Latest news with #AmericanCancerSociety
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New research presents promising findings on colorectal cancer treatment and prevention
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. This year, the organization estimates that more than 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with it and nearly 53,000 will die from it. New studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, in the last few days offer promising findings for both pharmaceutical and lifestyle interventions, including the impact of diet and exercise. Diagnoses of colorectal cancer have been decreasing overall for decades, the American Cancer Society says, thanks in large part to better screening. But case rates are rising among younger adults, and research estimates that colorectal cancer will become the leading cause of cancer death among adults ages 20 to 49 by 2030. Earlier research has suggested that regular exercise can improve survival rates for colorectal cancer patients, and a new study – published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the ASCO conference on Sunday – confirmed those findings with robust clinical trial data. Between 2009 and 2024, researchers followed nearly 900 colon cancer patients who had completed chemotherapy – half of whom received an informational booklet that encouraged them to adopt a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and exercise the other half of whom were also matched with a physical activity consultant for three years. They found that there was a 28% reduction in the risk of recurrence or new cancer for patients on the exercise program, with a five-year disease-free survival rate of 80% for the group with an exercise consultant compared with 74% for the group who just received the booklet. In other words, the exercise program was found to prevent 1 out of every 16 patients from developing recurrent or new cancer. 'That magnitude is comparable to – and in many cases exceeds – the magnitude of benefit offered by a lot of our very good standard cancer drugs,' said Dr. Christopher Booth, a professor of oncology with Queen's University and co-author of the new study. 'Exercise really should be considered an essential component of treatment of colon cancer.' Work is still being done to understand why exercise can help reduce the risk of cancer, but experts say that it may have something to do with the ways exercise helps reduce inflammation in the body. Another new study presented at the ASCO conference on Sunday found that anti-inflammatory diets also helped improve survival rates for people with stage 3 colon cancer. Patients who consumed more anti-inflammatory diets – including coffee, tea and vegetables such as leafy greens – and engaged in higher levels of physical activity had a 63% lower risk of death compared to patients who consumed the most inflammatory diets – including things like red meat, processed meat, refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages – and engaged in lower levels of physical activity, the study found. 'Actively, as a field, we're learning about the role of the immune system in cancer development, and inflammation is an immune response,' said Dr. Sara Char, a clinical fellow in Hematology and Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and lead author of the study, and the rise of colorectal cancer cases in younger people suggests it's a critical piece of the puzzle. 'When we look at the incidence of colon cancer in younger individuals … that really suggests to us that there is something in the environment – either in the foods we eat, our lifestyles, the chemicals that could be in our foods, all sorts of different things – that are outside of just genetics alone that could be driving these rates,' she said. 'So it is incredibly important for us, as a field, to be thinking about how our diet and lifestyle impacts not just our risk of developing this cancer, but then how people fare after it.' Both Booth and Char said that colorectal cancer patients are often seeking ways to proactively manage their risk. 'I think that's it's very empowering for patients,' Booth said. 'It's also achievable for patients. This is a commitment, but it's something that patients can achieve.' In his study, an 'exercise prescription' was developed based on each individual's starting point. Most people were able to reach their target increase if they went for a brisk walk for about an hour three or four days per week, Booth said. Lifestyle interventions like exercise and diet are also 'sustainable for health systems,' he said, but it's key that the system helps support patients in accessing the resources needed for behavioral interventions. Another new study showed promising results that might represent a new standard-of-care for certain patients with advanced colon cancer. On Friday, drugmaker Pfizer presented data on a colorectal cancer drug, Braftovi, used in combination with a standard chemotherapy and an antibody drug. During the trial, the drug combo was shown to double the length of time patients with an aggressive form of colorectal cancer lived with treatment: an average of 30 months compared with 15 months using currently available treatments. Braftovi targets a mutation in a specific protein that can lead to abnormal cell growth, and it's already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat some forms of cancer. The study, which was funded by Pfizer, published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine. 'It's a targeted cancer therapy that really depends on knowing what's driving patients' cancer,' Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla told CNN. These targeted therapies are one of the biggest advancements in cancer treatment over the past two decades, he said, and it's easy to diagnose whether cancer patients have the specific mutation that Braftovi can treat. The latest data on treatment for colorectal cancer a 'very, very important finding,' Bourla said, and the drugmaker plans to seek additional approval to add the new indication to the drug's label.
CNN
2 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
New research presents promising findings on colorectal cancer treatment and prevention
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. This year, the organization estimates that more than 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with it and nearly 53,000 will die from it. New studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, in the last few days offer promising findings for both pharmaceutical and lifestyle interventions, including the impact of diet and exercise. Diagnoses of colorectal cancer have been decreasing overall for decades, the American Cancer Society says, thanks in large part to better screening. But case rates are rising among younger adults, and research estimates that colorectal cancer will become the leading cause of cancer death among adults ages 20 to 49 by 2030. Earlier research has suggested that regular exercise can improve survival rates for colorectal cancer patients, and a new study – published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the ASCO conference on Sunday – confirmed those findings with robust clinical trial data. Between 2009 and 2024, researchers followed nearly 900 colon cancer patients who had completed chemotherapy – half of whom received an informational booklet that encouraged them to adopt a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and exercise the other half of whom were also matched with a physical activity consultant for three years. They found that there was a 28% reduction in the risk of recurrence or new cancer for patients on the exercise program, with a five-year disease-free survival rate of 80% for the group with an exercise consultant compared with 74% for the group who just received the booklet. In other words, the exercise program was found to prevent 1 out of every 16 patients from developing recurrent or new cancer. 'That magnitude is comparable to – and in many cases exceeds – the magnitude of benefit offered by a lot of our very good standard cancer drugs,' said Dr. Christopher Booth, a professor of oncology with Queen's University and co-author of the new study. 'Exercise really should be considered an essential component of treatment of colon cancer.' Work is still being done to understand why exercise can help reduce the risk of cancer, but experts say that it may have something to do with the ways exercise helps reduce inflammation in the body. Another new study presented at the ASCO conference on Sunday found that anti-inflammatory diets also helped improve survival rates for people with stage 3 colon cancer. Patients who consumed more anti-inflammatory diets – including coffee, tea and vegetables such as leafy greens – and engaged in higher levels of physical activity had a 63% lower risk of death compared to patients who consumed the most inflammatory diets – including things like red meat, processed meat, refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages – and engaged in lower levels of physical activity, the study found. 'Actively, as a field, we're learning about the role of the immune system in cancer development, and inflammation is an immune response,' said Dr. Sara Char, a clinical fellow in Hematology and Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and lead author of the study, and the rise of colorectal cancer cases in younger people suggests it's a critical piece of the puzzle. 'When we look at the incidence of colon cancer in younger individuals … that really suggests to us that there is something in the environment – either in the foods we eat, our lifestyles, the chemicals that could be in our foods, all sorts of different things – that are outside of just genetics alone that could be driving these rates,' she said. 'So it is incredibly important for us, as a field, to be thinking about how our diet and lifestyle impacts not just our risk of developing this cancer, but then how people fare after it.' Both Booth and Char said that colorectal cancer patients are often seeking ways to proactively manage their risk. 'I think that's it's very empowering for patients,' Booth said. 'It's also achievable for patients. This is a commitment, but it's something that patients can achieve.' In his study, an 'exercise prescription' was developed based on each individual's starting point. Most people were able to reach their target increase if they went for a brisk walk for about an hour three or four days per week, Booth said. Lifestyle interventions like exercise and diet are also 'sustainable for health systems,' he said, but it's key that the system helps support patients in accessing the resources needed for behavioral interventions. Another new study showed promising results that might represent a new standard-of-care for certain patients with advanced colon cancer. On Friday, drugmaker Pfizer presented data on a colorectal cancer drug, Braftovi, used in combination with a standard chemotherapy and an antibody drug. During the trial, the drug combo was shown to double the length of time patients with an aggressive form of colorectal cancer lived with treatment: an average of 30 months compared with 15 months using currently available treatments. Braftovi targets a mutation in a specific protein that can lead to abnormal cell growth, and it's already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat some forms of cancer. The study, which was funded by Pfizer, published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine. 'It's a targeted cancer therapy that really depends on knowing what's driving patients' cancer,' Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla told CNN. These targeted therapies are one of the biggest advancements in cancer treatment over the past two decades, he said, and it's easy to diagnose whether cancer patients have the specific mutation that Braftovi can treat. The latest data on treatment for colorectal cancer a 'very, very important finding,' Bourla said, and the drugmaker plans to seek additional approval to add the new indication to the drug's label.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Casey reflects on Biden's diagnosis, his own cancer fight
Bob Casey was on a train bound for Washington, D.C., when he got a call that stopped him in his tracks. 'It was just two words,' the former senator remembers. 'It's cancer.' Casey, a Scranton native serving his third term in the U.S. Senate, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2022. He was 62 and had no symptoms of disease. The cancer was caught by a routine blood test that revealed elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen. Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese greet neighborhood resident Molly Kankiewicz while taking a walk in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Casey was shaken by the diagnosis, but knew the cancer was manageable and detected early. He had decisions to make and time to make them. 'I can't imagine hearing those two words, 'It's cancer,' and having it be the kind of cancer which is not manageable,' Casey said in a recent interview. 'It hits you really hard, but I also had a general sense that this was more manageable, so it wasn't as devastating as it would have been if it were some other kind of cancer. But even with that, it still hits you hard.' Casey had successful surgery in 2023 and has remained healthy since, an example of advances in testing and treatment that have dramatically improved survival rates for the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Only lung cancer is more lethal. About one in eight men will be diagnosed over their lifetime with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Former Sen. Bob Casey smiles in the living room of his Scranton home Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Scranton native and former President Joe Biden was diagnosed last month with aggressive prostate cancer that spread to his bones. Prostate cancers are graded using what's known as a Gleason score. Scores range from 6 to 10. Biden's score is 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive types. It can be treated, but not cured. Casey said he sent Biden, 82, a message of support, but hasn't spoken to his old friend and political ally since the diagnosis. 'I reached out just to say, 'You're not alone,' and to tell him that we're thinking of him,' he said. 'I did see him right before he left (the White House) in January. I really haven't been in touch with him since, but (the diagnosis) is a hell of a thing after all he's been through.' Joined by Allentown firefighters and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, President Joe Biden addresses the media Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at Mack South Fire Station in Allentown. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call) Casey, 65, credits the support and advocacy of Terese Casey, his wife of 40 years and a key partner in his treatment and recovery. 'She jumped right in helping me research it, and we interviewed a group of surgeons,' he said. 'Technically, I had three options — just let it go and see what happens; No. 2 was to get radiation; and No. 3 was to have surgery. I chose a prostatectomy, where you just get it out. I was really fortunate. I had a good doctor and got a good result.' Choosing the right doctor and treatment plan are key not only to survival, but quality of life, said Don Ezrin, a three-time cancer survivor who until recently chaired the Northeast Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Survivors Support Group. The group no longer meets in person, but maintains a vibrant presence on Facebook, one of many regional pages for cancer survivors on the platform. A Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, Ezrin learned he was at risk during his discharge physical. His doctor told him his prostate was enlarged. 'I really remember the doctor with his rubber glove going, 'What is this? That's a bit enlarged,'' Ezrin said. 'So I was watching it thoroughly, and the minute it raised its ugly head, we proceeded to do something.' Ezrin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002. He opted for intensity modulated radiation therapy, which was not widely available in Northeast Pennsylvania at the time. His cancer has been under control for 20 years, which he credits in part to choosing the right treatment. 'You've got to understand that each medical professional is very similar to a car salesman,' the 78-year-old Clarks Summit retiree said. 'They want to sell what they practice, and if you start asking questions and they're not in that field, they're going to shut you down real quick, which was the reason for starting the group.' * Former Sen. Bob Casey talks with neighbors with his wife Terese by his side in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese talk in their living room in their Hill section residence in Scranton Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese talk on the couch in their living room in their Hill section residence in Scranton Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese walk out of their house in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese talk in their living room in their Hill section residence in Scranton Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 5 Former Sen. Bob Casey talks with neighbors with his wife Terese by his side in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Every treatment — whether surgery, radiation or hormone therapy — comes with side effects, Ezrin said. When he was diagnosed, his wife, Lisa, was 40. Ezrin was 57, and leery of the sexual side effects of some treatment options. 'I was not ready to give up what I call 'the finer things of life,' which is what can happen if you choose the wrong therapy to treat prostate cancer,' Ezrin said. 'A lot of the drugs that are out there today can rob you of the desire to want to do anything other than just exist. 'I've seen guys bounce back immediately and I've seen guys just fall apart. The bottom line is you've got to get educated on what you're up against and then make the best choice for you, your family and your financial situation.' Casey echoed Ezrin's call to research options widely before making treatment decisions. Seeking the support and counsel of survivors is also important, he said. Shortly after he announced his diagnosis, other members of Congress reached out with advice and support. 'That was a big help, and again, I was very fortunate to have good doctors and a good result,' he said. 'And the recovery was pretty fast. I think I was back voting in the Senate on day 12.' Casey was defeated in the November election and exited the Senate in January. His win over prostate cancer gives him more time to spend with his two grandchildren. Another is due in June. 'On Jan. 3, the first day of the new Congress, I purposely got in my car and drove to their house to be with them,' Casey said. 'I've been really lucky. I had a great run and had a lot of years in government and now I've got to do something else. I'm still working on that, still trying to figure that out, but I've been fortunate.' The former president's diagnosis and treatment going forward should serve as a reminder to men of a certain age to get tested regularly, Casey said. 'Whenever these things happen to someone who's prominent, it obviously brings a lot of attention to the topic,' he said. 'It's a powerful reminder for men to get the test, especially when you're in your 40s and 50s. It's important and it's so simple. You get a blood test. Treatment has come a long way over the past 25 or so years. What used to be a death sentence no longer is.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former Sen. Bob Casey reflects on Biden's diagnosis, his own cancer fight
Bob Casey was on a train bound for Washington, D.C., when he got a call that stopped him in his tracks. 'It was just two words,' the former senator remembers. 'It's cancer.' Casey, serving his third term in the U.S. Senate, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2022. He was 62 and had no symptoms of disease. The cancer was caught by a routine blood test that revealed elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen. Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese greet neighborhood resident Molly Kankiewicz while taking a walk in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Casey was shaken by the diagnosis, but knew the cancer was manageable and detected early. He had decisions to make and time to make them. 'I can't imagine hearing those two words, 'It's cancer,' and having it be the kind of cancer which is not manageable,' Casey said in a recent interview. 'It hits you really hard, but I also had a general sense that this was more manageable, so it wasn't as devastating as it would have been if it were some other kind of cancer. But even with that, it still hits you hard.' Casey had successful surgery in 2023 and has remained healthy since, an example of advances in testing and treatment that have dramatically improved survival rates for the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Only lung cancer is more lethal. About one in eight men will be diagnosed over their lifetime with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Former Sen. Bob Casey smiles in the living room of his Scranton home Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed last month with aggressive prostate cancer that spread to his bones. Prostate cancers are graded using what's known as a Gleason score. Scores range from 6 to 10. Biden's score is 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive types. It can be treated, but not cured. Casey said he sent Biden, 82, a message of support, but hasn't spoken to his old friend and political ally since the diagnosis. 'I reached out just to say, 'You're not alone,' and to tell him that we're thinking of him,' he said. 'I did see him right before he left (the White House) in January. I really haven't been in touch with him since, but (the diagnosis) is a hell of a thing after all he's been through.' Joined by Allentown firefighters and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, President Joe Biden addresses the media Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at Mack South Fire Station in Allentown. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call) Casey, 65, credits the support and advocacy of Terese Casey, his wife of 40 years and a key partner in his treatment and recovery. 'She jumped right in helping me research it, and we interviewed a group of surgeons,' he said. 'Technically, I had three options — just let it go and see what happens; No. 2 was to get radiation; and No. 3 was to have surgery. I chose a prostatectomy, where you just get it out. I was really fortunate. I had a good doctor and got a good result.' Choosing the right doctor and treatment plan are key not only to survival, but quality of life, said Don Ezrin, a three-time cancer survivor who until recently chaired the Northeast Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Survivors Support Group. The group no longer meets in person, but maintains a vibrant presence on Facebook, one of many regional pages for cancer survivors on the platform. A Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, Ezrin learned he was at risk during his discharge physical. His doctor told him his prostate was enlarged. 'I really remember the doctor with his rubber glove going, 'What is this? That's a bit enlarged,'' Ezrin said. 'So I was watching it thoroughly, and the minute it raised its ugly head, we proceeded to do something.' Ezrin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002. He opted for intensity modulated radiation therapy, which was not widely available in Northeast Pennsylvania at the time. His cancer has been under control for 20 years, which he credits in part to choosing the right treatment. 'You've got to understand that each medical professional is very similar to a car salesman,' the 78-year-old retiree said. 'They want to sell what they practice, and if you start asking questions and they're not in that field, they're going to shut you down real quick, which was the reason for starting the group.' * Former Sen. Bob Casey talks with neighbors with his wife Terese by his side in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese talk in their living room in their Hill section residence in Scranton Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese talk on the couch in their living room in their Hill section residence in Scranton Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese walk out of their house in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Former Sen. Bob Casey and wife Terese talk in their living room in their Hill section residence in Scranton Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 5 Former Sen. Bob Casey talks with neighbors with his wife Terese by his side in Scranton's Hill section Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Every treatment — whether surgery, radiation or hormone therapy — comes with side effects, Ezrin said. When he was diagnosed, his wife, Lisa, was 40. Ezrin was 57, and leery of the sexual side effects of some treatment options. 'I was not ready to give up what I call 'the finer things of life,' which is what can happen if you choose the wrong therapy to treat prostate cancer,' Ezrin said. 'A lot of the drugs that are out there today can rob you of the desire to want to do anything other than just exist. 'I've seen guys bounce back immediately and I've seen guys just fall apart. The bottom line is you've got to get educated on what you're up against and then make the best choice for you, your family and your financial situation.' Casey echoed Ezrin's call to research options widely before making treatment decisions. Seeking the support and counsel of survivors is also important, he said. Shortly after he announced his diagnosis, other members of Congress reached out with advice and support. 'That was a big help, and again, I was very fortunate to have good doctors and a good result,' he said. 'And the recovery was pretty fast. I think I was back voting in the Senate on day 12.' Casey was defeated in the November election and exited the Senate in January. His win over prostate cancer gives him more time to spend with his two grandchildren. Another is due in June. 'On Jan. 3, the first day of the new Congress, I purposely got in my car and drove to their house to be with them,' Casey said. 'I've been really lucky. I had a great run and had a lot of years in government and now I've got to do something else. I'm still working on that, still trying to figure that out, but I've been fortunate.' The former president's diagnosis and treatment going forward should serve as a reminder to men of a certain age to get tested regularly, Casey said. 'Whenever these things happen to someone who's prominent, it obviously brings a lot of attention to the topic,' he said. 'It's a powerful reminder for men to get the test, especially when you're in your 40s and 50s. It's important and it's so simple. You get a blood test. Treatment has come a long way over the past 25 or so years. What used to be a death sentence no longer is.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chilean scientists develop probiotic to help prevent stomach cancer
May 30 (UPI) -- Scientists at the University of Concepción in Chile have developed the world's first patented probiotic designed to prevent gastric cancer. The oral supplement is 93.6% effective and targets Helicobacter pylori, a key bacterial factor in the disease. The probiotic forms a protective coating along the stomach lining, preventing the bacteria from attaching when contaminated food or water is consumed. The supplement is approved for use starting at age 8 and also functions as an immunobiotic, helping regulate the body's immune response. Chilean biochemist and Ph.D. in biological sciences Apolinaria García led the research, using Lactobacillus fermentum as the base of the probiotic compound. Gastric cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide and ranks as the fourth-deadliest. Often called a "silent killer," its early symptoms are difficult to distinguish from more common and benign digestive conditions. Helicobacter pylori is found in about half the global population and is linked not only to gastric cancer but also to precursor conditions such as stomach ulcers and MALT lymphoma. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 30,000 new stomach cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2025, with more than 10,000 deaths expected. In Latin America, countries such as Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia report some of the highest incidence rates and lowest survival rates for gastric cancer, said Dr. Patricio Mardónez, president of Chile's National Health Network. He noted that countries like Japan and South Korea have significantly reduced mortality through widespread early detection and screening programs. "Regionally, what was once a cancer seen mostly in people over 65 is now being detected in patients under 50," Mardónez said. While the exact causes behind the rise in gastric cancer diagnoses among younger people are still under investigation, several hypotheses have been proposed. Changes in diet and lifestyle may be contributing, including increased consumption of highly processed foods high in sodium and low in fresh fruits and vegetables. Sedentary behavior and obesity are also risk factors, along with prolonged use of medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPI), commonly prescribed for acid reflux.
