Beware! Many people mistake esophageal cancer caused by eating for pharyngitis

Esophageal cancer, a seemingly distant disease, is actually closely related to our daily eating habits. According to the global cancer burden data released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, esophageal cancer has become one of the top ten cancers in the world. In China, the incidence of esophageal cancer is even higher, and a large number of patients lose their lives every year. Today, let's talk about the high-risk groups, warning signs and prevention methods of esophageal cancer to help everyone protect their esophageal health!

Esophageal cancer: a common cancer in my country

Esophageal cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the esophageal epithelium. Globally, the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer remain high. In China, the figures are even more shocking. According to statistics, there are more than 600,000 new cases of esophageal cancer each year in the world, of which more than half are from China . Among these patients, 2/3 of the cases occur in the Taihang Mountain area across Henan, Shanxi and Hebei.

High-risk groups: Are you among them?

The etiology of esophageal cancer is relatively complex and is generally believed to be related to the combined effects of multiple factors and long-term chronic stimulation. So, which group of people are prone to esophageal cancer?

According to the definition of the Expert Consensus on Screening for Early Esophageal Cancer and Precancerous Lesions in China, people aged 40 and above who meet one of the following six criteria are considered to be at high risk for esophageal cancer:

1. Long-term residence in an area with a high incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

In China, the most concentrated area of ​​esophageal cancer is located on the south side of Taihang Mountain at the junction of Hebei, Henan and Shanxi provinces . In addition, there are also relatively concentrated high-incidence areas in Qinling Mountains, Dabie Mountains, northern Sichuan, Fujian and Guangdong, northern Jiangsu, Xinjiang and other places.

2. First-degree relatives have a history of esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer has a familial clustering phenomenon, which may be related to the same genetic background or common exposure to specific environmental factors among family members.

3. Bad eating habits

Such as eating fast, liking hot food, high-salt diet, liking pickled vegetables , etc. Studies have shown that long-term consumption of food or hot drinks above 65°C can cause physical damage to the esophageal mucosa and increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

In addition, pickled foods such as kimchi and bacon often contain large amounts of nitrite, which will be converted into nitrosamines in the body and are highly carcinogenic.

4. Bad living habits such as smoking and drinking

Smoking and drinking are both risk factors for esophageal cancer. Smokers have a 3-8 times higher risk of esophageal cancer than non-smokers; long-term heavy drinking will cause long-term irritation and damage to the esophageal mucosa, increasing the risk of cancer.

5. Poor oral hygiene

Severe tooth loss, low brushing frequency, and poor periodontal health may increase the risk of esophageal cancer. This is because oral bacteria may enter the esophagus through saliva and other pathways, causing inflammation and damage.

Research has found that an important periodontitis pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis , has been considered as one of the high-risk pathogens of esophageal cancer in recent years. Porphyromonas gingivalis colonizes in human esophageal epithelial cells, causes chemotherapy resistance in esophageal cancer, and is significantly associated with a poor prognosis of esophageal cancer.

6. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is closely related to gastroesophageal reflux. People who experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, abdominal distension, chest pain, etc. should also be alert to the risk of esophageal cancer.

You may need to pay attention to these changes in your body!

The early symptoms of esophageal cancer are not obvious, but once the following symptoms appear, you should be highly alert:

1. Slow passage through the esophagus with a sense of retention or choking

Patients with esophageal cancer often experience a smaller esophageal opening, difficulty swallowing food, and a feeling of retention . These symptoms only occur when swallowing food, disappear after eating, and have nothing to do with the nature of the food.

2. Feeling of a foreign body in the esophagus

Patients with esophageal cancer may feel as if there is a foreign body in the esophagus, and feel that food is stuck to the esophagus . This feeling has nothing to do with eating, and even if you do not swallow, you will still feel the presence of a foreign body.

3. Progressive dysphagia

As the disease progresses, the localized esophageal mucosa will become congested, swollen, eroded, with superficial ulcers and small plaque lesions. When food passes through, swallowing discomfort or difficulty swallowing will occur. The symptoms of dysphagia will become more and more obvious, from being unable to swallow solid food to being unable to swallow liquid food .

4. Pain behind the sternum

There is often a slight pain behind the sternum when swallowing food, and the location of the pain can be felt. The pain is relieved or even disappears after eating. The nature of the pain can be burning pain, needle-like pain, or pulling and friction pain . Most of these symptoms can be treated with drugs and temporarily relieved. However, after a few days or months, the disease will relapse and recur for a long time.

5. Hoarseness

The recurrent laryngeal nerve, which originates from the vagus nerve, is distributed in the muscles of the larynx and is involved in controlling normal voice production. Esophageal cancer itself and metastasis to the lymph nodes can directly invade or compress the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing hoarseness.

6. Digestive tract symptoms

Adverse symptoms that cause long-term esophageal irritation, such as nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux, may also be warning signs of esophageal cancer.

How to prevent esophageal cancer?

The key to preventing esophageal cancer is to change bad living and eating habits. Here are some suggestions:

1. Avoid overheated food and drinks, and don't eat too fast.
2. Eat less pickled food and leftovers. 3. Do not eat moldy or spoiled food (moldy peanuts, corn, beans and other foods will produce aflatoxin, a strong carcinogen). 4. Quit smoking and drinking. 5. Brush and wash your teeth regularly to maintain oral hygiene. 6. Eat more foods rich in vitamins and minerals (such as fresh vegetables and fruits). 7. People over 40 years old, who come from areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer, have a family history of esophageal cancer, have upper gastrointestinal symptoms or other high-risk factors, should have a gastroscopy once a year .