IARC marks Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) observes Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month in April. During the coming weeks, IARC will highlight some of the projects that the Agency’s scientists are engaged in to prevent oesophageal cancer.

IARC estimated that in 2018, oesophageal cancer accounted for almost 573 000 new cases and more than 508 000 deaths globally. Oesophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer type but the sixth most common cause of cancer death worldwide.

Oesophageal cancer is one of the cancer types associated with the poorest prognosis. This is partly because early stages of the disease may not cause noticeable symptoms. Oesophageal cancer symptoms may include difficulty in swallowing (also called dysphagia), chest pain, weight loss, hoarseness, a chronic cough, vomiting, hiccups, pneumonia, bone pain, persistent acid reflux, and oesophageal bleeding.

Most cases of oesophageal cancer and most related deaths occur in East Asia, followed by southern Africa, East Africa, and northern Europe.

View the IARC Fact sheet on oesophageal cancer