At a Glance
- Estimated New Cases in 2017: 16,940
- % of All New Cancer Cases: 1.0%
- Estimated Deaths in 2017: 15,690
- % of All Cancer Deaths: 2.6%
- Percent Surviving 5: Years 18.8% (2007-2013)
Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The number of new cases of esophageal cancer was 4.2 per 100,000 men and women per year. The number of deaths was 4.1 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2010-2014 cases and deaths.
Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 0.5 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2012-2014 data.
Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2014, there were an estimated 45,547 people living with esophageal cancer in the United States.
Survival Statistics
How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer?
Relative survival statistics compare the survival of patients diagnosed with cancer with the survival of people in the general population who are the same age, race, and sex and who have not been diagnosed with cancer. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.
Survival by Stage
Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier esophageal cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For esophageal cancer, 19.6% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year survival for localized esophageal cancer is 42.9%.
Number of New Cases and Deaths
How Common Is This Cancer?
Compared to other cancers, esophageal cancer is relatively rare. In 2017, it is estimated that there will be 16,940 new cases of esophageal cancer and an estimated 15,690 people will die of this disease.Esophageal cancer represents 1.0% of all new cancer cases.
Who Gets This Cancer?
Esophageal cancer is more common in men than women, and it is associated with older age, heavy alcohol use and tobacco use. The number of new cases of esophageal cancer was 4.2 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2010-2014 cases. Esophageal cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65-74.
Who Dies From This Cancer?
Esophageal cancer is the eleventh leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The number of deaths was 4.1 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2010-2014 deaths.
Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Esophageal Cancer
The percent of esophageal cancer deaths is highest among people aged 65-74.
More About This Cancer
Cancer and the Esophagus
Esophageal cancer starts at the inside lining of the esophagus and spreads outward through the other layers as it grows. The two most common forms of esophageal cancer are:
- Squamous cell carcinoma that forms in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the esophagus. This cancer is most often found in the upper and middle part of the esophagus, but can occur anywhere along the esophagus. This is also called epidermoid carcinoma.
- Adenocarcinoma that begins in glandular (secretory) cells. Glandular cells in the lining of the esophagus produce and release fluids such as mucus. Adenocarcinomas usually form in the lower part of the esophagus, near the stomach.
References
All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within:
Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, Miller D, Bishop K, Kosary CL, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2014, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2014/ , based on November 2016 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2017.
All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.
SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Esophageal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/esoph.html
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