Did you grow up watching your parents take medicine on a daily basis for heartburn? Maybe you watch your coworkers take them everyday during lunch. You might even rely on them to eat the foods that cause you discomfort. Heartburn is normal, right?

False. Heartburn can cause Cancer. Taking heartburn medications every day is like turning off the smoke alarms in your body - something is wrong, don't silence the warnings. Despite being considered rare, Esophageal Cancer still affects 17,000+ Americans every year - and about that many die of the disease each year. Many patients are diagnosed at late stages because they don't take reflux disease and heartburn seriously.  

Reflux disease causes stomach contents to splash up and into the lower portion of your esophagus.  This means that the acid, bile and other stuff that splashes up can cause damage to the cells in your esophagus. Yes, that's right. Daily reflux can actually turn the cells in your esophagus into pre-cancerous tissue. 

Esophageal Cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among American men.  ECAN is trying to change that by spreading awareness that Heartburn can cause Cancer, educating patients about steps to take to protect themselves and their families, and fueling funding for medical research and advances in preventative care and treatment. 

You can help us do that by Painting YOUR Town Periwinkle! 

Plan a fun event with your friends, family and community AND spread awareness that Heartburn can cause Cancer. The possibilities are endless: a walk or run, spinathon, golf tournament, bike ride, cancer dancer dance marathon, pub crawl, motorcycle run, bake sale, Zumbathon, billiards tournament ... whatever you'll have the most fun doing! 

Paint the Town Periwinkle is YOUR opportunity to spread awareness about Esophageal Cancer in your hometown. 

Periwinkle is the official color for Esophageal Cancer Awareness. 

Paint the Town Periwinkle - The Possibilities are Endless!

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 April 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 important medical research findings affecting those at risk for Esophageal Cancer.