Alcohol and Esophageal Cancer: What Is the Relation and How Does It Happen?
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Many of us will remember when Robert Kardashian — O.J. Simpson’s notorious lawyer and Kris Kardashian’s first husband — was diagnosed with esophagus cancer. It seemed to take hold with lightning speed, leaving him unable to talk and eat within weeks. Kardashian passed away only two months after his diagnosis, at age 59.
No matter what you might think of Robert Kardashian — or the whole Kardashian clan, for that matter — we can agree that esophagus cancer is a serious, devastating problem. It is estimated that 22,370 new cases will be diagnosed, and 16,130 lives will be lost to the disease in 2024.
The good news is that esophageal cancer can be prevented by avoiding two of the main causes: smoking and alcohol use. In this article, we will explore the connection between drinking and esophageal cancer and how we can minimize our risks.
Esophageal cancer, or cancer of the esophagus, forms when cells in the lining of the esophagus begin to grow out of control.
The esophagus, also known as the “food pipe,” allows everything we chew and swallow to slide down into our stomach to be digested. While esophagus cancer can start anywhere along this 10- to 13-inch-long tube, it falls into one of two basic types:
Though it originates in the esophagus, esophageal cancer can spread to other parts of the body in three ways: through body tissue, the lymphatic system, and blood. When a doctor makes a diagnosis, the rate at which the cancer has spread will be marked by “stage” numbers ranging from 1 to 4. The lower the number, the better the prognosis — in earlier stages, it might be possible to remove the cancer completely!
Because its symptoms often overlap with other diseases, esophageal cancer tends to sneak up on its victims. What seems like an innocent cough or bout of indigestion could be something more, especially if it persists and comes with other symptoms. Check with your doctor if you have any doubts!
Here are some of the most common symptoms:
While some of these symptoms are a clear sign of a problem, others are more subtle and are not necessarily a sign that something is seriously wrong. However, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and have concerns checked out to catch any problems before they get worse (or just to put our minds at ease!).
The tissues of our digestive tract are sensitive, and many things can irritate them, damaging cells and causing potentially cancerous mutations over time. Here are a few common causes:
What happens if we go to the doctor and they suspect esophagus cancer? They will run several tests to make a diagnosis or rule it out:
All these tests can seem overwhelming, but your medical team won’t run any that aren’t necessary. Either way, it’s worth it to have peace of mind and, if necessary, early treatment.
Treatment for esophageal cancer depends on the stage (how much the cancer has spread), the size of the tumor, and whether or not the lymph nodes have been affected. While earlier stages can be treated and sometimes cured, the situation gets increasingly difficult in later stages. This is why it’s so important to get tested as soon as we suspect something is wrong.
Treatment usually involves a combination of radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. Because these methods often come with some severe side effects of their own, we may need additional help maintaining proper nutrition. It’s a challenging time, but staying hopeful is crucial! Recovery is possible, and being in the right mindset is critical when it comes to giving ourselves the best possible chance. The body’s ability to heal is amazing, and we’re stronger than we think!
Now that we have an idea of what esophageal cancer is and how it’s treated, let’s take a closer look at one of its potential triggers — alcohol.
Alcohol is a carcinogen, meaning it is a cancer-causing substance. It is responsible for many types of cancer, including liver cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer (or cancer in the colon and/or rectum), and, yes, esophageal cancer.
The CDC makes it clear: “The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk for cancer.” The type of alcohol doesn’t matter, either: “All alcoholic drinks, including red and white wine, beer, and liquor, are linked with cancer. The more you drink, the higher your cancer risk.”
According to the WHO, as many as 4% of all cancers diagnosed around the world in 2020 could be linked to drinking. In the U.S., alcohol-related cancers add up to about 75,000 cases and claim up to 19,000 lives each year.
But what is it about alcohol that makes it carcinogenic? There are a few different mechanisms behind alcohol’s cancer-causing properties, but all of them come down to how alcohol interacts with the cells in our body.
So is it all doom and gloom, or is there something we can do to minimize our risk? The good news is that by staying away from booze, we are much less likely to develop esophagus cancer (assuming we don’t continue or pick up smoking and other risky habits).
The process of getting to “low risk” status can take time, but it’s certainly worth it. One pooled analysis showed that after not drinking alcohol for 20 years, people who used to drink regularly had the same risk of esophageal cancer as those who never drank at all. That’s reassuring!
Alcohol-related risk of other cancers also decreases over time as we stop using or cut back on alcohol. Even if the cancer risk doesn’t vanish immediately, our body will begin to heal the moment we make a change. We can also look at it this way: while we can’t guarantee a life without illness if we quit or cut back on drinking, we can guarantee that our risk for cancer continues to rise by continuing to drink too much.
Is there anything else we can do to minimize our risk of esophageal cancer? Absolutely! Some relatively small lifestyle modifications can work wonders when it comes to improving our chances of living a long, happy life:
Esophagus cancer is a heavy topic, but it’s encouraging to know there are ways to decrease our risk. Let’s thank our bodies for the incredible work they do by giving them the care they deserve! In the words of author Jess C. Scott, “The human body is the best work of art.” It’s never too late to give this work of art a bit of extra attention and love.
1. What is esophageal cancer?
Esophageal cancer occurs in the “food pipe” that connects the mouth to the stomach. While squamous cell carcinoma starts in the mucosal lining, adenocarcinoma originates in the mucus-producing glands.
2. How does alcohol increase the risk of esophageal cancer?
Alcohol is a known carcinogen that can directly damage the DNA of cells in the esophagus. Its metabolism produces acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that further harms DNA and proteins, increasing cancer risk. Additionally, alcohol consumption can lead to nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances that exacerbate the risk.
3. What are common symptoms of esophageal cancer?
Symptoms include difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), unintended weight loss, chest pain or discomfort, persistent cough or hoarseness, and indigestion or heartburn. These symptoms can also be accompanied by more severe signs like bleeding from the throat or visible lumps under the skin.
4. Can quitting or cutting back on alcohol reduce the risk of esophageal cancer?
Yes! Reducing alcohol consumption or abstaining altogether significantly lowers the risk of developing esophageal cancer. In addition to quitting alcohol, lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco can further decrease the risk.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
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