Risk Factors for Esophagus Cancer

Risk factor list: The list of risk factors mentioned for Esophagus Cancer in various sources includes:

• Age
• Gender - more common in men.
• Tobacco
• Smoking
• Smokeless tobacco
• Achalasia
• Reflux
• Esophageal stricture
• GERD
• Excessive alcohol
• Esophagus irritation
• Barrett's Esophagus
• Swallowed irritants
• Previous history of esophagus cancer
• Previous history of head cancer
• Previous history of neck cancer

Risk factors discussion: Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and voice box. Women are at slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer if they drink two or more drinks per day. Drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and rectum. ¹

Cigarette smokers are also more likely than nonsmokers to develop several other types of cancer, including oral cancer and cancers of the larynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, kidney, and cervix. Smoking may also increase the likelihood of developing cancers of the stomach, liver, prostate, colon, and rectum. The risk of cancer begins to decrease soon after a smoker quits, and the risk continues to decline gradually each year after quitting.²

People who smoke cigars or pipes have a risk for cancers of the oral cavity that is similar to the risk for people who smoke cigarettes. Cigar smokers also have an increased chance of developing cancers of the lung, larynx, esophagus, and pancreas. ²

Heavy drinkers have an increased risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, and liver. (People who smoke cigarettes and drink heavily have an especially high risk of getting these cancers.) Some studies suggest that even moderate drinking may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.²

The exact causes of cancer of the esophagus are not known. However, studies show that any of the following factors can increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer:

• Age. Esophageal cancer is more likely to occur as people get older; most people who develop esophageal cancer are over age 60.

• Sex. Cancer of the esophagus is more common in men than in women.

• Tobacco Use. Smoking cigarettes or using smokeless tobacco is one of the major risk factors for esophageal cancer.

• Alcohol Use. Chronic and/or heavy use of alcohol is another major risk factor for esophageal cancer. People who use both alcohol and tobacco have an especially high risk of esophageal cancer. Scientists believe that these substances increase each other's harmful effects.

• Barrett's Esophagus. Long-term irritation can increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Tissues at the bottom of the esophagus can become irritated if stomach acid frequently "backs up" into the esophagus -- a problem called gastric reflux. Over time, cells in the irritated part of the esophagus may change and begin to resemble the cells that line the stomach. This condition, known as Barrett's esophagus, is a premalignant condition that may develop into adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

• Other Types of Irritation. Other causes of significant irritation or damage to the lining of the esophagus, such as swallowing lye or other caustic substances, can increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

• Medical History. Patients who have had other head and neck cancers have an increased chance of developing a second cancer in the head and neck area, including esophageal cancer.

Having any of these risk factors increases the likelihood that a person will develop esophageal cancer. Still, most people with one or even several of these factors do not get the disease. And most people who do get esophageal cancer have none of the known risk factors.³

Risks factors for Esophagus Cancer: medical news summaries: The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Esophagus Cancer:

• Adenocarcinoma incidence is increasing dramatically
• Diabetes and sugar level linked to risk of cancer death
• Exercise may improve cancer recover and reduce risk of reoccurrence
• New Dietary Guidelines support numerous research results
• Zinc supplementation may prevent some cancers

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