Latest Esophageal cancer Stories

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that most patients who survive for at least five years after oesophageal cancer surgery recover an average quality of life. However, quality of life deteriorates significantly for one in six patients to a level that remains much lower than the average population in the five years after surgery. This suggests, say the researchers, that hospitals must be better at identifying this patient group. Globally, oesophageal cancer is...

With global obesity levels rising, an increasing number of people find themselves suffering from acid reflux, which in turn could lead to a higher rate of those contracting esophageal cancer, according to a new study published last week in the journal Gut. According to Steven Reinberg of USA Today, researchers from Norway have observed a nearly 50% increase in acid reflux -- also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD -- over the past decade. By studying the health information...

Obesity doubles the risk of cancer recurrence and cancer-related death in patients with esophageal cancer who have been treated with surgery, researchers at Mayo Clinic found. Their 778-patient study, which appeared in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (http://jco.ascopubs.org/), found that five-year survival in obese patients -- those with a body mass index of 30 or higher -- with esophageal cancer was 18 percent, compared to 36 percent in patients of normal weight. The...

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Biologics, Inc., a privately held specialty bio-pharmaceutical company announced today that it has obtained approval for an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for their product PHOTOFRIN® (porfimer sodium) as adjuvant therapy to surgery in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer affecting the lining of the lungs. It is a rare, highly aggressive and devastating...

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BARRX Medical Inc., a leader in developing minimally invasive medical devices used in conjunction with endoscopy to remove precancerous tissue from the gastrointestinal tract, announces today that they have signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Covidien. Covidien is a leading global provider of healthcare products and a worldwide leader in advanced energy-based devices. Covidien will acquire all of the outstanding capital...

OAK BROOK, Ill., Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The holiday season is fast approaching and for approximately 30 million Americans with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, celebrations can be less than festive when holiday eating becomes uncomfortable. National GERD Awareness Week is November 20-26, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy urges individuals who suffer from GERD to seek medical diagnosis and treatment to make their holidays and every day...

Patients with recent use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), or anti-clotting drugs such as clopidogreal (Plavix) do not appear to have an increased risk of bleeding during or after removal of precancerous lesions in the digestive tract, according to results of a Mayo Clinic study. The findings, culled from a review of 1,382 procedures of patients treated at Mayo Clinic in Florida, are being presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in...

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Biologics, Inc., a privately held specialty bio-pharmaceutical company announced today that it has filed an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for their product PHOTOFRIN® (porfimer sodium) as adjuvant therapy to surgery in the treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is a form of cancer affecting the lining of the lungs. It is a rare, highly aggressive and devastating cancer with a poor prognosis....

After demonstrating that light accurately detected pre-cancerous cells in the lining of the esophagus, Duke University bioengineers turned their technology to the colon and have achieved similar results in a series of preliminary experiments. This technology could be a non-invasive way for physicians to detect abnormal cells, or dysplasia, which have the potential of turning cancerous. These cells are in the epithelium, or lining, of various tissues, including the esophagus and colon....

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New plain-language publications from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) compare the benefits and risks of treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive condition that affects millions of Americans and can be treated with medications or surgery. The publications are based on an updated evidence report also released today. The report concluded...