Esophageal Cancer: A Closer Look at Its Risk Factors, Types, and Treatment Options
Did you know that April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month? About 18,000 Americans will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2020 alone. The risk of developing it is higher in men than women. Approximately one in 132 men and about one in 455 women will develop it in their lifetime.1
Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S.2, making up about 1% of total cancers. Roughly 16,000 people will die from esophageal cancer in 2020 alone.3
Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer
This type of cancer is found in the esophagus, the hollow tube that connects the stomach and throat. It usually starts in the cells that line the inside of the esophagus.
While its cause is not known, it’s suspected that chronic irritation of the esophagus may increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer. Some known risk factors include age and tobacco use.
Treating Esophageal Cancer
Using SignateraTM for Early Detection of Cancer Recurrence: Case Report in Esophageal Cancer
For questions about Natera billing for Signatera testing, please call the Natera billing phone number at 1-844-384-2996 (8 am-7 pm CT M-F). You can also reference our Signatera billing guide.
References
1American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Esophageal Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Revised January 8, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2020.
2Mayo Clinic. Esophageal Cancer. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophageal-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20356084. April 4, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2020.
3American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Esophageal Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Revised January 8, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2020.
4American Cancer Society. Treating Esophageal Cancer by Stage. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/treating/by-stage.html Revised July 31, 2019. Accessed April 14, 2020.
5Einstein D, Liang N, et al. Assessment of Molecular Remission in Oligometastatic Esophageal Cancer With a Personalized Circulating Tumor DNA Assay. JCO Precision Oncology. 2020 4: 239-243. Published online March 27, 2020. DOI: 10.1200/PO.19.00339.