Almost 45,000 people in Ireland get cancer, both invasive and non-invasive tumours, as well as non-melanoma skin cancers each year.
Incidence of cancer in Ireland is growing, but more people are surviving cancer than ever before.
However, there is one drink that you could be consuming that is increasing the likelihood of oesophageal cancer.
Evidence suggests that hot beverages can increase your risk of oesophageal cancer, which is found in the food pipe.
According to a report in the International Journal of Cancer: "Coffee, tea and maté [a tealike beverage, popular in many South American countries] may cause oesophageal cancer by causing thermal injury to the oesophageal mucosa."
The researchers added: "If so, the risk of oesophageal cancer attributable to thermal injury could be large in populations in which these beverages are commonly consumed."
However, in contradiction, these drinks may also prevent oesophageal cancer due to their chemical constituents.
The researchers reviewed many epidemiologic studies that investigated the association of high-temperature drinks or hot foods and the risk of oesophageal cancer.
Researchers studied previous reports on the links found between oesophageal cancer and hot food and drinks and found 59 eligible studies.
For coffee and tea, the researchers found little evidence for an association between the amount of use and oesophageal cancer risk; however, most studies showed an increased risk of oesophageal cancer associated with higher drinking temperature, which was statistically significant in most of them.
For other hot foods and drinks, over half of the studies showed statistically significant increased risks of oesophageal cancer associated with higher temperature of intake.
The researchers concluded: "Overall, the available results strongly suggest that high-temperature beverage drinking increases the risk of EC [oesophageal cancer]."
In a 2020 study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention found that drinking very hot tea (65°C or higher) was significantly associated with the increased risk of oesophageal cancer.
Other risk factors of oesophageal cancer include:
- Being over the age of 75 - it's not very common in people under 45
- Are a man
- Having certain medical conditions, such as long-term, severe acid reflux or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or a condition called Barrett's oesophagus.
