Data based on approximately five million people suggests that esophageal cancer has nearly doubled from 2012 through 2019. According to a recent report in MSN, the incidence of precancerous Barrett’s esophagus rose almost fifty percent in the 45 to 64-year-old age group during the aforementioned period.
Barrett’s esophagus is a precancerous condition affecting the tube that moves the food from your throat to your stomach. It may develop when the lining of a swallowing tube is damaged through chronic acid reflux. It is considered to be a precursor to esophageal cancer.
Other factors that bring an increased risk of esophageal cancer are smoking, alcohol use, GI reflux disorder, and obesity.
The cancer may not be noticeable in its early stages due to its lack of identifiable symptoms. When esophageal cancer is advanced the outward signs may be trouble swallowing, heartburn, coughing, indigestion, or an unexplained loss of weight.
Treatment options are radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. The American Cancer Society estimates that esophageal cancer has taken 16,410 adult lives so far in 2022.
These findings were presented at the 2022 conference for Digestive Diseases. There was an urgent message expressed by researchers for increased screening of middle-aged people.
