Closed petition Over-the-counter heartburn medication to warn, "see a GP if symptoms persist."

Closed on 3 May 2017

We call on Government to take steps to promote the earlier diagnosis of oesophageal cancer by requiring all packets of heartburn medication to carry an explicit warning of the importance of seeing a GP if symptoms persist for more than three weeks.

The UK has the highest reported incidence in the world of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), a disease heavily associated with persistent and severe reflux and the precursor condition Barrett’s Oesophagus, that kills 7,700 people each year. Many people who develop OAC have been self-medicating on over-the-counter medication for years before their cancer diagnosis. Diagnosing, monitoring and treating Barrett’s Oesophagus is a key strategy for reducing the incidence of this cancer.