Understanding your risk for esophageal cancer and knowing what to watch for can change the trajectory of this disease. The earlier doctors catch esophageal cancer, the more options they have and the better the outcomes.
Siteman Cancer Center leads the region in esophageal cancer surveillance, early detection, and prevention.
Who Is at Risk for Esophageal Cancer?
Several factors increase a person’s likelihood of developing esophageal cancer. Having one or more of these risk factors does not mean cancer is inevitable, but it does mean surveillance and early conversations with your physician matter greatly.
Risk factors include:
- Age over 55
- Being male
- Chronic acid reflux disease (GERD)
- Having Barrett’s esophagus
- History of tobacco use
- History of heavy alcohol use
- Obesity, particularly excess weight in the abdomen, which increases reflux risk
Reducing Esophageal Cancer Risks
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent esophageal cancer, meaningful risk reduction is possible. Early detection of pre-cancerous conditions can stop cancer before it starts.
Steps that reduce risk include:
- Managing acid reflux (GERD) with appropriate medication and lifestyle modifications
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Stopping tobacco use
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
For patients with Barrett’s esophagus, regular surveillance endoscopy is crucial. It helps catch changes before they turn into cancer. Siteman’s gastroenterology and endoscopy teams manage surveillance programs for patients at elevated risk.
What To Do If You Have Barrett’s Esophagus
When Barrett’s esophagus shows no signs of abnormal cell growth (called dysplasia), the cancer risk is relatively low. Physicians will manage patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus with periodic endoscopic surveillance. As the degree of dysplasia increases, monitoring becomes more frequent and intervention becomes more important.
Patients found with high-grade dysplasia or T1a (early cancer) during surveillance can often use minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. This helps them avoid major surgery altogether.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Do not wait for symptoms to become severe before seeking evaluation. Consider contacting your physician or requesting a Siteman consultation if you:
- Were told you have GERD and you are not responding to medication
- Have a prior diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus and are due for surveillance
- Have difficulty swallowing or notice food “sticking” in your chest
- Have unexplained weight loss
- Have a family history of esophageal cancer
- Want a second opinion after a biopsy or diagnosis
The power of healthy living is hard to overestimate. A large percentage of cancers and many other chronic diseases can be prevented by things like eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, keeping weight in check, and getting important screening tests.
The best part? These are things under your control. Take some simple steps to improve your health, and help your family do the same.
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