The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) issued its latest Cancer Progress Report on September 16, 2014. The report suggests that “most cancer deaths – more than 50 percent – in the United States can be avoided.” The AACR report indicates that certain lifestyle choices and other avoidable factors contribute to more than 50 percent of cancer deaths.”
“Many of the greatest reductions in the morbidity and mortality of cancer have resulted from advances in cancer prevention and early detection. Yet more than 50 percent of the 580,350 cancer deaths expected to occur in the United States in 2013 will be related to preventable causes” the AACR report stated.
It is certainly true that one can lower their risk of developing cancer, including cancer of the esophagus. Unfortunately, not all esophageal cancer diagnosis can be prevented. In fact, researchers currently do not yet know exactly what causes most esophageal cancers. However, the AACR does outline several risk factors that can attribute to a decrease in the risk of developing esophageal cancer.
The AACR report states: “…most notable among these causes are tobacco use, obesity, poor diet, lack of physical activity…and failure to use or comply with interventions that treat or prevent infectious causes of cancer.”
The AACR report states, for instance, that “you are 50 percent less likely to develop mouth, throat, esophageal and bladder cancer five years after stopping smoking.”
In addition to smoking, the report indicates that “obesity increases risk for a growing number of cancers, most prominently the adenocarcinoma subtype of esophageal cancer” along with a number of other cancers.
Other known risk factors of esophageal cancer include Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which is also known as acid reflux disease (chronic heartburn), poor nutrition, excessive alcohol use and Barrett’s esophagus.
The report does highlight positive news regarding a significant decline in the number of cancer deaths since past decades. Charles L. Sawyers, M.D., AACR President and Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D.(h.c.), AACR Chief Executive Officer, credit scientific discoveries for a “decrease in the incidence of many of the more than 200 types of cancer, cures for a number of these diseases and higher quality and longer lives for many individuals whose cancers cannot yet be prevented or cured.”
Esophageal cancer, however, has not seen such decreases, cures or higher quality and longer life for those whose cancers cannot yet be prevented or cured.
As the fastest growing cancer in the United States, esophageal cancer has instead seen an increase of over 600% in the past decades. Esophageal cancer is also one of the most deadly of cancers, with an overall 5 year survival rate of only 17.5%.
What is worse is that there is no standard or routine screening to detect esophageal cancer in its earliest stages and symptoms often arise once the cancer has spread.
This contributes greatly to the fact that esophageal cancer, which has no known cure, is often diagnosed in later stages reflecting on the fact that Stage IV esophageal cancer has a survival rate of only 3.8%.
The culprit? A tremendous lack of public awareness regarding risk factors and symptoms, no standard or routine methods for early detection and very little government or private research funding allocated for esophageal cancer.
As we continue to rally efforts in favor of awareness, early detection and research for esophageal cancer, we urge you to join this mission. Educate yourself regarding risk factors and symptoms of esophageal cancer and tell everyone you know.
The more that people know about esophageal cancer, the better the chances of saving lives. Visit us on Facebook to help spread the message and invite your friends to “like” the page. To contribute directly to life-saving research projects, click here. Remember, only through awareness and precious research funding of esophageal cancer will we ever see a cure.
Sources:
American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) American Cancer Society Baptist Health South Florida American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) National Cancer Institute (NIH) The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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