Esophageal Cancer Risk factors
Anything which raises the risk of getting a disease in an individual is known as a risk factor. If a person is suffering from a risk factor, it does not mean that he/she will be diagnosed with cancer. However, not having any risk factor does not mean that you have no chance of getting cancer.
The definite cause of the cancer of the esophagus has not been known yet, but there are various estimated risk factors for the disease. These include:
- Older age: The cancer of the esophagus occurs frequently in individuals who are older than 60 years of age than in those 60 years of age or younger.
- Gender: Gender-wise, males are three times more presumably to have the disease than females.
- Ethnicity: Squamous cell cancer of the esophagus occurs more often in Africans, Americans, and Asians. Adenocarcinoma type of esophageal cancer occurs more frequently in white people.
- Use of tobacco: This consists of smoking as well as the use of smokeless tobacco.
- Use of alcohol: Long-term and/or heavy use of alcohol is used to raise the risk of cancer of the esophagus. But the proper reason for this happening is still unknown.
- Barrett’s esophagus and chronic acid reflux: Barrett’s type of esophagus is an alteration in the cells of the body at the lower region of the esophagus which occurs from long-term untreated acid reflux. Even in the absence of Barrett’s esophagus, individuals with chronic heartburn have a greater risk of cancer of the esophagus.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV): In the regions of the world that have an increased incidence of cancer of the esophagus (such as South Africa and Africa), infection with the virus of human papilloma is used to carry greater risk for the development of squamous cell type of esophageal cancer. HPV is a usual type of virus that can cause changes in the tissues in the vocal cords as well as the mouth, and on the hands, feet, and reproductive organs.
- Other disorders: Some of the other circumstances have been associated to cancer of the esophagus. These may comprise achalasia, a rare type of disease of the muscles of the lower part of the esophagus which causes difficulty in swallowing as well as tylosis.
- Occupational exposure to certain chemicals: Individuals who are exposed to dry cleaning solvents for a long time period are at an increased risk for cancer of the esophagus.
- History of cancerous tumor: Individuals who have had a cancerous tumor present in the neck region or head have an increased risk for cancer of the esophagus.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Gastroesophageal reflux disease is also associated with the development of cancer of the esophagus as it may play a role in the formation of tumors due to the reflux of the acid from the stomach region back towards the esophagus.
The individuals should talk with the doctor if they think that they may be at risk of getting cancer of the esophagus.