Esophageal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world, with an estimated 1.6 million new cases diagnosed each year. The disease accounts for about 30% of all cancers and is more prevalent among men than women. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a type of esophageal cancer that starts in the cells lining your esophagus—the tube-shaped organ that connects your throat to your stomach. That’s needed to go for the test whether you need to consult pancreatic cancer Singapore or other?
ESCC can also be referred to as adenocarcinoma, which means it originates from glands known as mucus glands and sweat glands. ESCC can occur anywhere along this part of your digestive tract but typically begins in the lower part because food and drink pass through it before entering your stomach or intestinal system; so when these cells are damaged by smoking, eating too much salt or drinking too much alcohol…
Risk factors for esophageal cancer and you need to consult esophageal cancer Singapore specialist:
- Obesity: People who are obese have an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. This is because fat cells secrete hormones that may stimulate cell growth in the lining of your esophagus and cause it to become more likely to develop dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition. In addition, overweight individuals tend to have a reduced ability to eliminate irritating substances like acid from their stomachs (GERD), which can increase inflammation in the lining of the esophagus.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): If you suffer from GERD—also called heartburn or acid reflux—you may be at higher risk for developing this type of cancer as well. The result? A damaged or inflamed esophagus that predisposes one toward developing both Barrett’s Alveolar Adenocarcinoma (BAC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC).
Because there’s so much overlap between being overweight or obese and having GERD symptoms (especially reflux), it can be hard to separate out whether one factor causes another—but luckily we’re able to use our knowledge about how genetics affect health outcomes like these!
- Excess Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is a known carcinogen and can cause cancer in other parts of your body, including the liver and mouth. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for men and two drinks per day for women.
The risk of developing esophageal cancer increases with the amount of alcohol you consume on a regular basis. It’s estimated that about one-third of all esophageal cancers are linked to excessive amounts of alcohol consumption; however, there’s no way to predict who will develop this type of cancer based on their past drinking habits alone.
Avoid smoking; this increases the risk of getting cancer in general and esophageal cancer specifically.* Reduce alcohol consumption because alcohol increases acid production in the body.* Lose weight if overweight (this reduces pressure on internal organs).
The average American consumes more than five drinks per week—that’s approximately 14 standard drinks—which puts them at higher risk for esophageal cancer than someone who doesn’t drink alcohol at all
- Age
The risk of esophageal cancer increases with age. It’s more common in men than women, and it’s estimated that the majority of cases occur between 60 and 70 years old. In addition to age, other risk factors for esophageal cancer include smoking, alcohol use or abuse and certain inherited conditions (such as Lynch syndrome).
- Race and Ethnicity
There are some racial and ethnic groups with a higher risk of esophageal cancer than others. African Americans, native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and American Indians are all more likely to develop the disease than Caucasians.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand what causes esophageal cancer and how to lower your risk of getting it. If you’re still concerned about this disease, talk to your doctor or a healthcare provider who can help you make the right choices for your health.
Here you can find our reference post: https://bariatricsurgerysingapore.blogspot.com/2023/02/esophageal-cancer-treatment-in-singapore.html
