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Risk factors are things that raise your chances of getting a disease. For each person, there’s a mix of biological and lifestyle factors that play a part in esophageal cancer risk.
Physicians don’t know the precise causes of esophageal cancer, but studies have identified several risk factors.
Fred Hutch’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program offers a personalized approach to risk assessment, screening and prevention for people at high risk for esophageal cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers.
Take Charge of Your Health
Talk to your primary care provider if you have symptoms that you think may be esophageal cancer. UW Medicine Primary Care can help you get started. Fred Hutch's relationship with UW Medicine.
Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer
These factors may affect your risk for esophageal cancer:
- Sex — Men are nearly three times more likely than women to develop esophageal cancer.
- Race — The disease is three times more common among African-Americans than European Americans.
- Age — The rate of esophageal cancer rises after age 50.
- Genetics — Having a family member with esophageal cancer.
- Tobacco and alcohol — These increase the risk of developing cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
- Weight — Obesity is linked with adenocarcinoma because it is linked with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can damage the esophagus.
- Head or neck cancers — These increase esophageal cancer risk.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) — People who are infected with HPV are at greater risk.
- Injury to the esophagus — This can cause scarring and damage cells in the area and is linked with higher esophageal cancer risk.
Barrett’s Esophagus as a Risk Factor
When acid from the stomach repeatedly comes up into the esophagus — as it does in GERD — the acid may damage the cells of the esophageal lining. Over time this damage can cause the cells to mutate and become more like cells in the stomach and intestine, leading to a condition called Barrett’s esophagus.
In a small fraction of people, the mutated cells turn into cancer (esophageal adenocarcinoma).
Several options, including lifestyle changes, medication, radiofrequency ablation and surgery, are available to control reflux and to prevent or treat the problems that can develop as a result of reflux.
Learn more about Barrett’s esophagus and treatment options for this condition at the Esophageal and Gastric Diseases Clinic at UW Medical Center – Montlake.
Esophageal cancer results from harmful changes to the DNA inside the cells of the esophagus, caused by biological and environmental factors. It is believed that chronic irritation of the esophagus can increase risk.
Unlike other types of cancers, less than 10% of esophageal cancers are considered hereditary, or passed down genetically from family members. In most cases, this is due to a family history of Barrett’s Esophagus. However, the majority of cases are due to environmental factors.