Can GERD Cause Cancer?
Almost everyone gets a touch of heartburn now and then. However, if you experience the symptom frequently, talk to your doctor. Frequent heartburn may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux.
Some people with GERD have a slightly higher risk of developing cancer of the esophagus, a rare but serious condition.
“GERD is incredibly common, but esophageal cancer related to GERD is not very common. So it’s important to know that most people with GERD are not going to develop esophageal cancer,” says Douglas Smink, MD, MPH, a Brigham and Women’s Hospital gastrointestinal surgeon and chief of surgery at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. “For people at higher risk, screening can catch things early, which leads to better outcomes.”
Understanding heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD
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The esophagus is a tube about a foot long that connects your mouth to your stomach. Food travels down the esophagus into the stomach, where acids break it down and digest it. Between the esophagus and the stomach is a valve (sphincter) that keeps those stomach acids where they belong.
Sometimes acid leaks from the stomach into the esophagus, called acid reflux. Acid reflux usually causes a general burning sensation in the chest or throat, a symptom called heartburn. Heartburn can sometimes feel so severe that it’s mistaken for a heart attack.
Most people experience heartburn and esophageal reflux occasionally, but if it’s happening over and over again, you may be diagnosed with GERD.
GERD is caused by a structural problem in the valve between the stomach and esophagus. That valve can weaken or stretch over time, allowing acid to get through.
Some cases of GERD are related to a hiatal hernia. This condition happens when the opening in the diaphragm (muscle between your chest and belly that helps you breathe) is bigger than it should be or stretches out. The stomach then pushes up through the diaphragm.
Signs of GERD
Frequent heartburn is the most common sign of GERD. Eating a GERD diet and taking medications can alleviate the symptom. But they don’t stop reflux or cure GERD, Smink explains.
People who need to take a medicine should see a doctor. The occasional antacid is fine, but if you need it every day or every other day, you should at least talk to your primary care doctor, who may recommend referral to a gastroenterologist.
Although frequent heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD, some people don’t experience it. They may notice other signs or symptoms that are related to GERD or could be potential signs of cancer, such as:
- Anemia
- Difficulty or pain during swallowing
- Tooth decay
- Unexpected weight loss
- Voice changes such as hoarseness
“Sometimes people won’t feel the traditional symptom of heartburn but may still have acid reflux. If you are experiencing any of those symptoms and they are severe or long-lasting, they definitely need to be checked out. They’re not guarantees that you have esophageal cancer or any cancer, but they’re concerning enough that you should get them investigated,” Smink says.
Read more about GERD, Barrett’s disease, and treatment to prevent chronic acid reflux and cancer at massgeneralbrigham.org