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Oesophageal cancer increase due to obesity

There has been a marked increase in new cases of oesophageal cancer diagnosed in Ireland due in particular to obesity, according to a leading Glasgow-based consultant, Mr Robert Stuart. Just under half of the population of Ireland are either overweight or obese.

And now Prof Tom Walsh, an oesophageal surgeon at Blanchardstown Hospital will meet with the Government’s cancer ‘supremo’ Prof Tom Keane this week to lobby for greater public education regarding the symptoms of oesophageal cancer.

“Emerging research shows the links between oesophageal cancer and obesity are particularly strong. Obesity is estimated to account for up to 14 per cent of cancer deaths in men and 20 per cent of cancer deaths in women. With this expected to rise, now is the time to be aware of the symptoms of oesophageal cancer,” said Mr Stuart, who chaired the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) guideline development group for oesophageal and gastric cancer guidelines in Scotland.

Prof Walsh, a specialist on oesophageal cancer, said a greater media spotlight is required to highlight oesophageal cancer, which is a particularly nasty condition.
He was speaking in the context of Lollipop Day, which is intended to highlight the incidence of oesophageal cancer in Ireland, which annually kills more people than road traffic accidents.

“It has dramatic symptoms, yet people do not pick up on them,” said Prof Walsh. “Biologically it presents particular difficulties and it is well advanced in the majority of patients at the time of presentation.” A paper has been accepted by the Irish Journal of Medical Science which outlines lack of awareness among the public.

“Our research found that only 17 per cent of people had heard of oesophageal cancer and they had very little idea what the symptoms were,” Prof Walsh said. “I would regard the symptoms as gross symptoms: regular vomiting and your clothes hanging off but people are not informed.”

The mortality rate from oesophageal cancer is higher than Irish road-traffic deaths — and Ireland has the highest incidence rate of oesophageal cancer in Europe for men and women, affecting between 350 and 400 people per year. The prognosis for oesophageal cancer is poor, with 90 per cent of people dying from the disease once they get it.

Only 25 per cent of patients undergo potentially curative surgery with about 35 per cent of those operated on surviving five years or more.

Given these poor survival rates, the ability to recognise the main symptoms of this disease — dysphagia and unexpected weight loss — is vital as it allows for early diagnosis and effective and successful treatment.

Posted in Public Health on 06 March 2008
Tags: cancer, obesity