The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation

Thanksgiving, a time for family and friends to gather together, share thanks and enjoy a delicious feast. But did you know that the week of Thanksgiving is also dedicated to bringing awareness to a disease that affects one out of five Americans?

That disease is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).  Also known as acid reflux disease, GERD is a condition of the digestive system which has increased significantly in recent decades.

GERD is also a primary risk factor for esophageal cancer, the fastest growing cancer in the United States.  Esophageal cancer, similar to GERD, has also increased significantly in past decades.  In fact, incidence of esophageal cancer has risen over 600% and with an overall five-year survival rate of 17.5%, is among the deadliest of cancers.

Click here to learn how you can help spread awareness of GERD Awareness Week!

RefluxMD, a San Diego, CA, based Internet healthcare company focused on helping people suffering from GERD, has teamed up with The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, a nonprofit charity located in Rhode Island, to bring awareness of the dangerous link between GERD and esophageal cancer.

GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is weakened or damaged.  “The function of the LES is to act as a gatekeeper, opening to allow food to pass into the stomach and then closing to prevent the contents of the stomach (food, acid and other secretions) from back flowing or refluxing into the esophagus,” Bruce Kaechele, founder of RefluxMD states.

Heartburn, a common symptom of GERD, does not typically cause major concern, as billions of Americans experience it at some point in their lives.   However, persistent heartburn which occurs two or more times a week should not be taken lightly.

Some lifestyle changes can help to manage GERD symptoms, including avoid eating at least three hours before bed, stay upright after meals, lose weight, moderate exercise and avoiding certain foods that trigger symptoms.  Surgery may be an option for some patients.  Kaechele warns that “GERD is a progressive disease and can worsen if not treated properly.”

Overtime, the backflow of acid damages the lining of the esophagus and can cause serious medical conditions, which include chronic cough or hoarseness, bleeding or scarring of the esophagus, ulcers or Barrett’s esophagus (which is an abnormal change in the lining of the esophagus that increases the risk of esophageal cancer).

President of The Salgi Foundation knows all too well the dangers of acid reflux.  “My father suffered from chronic acid reflux for years and was never warned by doctors of any possible risks.  We never knew how much damage his reflux was causing until it was too late.” She continued, “My father passed away a little over a year from the time he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.  It was and still is devastating.”

Many chronic heartburn sufferers turn to antacids or other over-the-counter medications for relief.  Others seek help from their doctors and are prescribed medications known as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), which reduce the amount of acid in the stomach; treating the symptoms of GERD but not the disease.  Many PPI medications no longer require a prescription and can be purchased over-the-counter.

A recent poll conducted by RefluxMD concerning PPI medications showed that the majority of patients who were prescribed PPIs by their doctors were never told that the medications “only treated symptoms, but that reflux would continue and the disease could progress,” and were also never told that “there were potential negative side effects (e.g. osteoporosis, bacterial infections, etc.”)

According to RefluxMD, PPIs are overprescribed.  “Research has proven that over 30% of daily PPI users are not refluxing.  Although long-term use of PPIs daily may reduce or eliminate symptoms; they do not stop the flow of stomach contents into the esophagus.  Consequently, GERD can progress and potentially lead to serious complications, such as Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer.”

It is important to never stop taking any medications until you have spoken to your doctor.

In addition to GERD, other risk factors associated with esophageal cancer include obesity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, excessive drinking and Barrett’s esophagus.  Unfortunately esophageal cancer has few, if any, early symptoms.  Symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, chronic cough or hoarseness, food getting stuck or choking while eating often occurs once the cancer has spread and reaches an advanced stage.

Since there are currently no routine or standard screenings to detect esophageal cancer in its earliest stages, The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation encourages those who may be at risk to be proactive and get screened as early as possible to see if there is any damage.

RefluxMD and The Salgi Foundation urge people to “Never ignore frequent heartburn and never rely on medications alone. Talk to your doctor about all of your options, especially how you can get screened for any possible damage.”

Click here to learn how you can help spread awareness of the dangerous link between chronic heartburn and acid reflux.

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity established in Rhode Island. The Salgi Foundation’s mission is to raise awareness, encourage early detection and to fund research of esophageal cancer in hopes of a cure.

RefluxMD: A San Diego-based RefluxMD believes there is a better way to treat reflux disease. The Internet healthcare company has partnered with leading reflux specialists to champion a new approach to more effectively treat reflux disease patients and to create tools that help patients take control of their treatment. RefluxMD is designed to be a complete, personalized reflux resource. Visit: www.refluxmd.com

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.

For years, doctors and researchers believed that Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer.   Over the past decades, esophageal cancer has increased over 600% and is now the fastest growing cancer in the United States*. Esophageal cancer is also one of the deadliest cancers, as less than 20% of those diagnosed with esophageal cancer will only survive five years.

While there are no known reasons for this alarming rise in esophageal cancer, researchers agree that the increase in obesity and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) may be to blame.*

But new research shows that PPIs may also play a significant role in the increase of esophageal cancer.

What are Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medicines that work by reducing the amount of stomach acid made by glands in the lining of your stomach. PPIs are used to treat the symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.*

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a primary risk factor for esophageal cancer.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms.

What causes GERD?

GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is weakened or damaged. The LES is then unable to close and keep food, acid and other secretions from flowing backwards or refluxing into the esophagus. Overtime, the reflux of stomach contents and acids can cause serious damage to the esophagus, including bleeding and scarring of the esophagus, ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.

Lifestyle changes can help to manage GERD symptoms.

Some of these changes are to avoid eating at least three hours before bed, stay upright after meals, lose weight, moderate exercise and avoiding certain foods that trigger symptoms. Surgery may be an option for some patients.

PPIs only treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease.

Many chronic heartburn sufferers turn to antacids or other over-the-counter medications for relief. Others seek help from their doctors and are prescribed medications known as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), which reduce the amount of acid in the stomach; treating the symptoms of GERD but not the disease. Some PPIs do not require a prescription and can be also purchased over-the-counter.

RefluxMD states:  “since their introduction in 1989 the cost of [PPIs] has grown to over $11 billion dollars annually while adenocarcinoma, esophageal cancer that results from GERD, has become the fastest growing cancer in the US, Europe, Japan and Australia (Reflux-Induced Esophageal Cancer Trends)

PPIs work to control the symptoms of GERD but they do not reduce acid reflux or prevent the progression of the disease and the damage to the esophagus, RefluxMD 

Dr. Jaime Koufman, a physician in New York who specializes in voice disorders and acid reflux, wrote an article in the New York Times which details the dangerous link between acid reflux, PPI use and esophageal cancer.

“A Danish study published this year concluded that there were no cancer-protective effects from using the common anti-reflux medications, called proton pump inhibitors and that regular long-term use was actually associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer.”

The Danish study also showed that “PPI use may facilitate the formation of carcinogenic bile acids.”  These bile acids are responsible for the sometimes pre-cancerous condition known as Barrett’s esophagus and an elevated risk of esophageal cancer.

Stomach juices also contain the compound gastrin, which has been shown to “stimulate cell growth that may contribute to cancer.” The Danish study showed that levels of gastrin can increase with the use of PPIs and other similar medications and that PPIs “may increase the risk of gastrointestinal tumours.” (People’s Pharmacy)

Danish researchers agree that further research is needed to study the association of PPIs, acid reflux and esophageal cancer. However, they offer the following suggestion for PPI use:

“Until the results from future studies can further elucidate the association, PPIs should be restricted to symptom control according to current guidelines. Hence, PPIs may not protect against malignant progression in BO [Barrett’s Oesophagus] patients and in selected high-risk patients, clinicians may consider adding or replacing long-term medical treatment with other modalities.”*

Do not stop taking any medications and do not make any changes regarding your health without first consulting your doctor. It is important to discuss these issues with your doctor and explore alternate ways to reduce and/or treat your acid reflux disease and to reduce your risk of esophageal cancer.

Methods of preventing esophageal cancer need to be researched and that can only happen with your help! Consider a financial contribution to help support research, which will explore prevention of esophageal cancer research. Click here to donate.

Patients with a specific type of esophageal cancer survived longer when they were given the latest lung cancer drug, according to trial results being presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference.

Up to one in six patients with esophageal cancer were found to have EGFR duplication in their tumour cells and taking the drug gefitinib, which targets this fault, boosted their survival by up to six months, and sometimes beyond.

This is the first treatment for advanced esophageal cancer shown to improve survival in patients whose initial course of chemotherapy treatment has failed.

Donate to help fund life-saving esophageal cancer research here!

It is also the first time a targeted treatment of any kind has proved effective in this disease, although chemotherapy and some targeted drugs have shown benefit in the second line treatment of other cancers of the digestive system including stomach cancer.

The trial – called ‘TRANS-COG’ – looked for extra copies of a gene called EGFR in tumour samples from 295 deceased esophageal cancer patients who had received either gefitinib or placebo as part of the COG trial.

Of the 48 patients who had extra EGFR copies in their tumour cells, 13 per cent of those who had gefitinib survived for at least a year, while none of the patients who received a placebo survived that long.

Giving gefitinib to patients who didn’t have extra EGFR copies made no difference to how long they survived. This suggests that EGFR testing could identify a subgroup of esophageal patients who may benefit from gefitinib.

Dr Russell Petty, a medical oncologist from the University of Aberdeen, who is presenting the data, said: “This is exciting news in our field. It’s the first time any drug has shown survival benefit for esophageal patients who have stopped responding to their initial treatment. To date there’s been disappointingly little progress in treating this cancer type, which kills nearly 8,000 people a year and sadly is often diagnosed late making it difficult to treat successfully.

Esophageal cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the Untied States and other western countries.

In fact, esophageal cancer has increased over 600% in the US in past decades.  An often lethal diagnosis, esophageal cancer does not usually show any symptoms (such as difficulty swallowing) in early stages.  Symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, often appear once the cancer has spread and becomes advanced.

When esophageal cancer is diagnosed in late stages, it is very difficult to treat the cancer and there is rarely a cure.  Patients who are diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer face a five-year survival rate of only 3.8%.

“It’s thought that up to 16 per cent of esophageal cancer patients could benefit from gefitinib, providing valuable extra months of life to people who would otherwise have had very few options available to them.”

Irene Black’s late husband, Roy, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in January 2011 aged 78, after having problems swallowing and later being rushed into A&E for an emergency endoscopy. He was given an intense course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, but unfortunately the cancer stopped responding and the family were told it was incurable. It was then that Roy decided to join the trial.

Irene said: “There is no doubt in my mind that, if it wasn’t for the trial, Roy wouldn’t have been with us for so long. He managed to get back to his bingo, which he loved, surrounded by friends and we booked a four night holiday on the west coast at Fort William. I will always treasure that holiday – if it wasn’t for the trial we may not have had the special time together at the end.”

“It’s comforting to know that the trial Roy took part in when he was alive may help patients with this devastating type of cancer live longer in the future.”

Professor Matt Seymour, NCRI’s clinical research director said: “Although the survival benefit for these patients was relatively modest, this trial is an important step forwards for a type of cancer where progress in treatment has fallen behind other cancers in recent decades. While there has been some success in treating other cancers of the digestive system, esophageal cancer remains extremely difficult to treat, with only 13 per cent of patients surviving five years or more. It will be interesting to see whether this drug, if properly targeted at the right patients, could offer similar benefits to those with earlier stage disease and also whether other drugs that target EGFR could prove to be even more effective.”

Esophageal cancer research is extremely underfunded, both from the government and other nonprofits.  You can make a difference by making a tax-deductible donation to help fund these research projects.  Click here to donate.

This post is adapted from a press release from CancerResearchUK.org

Other sources include: cancer.gov, cancer.org and cancer.net

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.

“Screening tests are used to look for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat.  By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread.” (National Cancer Institute)

Examples of standard, routine screening tests for other cancers:

Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer

Mammogram for breast cancer

Pap test (also known as pap smear) for cervical cancer.

While the overall cancer death rate in the United States has declined in recent years, esophageal cancer incidence and mortality rates have increased dramatically.  In fact, esophageal cancer has increased over 600% in the past decades.

Esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) is now the fastest growing cancer in the United States.  It is also one of the deadliest cancers.   

Esophageal cancer does not usually show any signs or symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, often appear once the cancer has spread and becomes advanced.

When esophageal cancer is diagnosed in late stages, it is very difficult to treat the cancer and there is rarely a cure.  Patients who are diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer face a five-year survival rate of only 3.8%.

Early diagnosis of esophageal cancer is critical to saving lives.

Tests that may detect esophageal cancer in earlier stages are being studied.  Unfortunately, esophageal cancer research is extremely underfunded, both from the government and other nonprofits.

You can make a difference by making a tax-deductible donation to help fund these research projects.  Click here to donate.

If you think that you may be at risk of esophageal cancer (or any other disease), speak to a doctor immediately.  The earlier that esophageal cancer is caught, the better the chances of survival.

The data found here is intended for informational purposes only.

Swallowing a sponge on a string could replace traditional endoscopy as an equally effective but less invasive way of diagnosing a condition that can be a forerunner of esophageal cancer.

The trial invited more than 600 patients with Barrett’s esophagus – a condition that can sometimes lead to esophageal cancer – to swallow the Cytosponge and to undergo an endoscopy. Almost 500 more people with symptoms like reflux and persistent heartburn did the same tests.

The Cytosponge proved to be a very accurate way of diagnosing Barrett’s Esophagus. More than 94 per cent of people swallowed the sponge and reported no serious side effects. Patients who were not sedated for endoscopy were more likely to rate the Cytosponge as a preferable experience.

Lead author Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, based at the MRC Cancer Unit at the University of Cambridge, said: “The Cytosponge test is safe, acceptable and has very good accuracy for diagnosing Barrett’s Esophagus. It should be considered as an alternative to endoscopy for diagnosing the condition and could possibly be used as a screening test in primary care.”

There are currently no standard or routine screening tests for esophageal cancer.   Often times, cancer of the esophagus is caught in later stages.  Symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, often arise once the cancer has spread and becomes difficult, and in many cases, impossible to cure.

Barrett’s Esophagus is caused by acid coming back up the food pipe from the stomach – known as acid reflux – which can cause symptoms like indigestion and heartburn. Over time people with these symptoms may develop changes in the cells that line the esophagus. These cells can become cancerous and so patients with Barrett’s Esophagus are tested every couple of years.

Barrett’s Esophagus is usually diagnosed by having a biopsy during an endoscopy. This can be uncomfortable and carries some risks – and it’s not always practical for everyone who has symptoms like reflux and heartburn.

Esophageal cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and other western countries.  Due to its aggressive nature, esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers.  An estimated 18,170 people will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2014 and an estimated 15,450 people will die of  the disease.

Esophageal cancer is the thirteenth most common cancer in the UK. Around 5,600 men develop the disease each year compared with 2,750 women. And each year around 5,200 men and 2,460 women die from the disease.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK’s head of health information, said: “These results are very encouraging and it will be good news if such a simple and cheap test can replace endoscopy for Barrett’s oesophagus.”

“Death rates are unacceptably high in oesophageal cancer so early diagnosis is vital. Tackling oesophageal cancer is a priority for Cancer Research UK and research such as this will help doctors to diagnose people who are at risk quickly and easily.”

Would you like to support esophageal cancer research projects such as this?   Consider a tax-deductible donation to help fund esophageal cancer research which is extremely underfunded.  Click here to donate.