Simple heartburn can be a serious problem. Heartburn is because of acid reflux or GERD. This happens when you have a weakness in the lower sphincter or a valve in the bottom of the esophagus, which causes acid that’s made in the stomach to reflux back and cause damage to the lower part of the esophagus. This can lead to scarring and inflammation in the esophagus and also lead to a change called Barrett’s esophagus, which is a precancerous condition that can happen over time. So yes, acid reflux and heartburn can lead to cancer and is a serious concern.