戒烟酒可能是预防食管癌的最好方法。吸烟者与不吸烟者相比,相对危险度为2.4,人群归因危险度为54.2%。回顾性队列研究发现将吸烟患者中的饮酒因素进行调整后,与正常人群相比,食管癌的发病风险升高2-7倍。[29]Oesophagus. In: World Cancer Research Fund, American Institute for Cancer Research. Food, nutrition and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. Washington, DC: The Institute; 1997:118-129.
高十字花科蔬菜卷心菜(西兰花、菜花)、绿色和黄色蔬菜及水果饮食可以降低食管癌的发病率。相反的,高脂肪、高饱和脂肪酸及高胆固醇饮食可增加食管腺癌的发病风险。有一些证据表明,阿司匹林和非甾体类抗炎药(NSAID)降低也可降低食管癌发病风险。[30]Corley DA, Kerlikowske K, Verma R, et al. Protective association of aspirin/NSAIDs and esophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2003;124:47-56.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12512029?tool=bestpractice.com此外,有证据表明,使用他汀类药物可以降低食管腺癌的发病风险,但这需要更多数据支持。[31]Alexandre L, Clark AB, Cheong E, et al. Systematic review: potential preventive effects of statins against oesophageal adenocarcinoma. 2012;36:301-311.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22716127?tool=bestpractice.com目前还不清楚通过外科或药物方法治疗胃食管反流病是否能够降低食管腺癌的发病风险。[32]National Cancer Institute. Esophageal cancer prevention - health professional version (PDQ®). March 2017. http://www.cancer.gov/ (last accessed 7 August 2017).http://www.cancer.gov/types/esophageal/hp/esophageal-prevention-pdq#section/all