Esophageal cancer adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased over 600% in the past decades, making it the fastest growing cancer in the United States.

Many do not realize that among other risk factors, obesity, chronic heartburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and smoking can lead to esophageal damage, Barrett's esophagus and can increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

Stage IV esophageal cancer has a survival rate of 3.8%.

Esophageal cancer shows low survival rates even in early stages: 21%-39%. 

There are no routine or standard screening tests to diagnose esophageal cancer in earlier stages and to improve early detection.

Symptoms often arise too late, once the cancer has spread and becomes difficult to treat, thus making esophageal cancer a highly lethal tumor.

In 2015, there will be an estimated 16,980 new diagnoses of esophageal cancer & 15,590 deaths in the U.S. 

Despite its rapid increase and poor prognosis, esophageal cancer research receives very little private or government funding. In fact, the National Cancer Institute decreased its investment in research of esophageal cancer by 15% in 2012.

In 2013, esophageal cancer research funding was again decreased. The National Cancer Institute invested only $26.5 million for esophageal cancer research out of their total $4.79 billion budget.

$1.6 billion dollars was estimated to be spent on esophageal cancer treatment alone during 2014 in the U.S.

Sources:

Esophageal Cancer On the Rise (WebMD)
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/esophageal-cancer-rise

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Turning Cancer Data Into Discovery (Cancer of the Esophagus) http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/esoph.html

A Snapshot of Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/esophageal

Copyright  2015 The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation