Oesophageal cancer - A to Z
This page links to content about oesophageal cancer.
Cancer of the oesophagus (food pipe or gullet) affects around 7,800 people each year in the UK. The disease is more common in men than women and most cases are in people aged 50 and over.
Smoking and drinking alcohol are the main risk factors for oesophageal cancer. We also know that certain inherited conditions are linked with the cancer. Acid reflux, inflammation of the oesophagus and the condition known as Barrett's oesophagus can all increase the risk of developing one type of oesophageal cancer.
Cancer Research UK funds research into many different aspects of oesophageal cancer, from understanding how the disease starts, to prevention and finding ways to improve existing treatments.
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Browse content about Oesophageal cancer
Latest Oesophageal cancer news from Cancer Research UK
- News story: Gene offers clue to cause of oesophageal cancer
19 January 2012 - Press Release: Bowel, oesophageal and pancreatic cancers show biggest improvement in diagnosis time
8 November 2011 - News story: Gene mutations linked to diseases of the oesophagus
26 July 2011 - Press Release: Projects launched to crack the cancer code
13 July 2011 - News story: Team at Cambridge MRC Cancer Cell Unit wins innovation prize
6 June 2011 - Press Release: Booze causes at least 13,000 cancers a year in the UK
8 April 2011 - Press Release: Less booze not more veg is key to cut cancer risk
1 December 2010 - News story: Long-term use of bone-strengthening drugs may increase oesophageal cancer risk
3 September 2010 - News story: Drinking culture blamed for 'appalling' rise in alcohol-related cancers
8 December 2009 - Press Release: Curry compounds kill oesophageal cancer cells in lab
28 October 2009
- Press Release: Fluorescent dye pinpoints tiniest signs of oesophageal cancer
15 January 2012 - News story: Study suggests oesophageal cancer 'less common than previously thought' in people with Barrett's oesophagus
13 October 2011 - Press Release: 'Sponge on a string' trial launched to try and prevent deadly oesophageal cancer
25 July 2011 - News story: Current UK system of Barrett's oesophagus monitoring 'not cost effective'
20 June 2011 - Press Release: Cancer Research Technology and Affitech A/S sign exclusive antibody development deal
27 April 2011 - News story: Daily low-dose aspirin 'reduces death rates for several cancers'
7 December 2010 - Press Release: Deprived cancer patients face fatal health problems
24 November 2010 - Press Release: Oesophageal cancer rates in men up 50 per cent in a generation
28 August 2010 - News story: IARC finds more cancers linked to tobacco and alcohol
4 November 2009 - Press Release: New clinical study shows nutrition after cancer surgery improves patient recovery time and could save the NHS millions
3 October 2009
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