Action Against Heartburn warns Brits are being diagnosed too late because increasingly common cancer has vague symptoms such as indigestion which are often ignored
Brits are being warned that persistent heartburn could be a sign of cancer amid a rise in people being diagnosed too late.
Oesophageal cancer has been dubbed the “forgotten cancer” and Action Against Heartburn warns increasing late diagnoses is because we do not recognise the symptoms that affect our digestion.
The charity analysed the latest data and found the proportion of oesophageal cancers diagnosed at stage 4 in England increased from 25% in 2013 to 37% in 2022. Stage 4 cancer is an advanced stage of the disease and it means it has spread from its original site and is often incurable.
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Oesophageal cancer affects the food pipe which connects the mouth to the stomach and is linked to smoking, drinking and junk food. There are around 9,200 new cases in the UK each year and fewer than 20% of people diagnosed will survive for more than five years.
Jill Clark, chair of Action Against Heartburn, said: “Oesophageal cancer is the forgotten cancer. Incidence in the UK is disproportionately high and late diagnosis means that it is often fatal.
“The reasons for the increase in late-stage diagnosis are unclear but are likely to be due to a combination of strain on the NHS, referral delays, unhealthy lifestyles, an aging population and poor symptom awareness.”
The poor life expectancy for oesophageal cancer is largely due to late diagnosis. One year survival for oesophageal cancer is 89% if it’s diagnosed at stage 1 but this drops to 26% if it’s diagnosed at stage 4.
The NHS says there are many possible symptoms of oesophageal cancer “but they might be hard to spot”. It lists the main ones as:
- having problems swallowing
- feeling or being sick
- heartburn or acid reflux
- symptoms of indigestion, such as burping a lot
- a cough that is not getting better
- a hoarse voice
- loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- feeling tired or having no energy
- pain in your throat or the middle of your chest, especially when swallowing
- black poo or coughing up blood
Professor Sheraz Markar, consultant oesophago-gastric surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Oesophageal cancer affects the food pipe connecting the throat to the stomach. The causes are often unclear, but can be related to lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or being overweight.
“There are good treatment options if it’s caught early but it becomes much more difficult once it has spread.
“Symptoms of oesophageal cancer can be vague but a common sign is persistent heartburn. Other symptoms can include problems swallowing, feeling or being sick, unexplained weight loss or chronic indigestion. If you experience any of these then we recommend that you see your GP.”
