Risks for the development of squamous cell carcinoma:smoking and heavy alcohol consumption (both together make the risk even greater); chewing tobacco; not enough fruit and vegetables; eating a lot of fried or roasted meat, or ver hot drinks. Less common causes include achalasia (where the valve between your stomach and the oesophagus doesn't open properly causing food to build up in the oesophagus after you swallow it). Infection with some strains of human papilloma virus may also be related to squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.
Attribution: BUPA