What is it like to be diagnosed with Oesophageal Cancer at a Younger Age?

What is it like to be diagnosed with Oesophageal Cancer at a Younger Age?

Oesophageal Cancer in Younger Adults

Globally, approximately 9% of oesophageal cancers are diagnosed in individuals under the age of 50 years. Although relatively rare, a study from the United States of America and the Netherlands suggest that oesophageal cancer is becoming more common in younger adults under the age of 50. These studies also suggest that younger adults are  often diagnosed at a more advanced stage of disease compared to older adults.

Oesophageal cancer in younger adults has also become more widely discussed in the news.  In November 2025, Zack Van Aarde shared the story of his stage 4  oesophageal cancer diagnosis at the age of 42 on BBC, sharing that “it came as a massive shock”. In March 2026, Dale Atkinson also shared about his life-changing stage 4 oesophageal cancer diagnosis at the age of 35, as reported on Belfast Live.  

Being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer at any age is a shock, not only for patients but also for their families and friends. An oesophageal cancer diagnosis also presents unique challenges for younger adults. It’s important for us to get a better understanding of these issues so we can help to address them. I hope to investigate some of these gaps through my PhD research.

The Experience of Receiving an Oesophageal Cancer Diagnosis

Early detection is very important when it comes to oesophageal cancer. Symptoms of oesophageal cancer often include difficulty swallowing, acid indigestion or heartburn, and food coming back up. The National Health Service (NHS) website provides helpful information on oesophageal cancer symptoms and seeking medical advice. Organisations including the Oesophageal Cancer Fund and OG Cancer NI provide information resources as well as  support networks for individuals impacted by oesophageal cancer.

Understanding how people notice and respond to symptoms of oesophageal cancer is important. Alongside this, exploring how and when people seek medical attention, and understanding the experience of being referred/having tests for cancer is crucial, in order to raise awareness and improve healthcare systems. A 2020 study by Humphrys and colleagues investigated how people in England understood and experienced symptoms before being diagnosed with oesophageal or stomach cancer. This study found that many people didn’t know much about the warning signs beforehand. They often thought their symptoms were due to things like getting older, work, or their lifestyle.

Common symptoms reported in this study included acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, trouble swallowing, feeling very tired, and losing weight. Most people only decided to see a doctor when the symptoms got worse or didn’t go away, and they usually went to their GP first. However, this study didn’t focus specifically on individuals with oesophageal cancer, or the specific experiences of younger adults aged under 50 years.

The Experience of Receiving an Oesophageal Cancer Diagnosis at a Young Age

As there are limited studies reporting on the experience of younger adults receiving an oesophageal cancer diagnosis, results from studies investigating bowel cancer provide helpful insight. A report by Bowel Cancer UK in 2020 shared that of the young adults diagnosed with bowel cancer, 50% didn’t know that they could develop bowel cancer until their diagnosis, and 40% visited their GP at least three times before referral for further tests. Therefore, a study aiming to understand the experiences of younger adults receiving an oesophageal cancer diagnosis would provide insight into the service needs and unique challenges of younger adults.

My PhD

As part of my PhD, we plan to interview adults under the age of 50 years to better understand what it was like for a younger adult to receive an oesophageal cancer diagnosis in the UK and Ireland. This study will provide insight into the perception of symptoms among individuals under the age of 50 years, as well as the challenges faced around an oesophageal cancer diagnosis. We hope to open recruitment soon.  Through conducting interviews, alongside other studies through my PhD, I aim to contribute to the growing body of research that aims to influence outcomes for patients with early-onset oesophageal cancer.