Esophageal cancer originates in the esophagus, a part of the digestive track that connects the stomach and throat. The cancer usually begins in the cells of the outer layers of the esophagus, called squamous cells, or in the glands of the esophagus, in which case it is called adenocarcinoma. Cancers that originate in the squamous cells account for approximately 50 percent of esophageal cancers in the U.S. as of 2009. This type of cancer used to account for 90 percent of esophageal cancers. Improved treatment and diagnosis of acid reflux, which can be a contributing factor to esophageal cancer, has reduced the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas.
Age of Diagnosis and Mortality
According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 16,470 cases of esophageal cancer are diagnosed each year as of 2009. During 2009, approximately 14,530 people will die due to the illness. In the period between 2002 and 2006, statistics demonstrated that people were diagnosed with the cancer for the first time at a median (midpoint) age of 64. There were statistically 0 percent of diagnoses in people under age 20 and less than 20 percent of cases were diagnosed in patients under age 45. Approximately 24 percent of cases were diagnosed in people between ages 55 and 64, with that number jumping to 28.1 percent in ages 65 to 75. The number dropped back to 24.8 percent for those between 75 and 84, and below 10 percent in those over the age of 85.
The median age of death related to esophageal cancer was 70. Again, 0 percent of patients under the age of 20 died, while less than 20 percent of deaths occurred in patients under age 55. Also, 22.9 percent of the deaths occurred in people between 55 and 64, 27.7 percent occurred in people between 65 and 74, and the remaining deaths occurred in people over 75.
Mortality Statistics
Approximately 4.4 people in the United States out of every 100,000 will die due to esophageal cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. These statistics, based on data collected between 2002 and 2006, are adjusted to account for age and unrelated deaths among esophageal cancer patients. The number of deaths is higher in men, at 7.8 deaths per 100,000, versus 1.7 for every 100,000 women.
Survival Rates by Stage
Cancer survival is measured in terms of five-year survival rates. These five-year survival rates are minimum rates of survival; patients still alive after five years may remain alive for many additional years. The statistics are also adjusted to account for the fact that some patients may die of causes not related to cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, statistics suggest that over 95 percent of patients diagnosed with Stage 0 cancer, with cancer cells completely confined to the lining of the esophagus or pre-cancerous changes, will be alive five years later. About 50 to 80 percent of patients diagnosed with Stage I cancer will be alive five years after diagnosis. The survival rate drops to 30 to 40 percent for patients diagnosed with Stage IA cancer, and drops again to 10 to 30 percent for patients with Stage IIA. The survival rate for Stage III patients is 10 to 15 percent. Fewer then 5 percent of patients diagnosed with Stage IV cancer will be alive five years from diagnosis.
Prevalence
Esophageal cancer is more common in men then women. It is equally common in both Caucasians and African-Americans; however, most Caucasians are diagnosed with adenocarcinoma while most African-Americans are diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.
Esophageal cancer is more common in Iran, China, India and Southern Africa then it is in the U.S. People in these counties are 10 to 100 times more likely to be diagnosed with esophageal cancer then are people in the U.S.
Lifetime Risk
According to the National Cancer institute, .51 percent of people born in the U.S. will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer during their lifetime. This information is based on data collected between 2004 and 2006.
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