Gastroesophageal (GE) junction cancer is a rare type of cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach. It starts in the area where the esophagus and stomach join together, then grows from cells that make mucus.
Similar to other cancers of the esophagus, a new study suggests, people who use common heartburn drugs for months to years may face heightened risks of dying from fatal diseases and cancers much like GE junction cancer.
The study included more than 200,000 U.S. veterans. It’s the latest to raise concerns over drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). They include prescription and over-the-counter drugs like Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole). And they rank among the top-selling medications in the United States.
Research in recent years has linked prolonged PPI use to increased risks of various diseases and premature death.
These latest findings point to the specific causes of death tied to the