GERD: Reflux to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Context Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, a rare cancer whose incidence is increasing. Some have recommended that patients with chronic reflux symptoms undergo upper endoscopy to assess for Barrett esophagus and to screen for cancer.
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The main treatments for esophageal cancer are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, or a combination:. You and your doctor will determine what treatment plan is best for you.

Treatments for Barrett's Esophagus, Dysplasia, Esophagus Cancer (adenocarcinoma) - Mayo Clinic

You will likely be referred to a specialist to coordinate your treatment. This could be a gastroenterologist , a thoracic surgeon, a radiation oncologist, or a medical oncologist. No matter what treatment you choose, you also need to focus on controlling your acid reflux. This will likely include making changes in your eating habits or staying upright for a few hours after eating.

Outlook depends in part on the stage of the cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute:. Controlling your acid reflux is one way to reduce your risk of esophageal cancer.

What Are the Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer?

Talk to your doctor to try to figure out what steps you should take. People with both of these conditions should see their doctors for regular checkups, and report any concerning symptoms that develop. Esophageal cancer can occur when a malignant tumor forms in the lining of the muscular tube that's responsible for moving food from the throat to the….

Esophageal thrush is a yeast infection of the throat. If left untreated, it can be a severe condition. Fungi in the family Candida cause esophageal…. Learn more about the causes and complications of Barrett's esophagus.


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Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus. Acid reflux or certain medications can cause the condition. Symptoms include sore throat or heartburn. An esophageal culture is a test that checks tissue samples from the esophagus for signs of infection or cancer. Your esophagus is the long tube…. Heartburn, the regurgitation of stomach acids into your throat and esophagus, can creep up and make you uncomfortable at the most inconvenient times.

Esophageal Cancer (Cancer of the Esophagus)

Water brash is a symptom of GERD. Learn about acid brash and other symptoms of GERD, what causes acid reflux, and how to treat it. Noticing pain when you swallow? You may have nutcracker esophagus. Learn more about this conditions that affects the muscles in your esophagus. Caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxy-cinnamic acid is an organic compound and a potent antioxidant.

It can be found naturally in a wide range of plants. Acid reflux is one of the main symptoms of a hiatal hernia. You can lessen this symptom by eating foods that produce less acid. Esophageal Cancer and Acid Reflux. Does acid reflux lead to esophageal cancer? What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer? What are the risk factors for esophageal cancer? The more alcohol someone drinks, the higher their chance of getting esophageal cancer. Alcohol affects the risk of the squamous cell type more than the risk of adenocarcinoma.

Combining smoking and drinking alcohol raises the risk of esophageal cancer much more than using either alone. People who are overweight or obese very overweight have a higher chance of getting adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. This is in part explained by the fact that people who are obese are more likely to have gastroesophageal reflux.

Certain substances in the diet may increase esophageal cancer risk. For example, there have been suggestions, as yet not well proven, that a diet high in processed meat may increase the chance of developing esophageal cancer. This may help explain the high rate of this cancer in certain parts of the world. On the other hand, a diet high in fruits and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of esophageal cancer. The exact reasons for this are not clear, but fruits and vegetables have a number of vitamins and minerals that may help prevent cancer. This might be the result of long-term damage to the cells lining the esophagus from the hot liquids.

Esophageal Cancer

In this condition, the muscle at the lower end of the esophagus the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax properly. Food and liquid that are swallowed have trouble passing into the stomach and tend to collect in the lower esophagus, which becomes stretched out dilated over time. The cells lining the esophagus in that area can become irritated from being exposed to foods for longer than normal amounts of time.

People with achalasia have a risk of esophageal cancer that is many times normal.

What Are Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer?

On average, the cancers are found about 15 to 20 years after the achalasia began. This is a rare, inherited disease that causes excess growth of the top layer of skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. People with this condition also develop small growths papillomas in the esophagus and have a very high risk of getting squamous cell cancer of the esophagus. People with tylosis need to be watched closely to try to find esophageal cancer early.

Often this requires regular monitoring with an upper endoscopy described in Tests for Esophagus cancer.


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People with this rare syndrome also called Paterson-Kelly syndrome have webs in the upper part of the esophagus, typically along with anemia low red blood cell counts due to low iron levels, tongue irritation glossitis , brittle fingernails, and sometimes a large thyroid gland or spleen.

A web is a thin membrane extending out from the inner lining of the esophagus that causes an area of narrowing. Most esophageal webs do not cause any problems, but larger ones can cause food to get stuck in the esophagus, which can lead to problems swallowing and chronic irritation in that area from the trapped food. About 1 in 10 people with this syndrome eventually develop squamous cell cancer of the esophagus or cancer in the lower part of the throat hypopharynx. Exposure to chemical fumes in certain workplaces may lead to an increased risk of esophageal cancer.

For example, exposure to some of the solvents used for dry cleaning might lead to a greater risk of esophageal cancer. Some studies have found that dry cleaning workers may have a higher rate of esophageal cancer, but not all studies have found this link. Lye is a chemical found in strong industrial and household cleaners such as drain cleaners.

Lye is a corrosive agent that can burn and destroy cells. Accidentally drinking from a lye-based cleaner bottle can cause a severe chemical burn in the esophagus. As the injury heals, the scar tissue can cause an area of the esophagus to become very narrow called a stricture. People with these strictures have an increased risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer, which often occurs many years even decades later.