Risk Factors of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer occurs in the tube which connects your throat to your stomach. As you swallow food, your esophagus carries food to be digested in your stomach. Cancer can occur anywhere along the esophagus. Esophageal cancer is relatively uncommon in the United States, and much more prevalent in parts of Africa and Asia.

Causes of Esophagel Cancer

• The exact causation of the disease is not known; however, scientists do know that cancer of the esophagus begins when the cells in the esophageal lining develop mutations in the DNA. This causes the cells to divide and grow in an uncontrolled fashion, eventually growing into a tumor. Esophageal tumors can often grow to spread throughout the musculature of your throat and other areas of the body.

Common Risk Factors

• Esophageal cancer is more common in patients older than 50. Age increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer, as does your sex. Men are three times more likely to develop the disease than women. Many medical professionals believe that chronic esophageal irritation may contribute to the DNA mutations leading to esophageal cancer. Factors like alcohol use, bile reflux, drinking very hot liquids, chewing tobacco, eating foods preserved in lye, eating a diet without many vegetables and fruits, smoking and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) may contribute to increased risk.

Medical Conditions Which Are Risk Factors

• Certain medical conditions contribute to your risk such as:
  H. pylori (helicobacter pylori): a bacterial infection most commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease and gastritis.
  HPV (human papillomavirus): viral condition, which raises your risk.
  Achalasia: this rare disease directly affects your esophageal muscles.
  Tylosis: a rare genetic disorder, which causes inflammation of the esophagus.
  Plummer-Vinson syndrome: a disorder which is typified by brittle fingernails, anemia and esophageal irritation.
  Prior cancer history in the head or neck.

Types of Esophageal Cancer

• There are several types of esophageal cancers. The cancer is defined by the cells that are involved in the cancer. Knowing what kind of cancer you have will enable you to better treat the disease.
  Adenocarcinoma is the most common esophageal cancer found in the United States. It begins in your esophageal cells within glands which secrete mucous. This is most commonly found in the lower area of the esophagus.
  Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the middle section of the esophagus and is the most common type of esophageal cancer throughout the world. It occurs in the thin, flat cells (squamous cells) which line your esophagus' lining.
  Additional rare forms include melanoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, small cell and choriocarcinoma.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk Factors

• Heavy alcohol use, cigarette smoking, using chewing tobacco and ingesting caustic agents (like lye) are major risk factors for people in the United States. Heavy drinking and smoking, when combined, greatly increase the risk.
  Habitual consumption of extremely hot beverages, regularly eating fermented vegetables, nutritional deficiencies (associated with a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits) and smoking/chewing tobacco are the main risk factors in developing countries.
  There are also environmental risk factors like exposure to fuel-burning appliances (like fireplaces, space heaters or stoves), asbestos or perchlorethylene (commonly used in dry cleaning).

Adenocarcinoma Risk Factors

• A condition known as Barrett's esophagus is the number one risk factor. This is a condition created by chronic GERD in which the tissue lining your esophagus becomes damages. An estimated 10 percent of patients suffering from GERD will develop Barrett's esophagus and approximately one percent of those patient will go on to develop cancer of the esophagus. Obesity also raises the risk of developing adenocarcinoma.