Remembering ‘Family Feud’s Richard Dawson Who Passed From Esophageal Cancer in 2012; April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month

Dawson was born in England and flourished in America as an actor on Hogan’s Heroes and as the original host of the game show Family Feud. 

Understanding Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer begins in the esophagus, which carries food to the stomach. This disease is more common among men than women. The risk of esophageal cancer for men in the U.S. is 1 in 125, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). In 2021, there will be approximately 19,260 new esophageal cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S.

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This cancer makes up only 1% of cancers diagnosed in the U.S., and it's more common in other parts of the world, such as China and India. Survival rates for esophageal cancer have improved over the years as treatments for the disease have improved.

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Some people confuse esophageal cancer and throat cancer. The ACS reports that the cause of most esophageal cancers is unknown (though some risk factors, like tobacco use, can increase the likelihood of getting this cancer). Whereas human papillomavirus (HPV) is a known cause of throat cancer. Esophageal cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Get the Facts What Do We Know About HPV-Linked Throat Cancer?

Screening for Cancer During COVID-19

If something feels off with your body, it’s important to visit your doctor and screen for diseases or discuss the issue with your doctor. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should still be vigilant when it comes to caring for your body and your mental and physical health.

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Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a Medical Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, says in an earlier interview, “So we know that cancer has not gone away just because we’re in the middle of a pandemic. We also know that some elective procedures and potentially preventative care– things like colonoscopies, and mammograms, and pap smears– may have been put off a couple months because we wanted to limit the number of people that were coming in to the hospital and also keep patients at home unless they really needed to leave.”

“But fortunately, now that we have a little bit of a better hold on how to protect patients,” says Dr. Comen. “How to disinfect, how to clean in between patients and scatter so that we’re not crowding our waiting rooms, it’s really, really important to remember to talk to your doctor about your screening mammogram or any other preventative tests that you may need.”

It's Important To Continue Cancer Screenings Through COVID-19

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