Oesophageal cancer

Main article: Cancer (cancer)

Incidence

As of 2024, Asian countries also prevail in the global structure of the prevalence of esophageal cancer: the incidence is 6.3 per 100 thousand population, the mortality rate is 5.6 per 100 thousand population.

As of 2023, men in Russia have esophageal cancer 6 times more often than women. Among 100 thousand men, the disease is detected in 5-6 people a year, and among 100 thousand women - 1 case per year. The average age of patients with esophageal cancer is 65 years.

In Russia, in 2022, 6,400 new cases of esophageal cancer were detected, more than 60% of them at stage III and IV, and mortality within one year was 51.5%.

Causes of the disease

As of 2023:

• People who consume too hot drinks and foods are almost twice as likely to develop esophageal cancer.
• Excessive consumption of processed red meat can increase the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by 1.5 times.
• The incidence rate of this cancer is also influenced by ethnic origin. Esophageal cancer is most common in people in Asia and South Africa.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of esophageal cancer is impaired swallowing, it can manifest as hiccups, coughs, vomiting while eating, pain and burning while swallowing, and so on.

Diagnostics

The most informative method for confirming (or refuting) the presence of a malignant tumor in the esophagus is EGDS, that is, esophagogastroduodenoscopy. This method allows an endoscopic doctor to examine the interior of the upper gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope that houses a small flashlight and a camera lens that transmits an image to a television monitor.

Relapses and survival

Esophageal cancer belongs to oncologic diseases with a very high risk of recurrence. About 50% of stage I-III esophageal cancer patients who have received radical treatment face relapse over the next five years. Thanks to new treatments, the five-year survival rate in patients with esophageal cancer has increased several times.

History

2022: A DNA test for esophageal cancer is released. It can be used in regular polyclinics

In March 2022, Lucid Diagnostics announced the release of the EsoGuard system, designed for DNA testing of the esophagus. The first patient has already used it. Read more here.