Health

Throat Cancer Deaths To Triple If Obesity Not Cut - Chris Hawkey

by Paul Conneally | April 3, 2010 at 06:51 am

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Deaths from throat cancer are increasing as rates of obesity increase. If the trend in obesity numbers continues then throat (oesophageal) cancer could raise to the levels of bowel and other cancers.

In the UK it is predicted that figures could triple over the next 20 years with similar rises in other countries with rising obesity such as the US.

The disease can be precipitated by acid reflux which is more common in overweight people. The acid from the stomach damages the cells in the throat leading if not treated to throat cancer. Throat cancer is currently one of the most deadly cancers with only around a nine per cent survival rate.

The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) worry that unless the rise in obesity is quelled more nad more people will die from this, preventable in most cases, disease.

Professor Chris Hawkey, BSG president, said: "As we all get fatter cases are going to increase enormously."

A precurser to full blown throat cancer is Barrett's Oesophagus which can be detected by an endoscope and if found treated before oesophageal cancer develops. Prof Hawkley called for more use of the procedure to check for Barrett's Oesophagus in obese and overweight patients suffering with some acid reflux.

Last week there were reports that throat cancer was also being spread by a virus during oral sex calling for males to be vaccinated against HPV.

Former World Snooker Champion Alex Higgins was admitted to hospital last week very ill with suspected pneumonia last week after battling throat cancer for ten years.

Throat cancer is also more prevalent in heavy smokers.

The cancer could become almost as deadly as current major killers such as bowel cancer, because of our increasing waistbands.

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Amy Judd

at 07:14 on April 3rd, 2010

A nine percent survival rate? I had no idea it was so low. There seems to be so many cancers tied to obesity that it does just make sense to tackle the problem where it begins.

Paul Conneally

at 07:25 on April 3rd, 2010

Nine percent to ten percent in the UK/US where treatment is quite advanced compared to some other areas of the world - but yes prevention by scaling down obesity figures and also earlier detection would seem to offer best hope - throat cancer is also caused by smoking and is one diseaase that has been linked directly to heavy cannabis smoking with its much 'hotter' burning temp and smoke. The oral sex link is interesting too. Watch out fat folks who like oral sex... and if you smoke too...