February is Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month – time to digest some info about the risks and symptoms of this ‘less survivable’ cancer.
8,000 people die of oesophageal (food pipe) cancer in the UK each year [HeartburnCancerUK]. It is the seventh most common cause of cancer death in the UK, accounting for 5% of all cancer deaths [CRUK]
As one of the less survivable cancers, just 12% of people with oesophageal cancer survive 10 years or more [HeartburnCancerUK] after diagnosis. However, 59% of cases of this cancer are preventable [CRUK], mostly through lifestyle changes and earlier diagnosis. Smoking, alcohol, and obesity all increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
The risk also increases with age. TVCA is appealing to all adults over the age of 55, and men especially need to be aware of the symptoms and to know that they are at increased risk. Currently one in 50 men and one in 96 women in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in their lifetime [CRUK].
People with a low income, or who lack employment, skills and training, who may have other health or disability issues, or who have poor housing, or a combination of these factors, are more likely to develop this cancer. CRUK states that around 1,200 cases of cancer of the oesophagus each year in England are linked to these conditions, affecting around 890 men and 320 women [CRUK].
Key symptoms of oesophageal cancer might be hard to spot, but may include:
You should be particularly concerned if you have these symptoms and they get worse over weeks or months.
Dr Sue Cullen, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, and Chair of the Endoscopy Network across the Thames Valley says:
“It is important that no one ignores a feeling of food getting stuck in their throat.
“But we’re also asking anyone over the age of 55 who develops heartburn or indigestion, for more than three weeks to talk to their GP. This particularly applies to men who smoke, drink, or are overweight, as they are of the highest risk to get oesophageal cancer. Unexpected weight loss should also always be checked out urgently.
“Of all new cases in the UK each year, around 6,400 are in men, and 2,800 are in women [CRUK]. We want to reduce these figures by alerting people to their risks. This cancer is quick and easy to diagnose with a simple camera test . The earlier we make the diagnosis, the more likely this cancer is to be treatable – early diagnosis saves lives.”
For more information, visit the TVCA oesophageal cancer web page.
| Issued: 25/1/2023
NRL-022-01-OESOPHAGEAL-JAN23.jaa |
