I am dedicating my first marathon, 26.2 miles, to my dad, Kenny Heburn. My dad made a point of giving and serving others. He was a volunteer firefighter for over fifty-years in addition to a full time job. He often helped others stranded on the roadway, taught preschoolers about fire safety and helped out neighbors and first responders. 

When he was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer in 2009 and realized the severity of it, he said he wanted to somehow teach others. He wanted to make it easier for others to not go through what we did. 

My dad looked healthy. He was not a drinker, not a smoker and not overweight. He was very active with his Fire Department. What he did have was a long history of heartburn and took Tums for years. When he began having trouble swallowing, none of us knew that his heartburn could have already led to an Esophageal Cancer diagnosis. 

We lost my dad well before his time after a valiant two and a half year battle with this deadly disease.

During April's Esophageal Cancer Awareness, I, on my dad's behalf, want to share ECAN's message with as many people as possible - that heartburn can cause cancer! The earlier the diagnosis, the better the chances are of survival. I learned of ECAN early on in my dad's journey and was impressed with the organizations mission to improve awareness, education, prevention and facilitating research funding. While ECAN has made great gains over the years, there is still a lot of work to do! PLEASE help me honor my dad Kenny by supporting ECAN in saving lives! 

The type of Esophageal Cancer caused by reflux disease is increasing at a faster rate than any other cancer in the U.S. Sadly, only those who catch their cancer at the earliest stages are likely to be cured. So finding this cancer early is very important.

Only one in five patients diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer will survive five years because it is most often caught at late stages. The disease is often only discovered when patients have a hard time swallowing because of a large tumor in their esophagus.

Though considered a rare disease, Esophageal Cancer takes more American lives each year than melanoma skin cancer or cervical cancer.

Only 4.6% of patients will survive a stage four diagnosis. Awareness, early detections and effective intervention are crucial to saving lives.

Esophageal Cancer, while considered a deadly disease, isn't included in the government fund for medical research. We are trying to spread awareness to change that. Research funding makes a difference. In 2016, the National Cancer Institute spent $1,669 on medical research into Esophageal Cancer for each death due to this devastating disease. It amounted to just one-half of a percent of the total Federal cancer research budget. But Esophageal Cancer is responsible for 2.6% of all of the cancer deaths in this country. Click here to help!

Participating in any way can help spread the cause, and hopefully stop occurrences in the future, of Esophageal Cancer. 

ECAN was created with the primary goal to raise awareness of the risk of Esophageal Cancer posed by persistent heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (known as GERD).  ECAN launched the first Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month effort in 2009 and since then, governments, businesses and other organizations throughout the nation have recognized April as Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month year after year! 

Over time, it became clear that an effective battle with this devastating disease must be fought on several levels.  While increased awareness remains ECAN’s primary focus, educating patients about their options for prevention, early detection and treatment has become a priority. ECAN has become a trusted and reliable source for the latest in medical research affecting those at risk for Esophageal Cancer.