April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month
“If only we had known.” It’s refrain we hear too often from supporters of the Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN). It’s the reason this non-profit patient advocacy organization was founded 12 years ago with a commitment to prevent the tragedy that has befallen too many families because they didn’t know that heartburn or acid reflux might lead to a life-threatening cancer.
Lack of Awareness ECAN’s mission is to save lives – and one of the most important ways ECAN accomplishes its goal is by making more folks aware that persistent heartburn or reflux symptoms should not be taken lightly – that they may put their lives in danger. ECAN commissioned a poll by IPSOS to determine just how many Americans are aware of the link between reflux and cancer. The results were not surprising. Only 14% of Americans were aware that reflux disease could lead to cancer. Most of those surveyed could only point to heartburn as a symptom of reflux, with little understanding that symptoms like a hoarse voice, sore throat, persistent cough, or choking upon lying down could be signs of GERD. That’s why ECAN continues its relentless efforts to increase awareness about Esophageal Cancer.
Read the full ECAN article.
