts in the glands and usually occurs in the lower esophagus.
The esophagus is not protected, like the stomach and intestines, by a mucus lining. For this reason, the exposure of the epithelium to things like alcohol or tobacco can more easily irritate or damage the squamous cells. Factors causing irritation to this lining of the esophagus may increase your risk of esophageal cancer.
Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer
The following are some risk factors for esophageal cancer:
- Tobacco: Smokers are at a higher risk of esophageal cancer than non-smokers. More than half of all cases of squamous cell esophageal cancer are linked to smoking. Likewise, using chewing tobacco also raises your risk of esophageal cancer.
- Alcohol: Heavy drinking can irritate the lining of the esophagus and, therefore, increases the risk of both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinomas. The risk increases when alcohol consumption is combined with smoking.
- Poor diet: Diets lacking fruits and vegetables may be linked to an increased risk of esophageal cancer, whereas eating more fresh fruits and vegetable may actually reduce your risk. A combination of poor diet and overeating may lead to obesity; and people who are overweight have a greater risk of developing adenocarcinomas. Certain food preservatives, like lye, may also pose a risk.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Commonly called acid reflux, GERD is a digestive disease. Heartburn, a symptom of GERD, happens when stomach acids flow back up the esophagus. The stomach acid can irritate the lining of the esophagus and long-term acid reflux can damage the epithelium.
- Barrett's esophagus: Repeated exposure to stomach acid may lead to a change in the composition of the cells lining the lower esophagus. There are often no other symptoms, but this condition is often found in people with GERD.
- Injury or scarring: Damage to the esophagus or injuries that cause chronic scarring are also considered risk factors. For this reason, drinking very hot liquids may increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Chemical exposure: Some industrial chemicals and fumes, like dry cleaning solvents, may increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
NOTE: Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer. Not having risk factors does not mean that you won't get cancer. If you think you may be at risk, you should discuss it with your doctor.
Age, Gender and Other Factors
The risk of esophageal cancer is generally lower for younger people. Those age 55 and younger represent less than 15 percent of the cases. Esophageal cancer diagnoses are more common for those between the ages of 55 and 70. And for some reason, men are three times more likely than women to be diagnosed with esophageal cancer. There may also be a higher rate of esophageal cancer in people with certain inherited conditions, like tylosis. In addition, people who have had related head, throat or neck cancers may also be at an increased risk.
Managing Your Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer
There are many risk factors of esophageal cancer that are within our ability to manage. Understanding that what we eat and drink plays a role in our overall health is an important first step to managing our risk of esophageal cancer. Long-term alcohol and tobacco use are strongly linked to the development of esophageal cancer in the later years.
Because a healthy diet is also part of restoring health to those undergoing cancer treatments, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) offers nutrition therapy as part of its integrated cancer program. There are some simple ways you can reduce your risk of esophageal cancer. Talk to your doctor about how you can better manage these factors.
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