GERD affects 10% to 20% of adults in Western populations and has been known to be an increased risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Research on the association between antireflux medication or surgery and risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma has remained limited, although the typical approach has been to treat reflux aggressively when there are precancerous changes like
A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found people who consumed very hot tea and alcohol every day had a fivefold higher risk of esophageal cancer, compared with those who drank tea less than once per week and consumed less than 15 grams of alcohol daily. People who drank very hot tea daily
Robot-assisted surgeries are becoming more commonplace, and having greater success. They have become state of the art for prostatic and pelvic surgeries and have a widespread recognition for being superior in the right hands. A recent randomized trial showed robotic laparoscopic esophagectomy led to significantly fewer complications while achieving similar cancer control, compared with open
Patients with higher levels of Tannerella forsythia bacteria, which can be associated with gum disease, may have a greater risk of esophageal cancer. The increase may be as much as 21% according to a study in Cancer Research. Other bacteria, for example Streptococcus and Neisseria bacteria, were linked to decreased risk. “Our study indicates that
