In a campaign to raise awareness of and testing for the warning signs of esophageal cancer, Lucid Diagnostics is aiming to intercept the disease as early as possible, ideally while it’s still in precancerous stages.
The testmaker has kicked off a new spate of its “#CheckYourFoodTube” events that will specifically target former NFL players. The first such event, according to a company announcement Tuesday, was held in Cincinnati and brought into the huddle several former NFL players based in the city to be tested for esophageal precancer.
The event was hosted by Brian deGuzman, M.D., Lucid’s chief technology and compliance officer, and provided an educational session before inviting the athletes to undergo on-site screening with Lucid’s EsoGuard test.
Lucid is planning on bringing #CheckYourFoodTube events to more ex-NFL stars in cities across the U.S., with a goal of encouraging not only the athletes but also those of their “legions of fans” who are at risk of developing esophageal cancer to undergo testing, CEO Lishan Aklog, M.D., said in the announcement.
“Collaborating with Lucid Diagnostics on this inaugural event is just the beginning of what we hope will be a game-changing initiative for former NFL players across the country,” said Solomon Wilcots, a former player for the Cincinnati Bengals and the team leader of PR firm Russo Partners’ sports-health alliance.
“As athletes who’ve put our bodies on the line throughout our careers, we have a heightened awareness of the importance of protecting our long-term health,” Wilcots continued. “EsoGuard offers us a crucial opportunity for early detection of esophageal precancer, which can truly be a lifesaver.”
Lucid’s #CheckYourFoodTube campaign dates back to 2021 when the slogan first began appearing in the company’s commercials and other marketing materials. It began hosting precancer testing events as part of the initiative in early 2023, focusing primarily on firefighters, who have about a 60% higher risk of developing esophageal cancer than the general public, per data cited by Lucid. As of this summer, the company counted at least 4,000 firefighters who have been tested at #CheckYourFoodTube events.
Esophageal cancer is associated with an overall five-year survival rate of around 20%, according to the American Cancer Society. That rate significantly increases the earlier the disease is caught, making testing for precancerous conditions like Barrett's esophagus—the most common precursor to esophageal cancer—especially valuable.
Those at highest risk of developing esophageal cancer include those with gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as chronic heartburn or GERD, who are recommended for regular precancer testing. Other risk factors include being over the age of 50, male and white, with obesity and/or a history of smoking.
Lucid’s diagnostic technology starts with the EsoCheck sample collection device, which features a vitamin-sized capsule that’s swallowed to swab the surface of the lower esophagus before being removed back through the mouth. The samples are then analyzed in Lucid’s lab using the EsoGuard test, which performs next-generation sequencing to look for signs of precancer or cancer in each patient’s DNA.