What Are The Survival Rates for Gastroesophageal (GE) Junction Cancer?

According to Cancer Research UK, the estimated new cases and deaths from esophageal cancer in the United States in 2019 is staggering. It is estimated there are approximately 17,650 new cases with 16,080 of those diagnosed ending in death.

The incidence of esophageal cancer has risen in recent decades, coinciding with a shift in the histologic type and primary tumor location. In the United States, squamous cell carcinoma has historically been more prevalent although the incidence of adenocarcinoma has risen dramatically in the last few decades in the United States and western Europe.

Worldwide, squamous cell carcinoma remains the predominant histology, however, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal (GE) junction cancer is now more prevalent than squamous cell carcinoma in the United States and western Europe.

No one can tell you exactly how long you’ll live. However, the general life expectancy will depend on:

Your outlook depends on the stage of cancer when it was diagnosed. This means how big it is and whether it has spread.
The type of cancer and grade of the cancer cells can also affect your survival. Grade means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.
Your general health and fitness also affect survival, the fitter you are, the better you may be able to cope with your cancer and treatment.

If cancer hasn't spread.

Around 40 out of 100 people (40%) live for 5 years or more if the cancer is only in the esophagus. Between 30 and 40 out of 100 people (30 to 40%) with localized esophageal cancer can have treatment to try to cure it. These treatments include chemoradiation on its own, and surgery with or without chemotherapy beforehand.

The different types of esophageal cancers.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The survival rate for people who had treatment to try to cure squamous cell cancer about:

75 out of 100 (75%) survived for 1 year or more after diagnosis
50 out of 100 (50%) survived for 2 years or more
40 out of 100 people (40%) survived for 3 years or more

Adenocarcinoma

The survival rate for people who had treatment to try to cure adenocarcinoma about:

80 out of 100 (80%) survived for 1 year or more after diagnosis
60 out of 100 people (60%) survived for 2 years or more

If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

Around 21 out of 100 people (21%) live for 5 years or more if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Advanced cancer means it has spread to another part of the body. Most people with advanced esophageal cancer live for between 3 to 12 months after their cancer is diagnosed. Around 4 out of 100 people (4%) live for 5 years or more.

Survival for all stages of esophageal cancer.

Generally, for people with esophageal cancer about:
40 out of every 100 (40%) will survive for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed
15 out of every 100 (15%) will survive for 5 years or more
12 out of 100 (12%) will survive for 10 years or more

For more information on gastroesophageal junction cancer and more, visit our Health Conditions page on BlackDoctor.org.

SOURCE: Cancer Research UK, July 28, 2019, Esophageal Cancer, Survival