Two things.
If you have beyond occasional indigestion or occasional acid reflux, get an endoscopy if you're over 30. You can have chronic acid reflux and not know it. The youngest patient treated for the cancer I have is 21 but, that's extremely rare. It's also extremely rare in someone my age (42). Most victims of Barrett's-related esophageal cancer are in their 70s. The esophageal erosion that occurs when that flap between the stomach and esophagus doesn't close properly or stay closed is called Barrett's Esophagus; the disease is Barrett's Syndrome. It's considered a pre-cancerous state so don't treat it blithely. Caught before cancer sets-in, healing is rapid and you should be in the clear.
Treatment is ridiculously easy. You basically take a pill for it once or twice a day and that's it. The pills actually heal the esophagus and reduce acid production in the stomach. Most over-the-counter antacids like Rolaids or Tums only help neutralize acid. They're not enough. You need an acid-production inhibitor that also heals the esophagus. These are called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Zantac and Prilosec do this, but they don't promote healing as well as Nexium or Aciphex. There is a new drug which is considered to be the best for this and it's called Protonix (aka pantoprozole). If you're currently taking Nexium or Aciphex, ask your doctor about Protonix. The only side-effect I have with Protonix is difficulty swallowing and feeling very full very quickly if I eat too soon after taking the pill. To counteract that, I drink while eat. I also happen to be on a very high dose you may not experience that.
Not to be ominous, but Barrett's-related esophageal cancer is one of the fastest increasing cancers there is. While still relatively rare, it is growing in occurrance almost exponentially. About 15,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the USA but 10 years ago there were less than a thousand a year. Next year the expected number will be 18,000. Drugs like Protonix, Aciphex, and Nexium may put a dent in that number (I hope).
Oddly enough, there does not seem to be a genetic component to this according to the Barrett's experts I've personally consulted. My father has Barrett's and so do I so it is possible that there's simply not enough information collected to prove a genetic link. Researchers are looking for any particular cause, but there doesn't seem to be any. I'm not a big beef eater and tend to avoid deep-friend foods as I simply don't care for them and never have. A fine aged steak at Peter Luger is wasted on me. I prefer fish, vegetables, chicken, pork, and frequently cook Asian food for myself. I'm not perfect, however, and have been known to stop at Micky D's on roadtrips or pull a frozen pizza out of the freezer when I'm lazy and I do love ice cream. Still, I eat rather well. I do smoke and have for years (yes I'm in the quitting process). Even then, the doctors I spoke to don't see it as a statistical factor for this type of esophageal cancer. They've even seen Barrett's in people who are strictly organic/macrobiotic and vegan so there doesn't seem to be any particular diet that prevents this.
The only thing to do is to get yourself checked-out. Lower esophageal cancer can be completely without symptoms. I only found out I had it when it had progressed to stage four and then only when the lesion bled so much one night that it created an anemic state that nearly killed me and that's despite the fact the lesion is still considered quite small. I hadn't noticed tarry stools (another symptom) except one other time and I dismissed that as a side-effect of recently taken doeses of Excedrin Migraine. Don't let it get that far. Do get yourself an edoscopy if you have chronic acid reflux or indigestion and get yourself on a PPI in the mean time.
