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
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 49% of all new stomach cancer cases and 41% of all new oesophageal cancer cases being diagnosed each year in those aged 75 and over (2017 – 2019).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
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:7
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
References
1 Cancer Research UK, What is oesophageal cancer? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/oesophageal-cancer/about
Last accessed: December 2024
2 Cancer Research UK. Stomach cancer statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/stomach-cancer
Last accessed: December 2024
3 Cancer Research UK. Oesophageal cancer statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/oesophageal-cancer
Last accessed: December 2024
4 Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce. Available at: https://lesssurvivablecancers.org.uk/
Last accessed: December 2024
5 Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of oesophageal cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/oesophageal-cancer/symptoms
Last accessed: December 2024
6 NHS. Symptoms, Stomach Cancer. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-cancer/symptoms/
Last accessed: December 2024
7 Yale Medicine. Gastrointestinal cancers. Available at: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/gastrointestinal-cancers
Last accessed: December 2024
December 2024 | ONC-GB-2400509