The role of the esophagus is to facilitate the movement of the food you eat from the back of your throat to the stomach. When esophageal cancer occurs, malignant tumors begin forming on the lining of the esophagus. Men are considerably more prone to developing esophageal cancer, as they have a lifetime risk of developing it of 1 in 125, whereas, for women, the risk of esophageal cancer is 1 in 417. The main symptoms of esophageal cancer are the following:
- difficulty and pain with swallowing
- pressure or burning in the chest
- indigestion
- heartburn
- vomiting
- frequently choking on food
- a persistent cough and hoarseness
- unexplained weight loss
- pain behind the breastbone or in the throat
The use of aqueous film-forming foam, also known as AFFF, is the primary source of PFAS contamination on military bases. This is a fire suppressant used to put out jet fuel and petroleum fires by military firefighters and trainees. When these chemicals are released in the environment, they remain there forever, as they are also known as forever chemicals. Similarly, once they enter the human body, they persist, being able to cause numerous serious diseases and health problems, including esophageal cancer. In the unfortunate case that you were stationed at one of these military bases and came to struggle with esophageal cancer, we advise you to contact us, as we specialize in toxic exposure and might be able to help you recover financial compensation.