Gastro-oesophageal (GO) cancers
What are GO cancers?
GO cancers arise in the oesophagus, stomach, or at the junction between the two (the gastro-oesophageal junction, GOJ).1
Prevalence of GO cancers
Despite an overall decrease in the country-wide incidence of stomach and oesophageal cancers in recent years, they are still associated with a poor prognosis.2,3 Furthermore, the number of people who are developing GOJ cancer is thought to be on the rise.1
Oesophageal and stomach cancers are two of six less survivable cancers that are responsible for a half of all deaths from common cancers in the UK.4
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Oesophageal3 and stomach cancer2 prevalence
Each year there are approximately twice the number of new cases of GO cancers diagnosed in men compared with women, with 50% of all new stomach cancer cases and 41% of all new oesophageal cancer cases being diagnosed each year in those aged 75 and over (2016 – 2018).2,3
Signs and symptoms of GO cancers
The symptoms of GO cancers depend on their location and can be non-specific in nature.5,6
Selected stomach and oesophageal cancer symptoms5,6
As the symptoms associated with GO cancers are often non-specific, people may relieve them with over-the-counter medications without looking into the cause.7
Treatment options for GO cancers
Once diagnosed with GO cancer, a patient’s treatment options are dependent on the type and stage of their cancer but may include:8
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
References
1 Cancer Research UK. What is gastro oesophageal junction cancer? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/gastro-oesophageal-junction-cancer/about
Last accessed: October 2023
2 Cancer Research UK. Stomach cancer statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/stomach-cancer#heading-One
Last accessed: October 2023
3 Cancer Research UK. Oesophageal cancer statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/oesophageal-cancer#heading-One
Last accessed: October 2023
4 Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce. Available at: https://lesssurvivablecancers.org.uk/
Last accessed: October 2023
5 Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of oesophageal cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/oesophageal-cancer/symptoms
Last accessed: October 2023
6 Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of stomach cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/stomach-cancer/symptoms
Last accessed: October 2023
7 Heartburn Cancer UK. Persistent heartburn. Available at: https://www.heartburncanceruk.org/persistent-heartburn
Last Accessed: October 2023
8 Yale Medicine. Gastrointestinal cancers. Available at: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/gastrointestinal-cancers
Last accessed: October 2023
October 2023 | ONC-GB-2200765