It’s here! April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month.
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is hard at work, and we need your help to make a BIG impact!
Join us as we raise awareness, encourage early detection and fund research of esophageal cancer…in hopes of a CURE™!
Esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing and deadliest cancers in the United States, United Kingdom and other western countries.
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation awarded two research grants, the first in 2015 and the second in 2018. The research awarded in 2018, a breath test for esophageal cancer, is currently underway.
Then in 2023, The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation awarded THREE grants for esophageal cancer research.
We are honored to share that this year, The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation has opened our grant funding program again.
All grants are awarded in honor of all who have been affected by esophageal cancer.
While these are tremendous accomplishments, esophageal cancer research is critically underfunded and medical researchers continuously inquire about funding. We are looking forward to awarding MORE funding for esophageal cancer research!
In addition, due to lack of awareness and no routine or standard screenings, many individuals typically face advanced prognosis with limited treatment options.
Now, more than ever, your support is critically needed to enable this charity to fulfill our mission.
When you make a donation to our charity you are directly supporting esophageal cancer awareness, early detection and research. All donations can be made as a one-time donation or can be recurring, are tax-deductible and go to our mission!
Make an even bigger impact! Create your own custom, fundraising page!
Click the “fundraise” button below to get started.
Learn the Facts
-Esophageal cancer increased 733% in the past four decades.
-Esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States and western world.
-Esophageal cancer has an overall 5-year survival rate of only 21.6%.
-There are no routine or standard screenings.
-Symptoms often arise late, once the cancer has spread.
-Stage IV has a survival rate of 5.3%.
-Esophageal cancer research is critically underfunded.
-In 2016, an estimated $1.6 billion was spent on esophageal cancer care in the United States.
-2025 estimates for esophageal cancer: 22,070 diagnoses & 16,250 deaths.
2025 Infographic
Save the infographic below and share it on social media to raise awareness. Tag us in your posts. @SalgiFoundation
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 organization. EIN: 45-3633809.
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Today is Giving Tuesday! The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is honored to participate in this third annual event. In 2012, a group of nonprofit professionals decided to create an annual day of giving. They positioned it around the biggest days of consuming, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday opens the giving season and with your help, we will raise funds to spread awareness, encourage early detection and support research of esophageal cancer…in hopes of a cure.™
How can you help make Giving Tuesday a success?
Help us get the word out on social media by visiting and liking our pages: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram;
Consider a donation: SALGI.org/donate, as a 501(c)(3) charity, all donations are tax-deductible;
Share photos of your loved ones who have been affected by esophageal cancer on social media. Tag us in the photos and we’ll re-post them on our pages;
Invite your co-workers, family members and friends to contribute by using the message below via social media or email:
“I am supporting The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation today on Giving Tuesday and I hope you will, too! [Optional: Insert personal story/reason for helping.] Did you know esophageal cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute? You can support awareness and research efforts by making a tax-deductible donating online: SALGI.org/donate, and by sharing this information with your friends, family and colleagues by email or on Facebook and/or Twitter. Thank you in advance!“
Giving Tuesday helps to unite us in the spirit of giving and to bring a spotlight to esophageal cancer, a cause that needs desperate attention. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday a great success! Thank you in advance for helping to make a difference today and every day.
The Journal of American Medical Association recently reported that there has been a substantial decline in the obesity rate among children in the United States. Obesity in children ages 2-5 dropped almost in half, 43% to be exact, in the past decade.
While there are no direct causes, researchers believe that the major decrease can be attributed to a number of different reasons. From better choices at fast food restaurants to parents taking a more active role in what their children are consuming, the obesity rate in this group of children from 2-5 is at 8.4%. That is quite a difference from the previous obesity rate of 13.9% in 2003-2004.
This is especially beneficial in regards to a lowered risk of esophageal cancer. A study conducted in 2013 linked overweight and obese adolescents to “a more than two-fold increased risk of developing esophageal cancer later in life,” Study author Dr. Zohar Levi of the Rabin Medical Center in Israel suggested that this risk could possibly be attributed to reoccurring “reflux that they have throughout their life.”
The New York Times reported the following:
“This is the first time we’ve seen any indication of any significant decrease in any group,” said Cynthia L. Ogden, a researcher for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the lead author of the report, which will be published in JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, on Wednesday. “It was exciting.”
However, a third of US children and teens are still considered obese or overweight. Odgen told the New York Times “Still, the lower obesity rates in the very young bode well for the future.”
For more information, please visit the following sources:
CNN.com BBC.com NYTimes.com AP.orgHealth.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.
A recent study shows that carrying more weight in the midsection may increase one’s risk of developing Barrett’s esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer.
Barrett’s esophagus is “a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach) is damaged by stomach acid and changed to a lining similar to that of the stomach.”* Barrett’s esophagus has been shown to be a precursor to esophageal cancer.
This study linked a higher amount of visceral fat to a greater risk of Barrett’s esophagus.
The fat located in the abdominal region is either defined as visceral or subcutaneous. Visceral fat surrounds the organs in the abdominal region, while subcutaneous fat is located between the skin and the abdominal wall.
Researchers reported that the elevated risk of Barrett’s esophagus related to the increase of visceral abdominal fat was found in both those who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and also those who do not experience GERD symptoms.
For a more information on the study, please refer to the following two articles:
*“Barrett’s esophagus.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine
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.
Suffering from heartburn, whether be it during the day or at night, is an annoyance that many Americans cope with, some on a daily basis. An alarming 60 million Americans experience it at least once a month and 25 million Americans suffer from heartburn every day. When heartburn is this frequent or severe, people may be diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, more commonly known as GERD.
The United States National Library of Medicine defines GERD as “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 occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle between the esophagus and stomach, becomes damaged or weakened.
If not properly treated, long-term sufferers of GERD can develop serious medical conditions, which include chronic cough or hoarseness, esophagitis, bleeding, scarring or ulcers of the esophagus and Barrett’s esophagus, an abnormal change in the lining of the esophagus that can potentially raise the risk of developing esophageal cancer.
It is important to note that many patients who are diagnosed with GERD do not experience heartburn at all. Below are the most frequently reported symptoms of GERD:
• Heartburn (a symptom of acid reflux)
• Bad breath
• Burning or pain in the chest or throat
• Chronic cough
• Hoarseness or chronic sore throat
• Bitter taste in mouth
• Inflammation in the mouth and erosion of teeth
• Problems swallowing
• Asthma-like symptoms
• Excessive belching
GERD is amongst the most prevalent upper gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and most likely one of the most common disease diagnosed by Gastroenterologists across our nation.
For many, GERD does not just disrupt their daily routine, but their sleep as well. GERD sufferers who have trouble sleeping at night could also go on to experience other health problems such as insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepiness during the day and restless leg syndrome.
It is best to first speak to a gastroenterologist or a primary health care provider to see what options are available to treat GERD effectively. Below are some helpful tips in order to reduce GERD symptoms and enjoy a better night’s sleep.
• Eat smaller meals
• Chew food slowly and thoroughly
• Say upright after meals
• Avoid foods which trigger your GERD symptoms (fats, spicy foods, alcohol)
• Keep a food journal to track your “trigger foods”
• Try sleeping with your head elevated. Either with extra pillows or a wedge pillow
• Restrict your eating in the evening
• Do not eat or drink anything two hours before bedtime (with the exception of water for medications.)
Again, please consult your doctor if you are having problems sleeping at night or are experiencing frequent or severe heartburn. These suggestions are intended for informational purposes only.
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.
New research shows that central adiposity (an accumulation of fat in the abdomen area) is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer. This research was published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Being overweight, particularly in the mid-section, elevates not only the risk of developing esophageal cancer, as this new research states, but a number of other diseases, proven in other studies. Below are some tips to help reduce “belly fat” and improve overall health and wellness.
Eat one less cookie a day
Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD, suggests in his book, YOU on a Diet: The Owner’s Manual for Waist Management to reduce your caloric intake by just 100 calories per day. That means, eat one less cookie, candy bar, can/bottle of soda or piece of holiday pie. This seemingly small change can have a huge impact. Dr. Oz suggests that it may help you to lose about 12 pounds per year*.
Get moving
Refer to Sir Isaac Newton’s Frist Law of Motion: “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion.” Basically, the more you exercise the more you will burn and the more you rest, the more you will gain. Whether you are a triathlete or a couch potato, workout at your speed.
Count sheep
Studies have shown that when we are tired and are not sleeping properly, it negatively affects our appetite, which causes us not only to gain weight but make improper food choices. Keep your sleeping area calming, avoid technology right before bed and make sure you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night.
Build muscle
Strengthening your core (abdominal) and lower back muscles will help you shed belly fat fast. Remember to always practice safe lifting while exercising. It may also be helpful to consider working with a personal trainer for even just a few lessons to make sure you are working out right and to avoid injury. Ladies, muscle burns fat. Pay no attention to the myth that if lifting weights will cause your body to transform into a bodybuilder’s.
Eat breakfast, lunch, dinner AND snacks!
According to research, eating healthy meals and snacks regularly throughout the day will not only benefit your health but keep you more focused and energized. When we do not eat regularly, we make poor food choices and our body can go into “starvation-mode”, which can cause it to hold on to more fat. Dr. Oz recommends his patients avoid eating processed foods because they can cause you to still be hungry soon after you’re done brushing the crumbs away.
Ditch the elevator
For many, the majority of our day is spent sedentary. Whether we are at a desk in front of a computer at work, watching TV, playing video or online games, eating meals or driving in the car, we sit, sit and sit some more. The best way to burn extra calories every day is to move around more. It sounds simple, but you can burn a significant amount of calories by taking extra trips to the water cooler during the day at work, parking your car further away from the door, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator and even walking a bit further with your dog. Here are some tips to “workout” when you are at work!
Keep healthy snacks on hand
Pack healthy snacks and take them with you when you are on-the-go. Choose foods like almonds, celery, carrots, greek yogurt, berries and whole grain crackers. Keeping healthy options on-hand can help you avoid the dreaded vending machine and quiet your grumbling stomach. Again, sometimes when we are hungry, we end up making poor food choices.
Stress less
Easier said than done, right? Reduce your daily stress by meditating, practicing yoga, taking a walk, reading a book or sipping tea. Stress affects many aspects of our mental, emotional and physical health. Check out our Pinterest board “Namaste” for some great Yoga tips.
Don’t give up
Author Louis Sachar once stated ‘It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.’ Keep going, don’t give up and remember to be proud of all your achievements, no matter how big or how small. Positive thinking will keep you going through the good times and the bad.
As always, consult your physician before making any changes to your diet, exercise or lifestyle. The aforementioned is for informational purposes only and should not be misconstrued for medical advice.
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.
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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