Did you know that Esophageal cancer makes up 1% of the cancers in the United States. It is 3 to 4 times more common in men than women. If you live in the US, your lifetime risk for developing this type of cancer is you are a male is 1 in 125 and if you are female it is 1 in 435. Less than 15% of cases of Esophageal cancer are found to be in people younger than 55 years old.
So what are the risk factors of Esophageal cancer?
- Smoking cigarettes
- Drinking alcohol
- Being obese
- Having GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Having Barrett’s esophagus
- Injury to the esophagus
- Exposure to certain chemicals and chemical fumes
- History of other cancers
Here are the signs and symptoms of Esophageal cancer:
- Difficulty with swallowing
- Coughing
- Hoarseness
- Pain in the breast bone area
- Chronic indigestion and heartburn
- Weight loss that is unplanned
- Vomiting
- Bone pain
- Pneumonia
If you have multiple signs listed above, please see your doctor, but remember it may be another condition other than cancer.
Cards of Hope 