Esophageal Cancer

The esophagus is a hollow tube that carries food and liquids from your throat to your stomach. Early esophageal cancer usually does not cause symptoms. However, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include painful or difficult swallowing, weight loss and coughing up blood.

Risk factors for developing esophageal cancer include

Smoking
Heavy drinking
Damage from acid reflux

Treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and laser therapy. You might also need nutritional support, since the cancer or treatment may make it hard to swallow.

National Cancer Institute

Esophageal Cancer on Wikipedia

'''Esophageal cancer''' is cancer of the esophagus. There are various subtypes. Esophageal tumors usually lead to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), pain and other symptoms, and is diagnosed with biopsy. Small and localized tumors are treated with surgery, and advanced tumors are treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or combinations. Prognosis depends on the extent of the disease and other medical problems, but is fairly poor.

Signs and symptoms

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is the first symptom in most patients. Fluids and soft foods are usually tolerated, while hard or bulky substances (such as bread or meat) cause much more difficulty. Substantial weight loss is characteristic as a result of poor nutrition and the active cancer. Pain, often of a burning nature, may be severe and worsened by swallowing, and can be spasmodic in character. The presence of the tumor may disrupt normal peristalsis (the organised swallowing reflex), leading to nausea and vomiting, coughing and an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. The tumor surface may be fragile and hemorrhage, causing hematemesis (vomiting up blood). Compression of local structures occurs in advanced disease, leading to such problems as superior vena caval obstruction (SVCO). If the disease has metastasis to elsewhere, this may lead to symptoms related to this: liver metastasis could cause jaundice and ascites, lung metastasis could cause dyspnea, pleural effusions, etc.

Cause and risk factors

There are a number of risk factors for esophageal cancer. Some subtypes of cancer are linked to particular risk factors: * Age and sex. Most patients are over 60, and it is more common in men. * Tobacco smoking and heavy alcoholic beverage use increase the risk, and together appear to increase the risk more than these two individually. * ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

OnTumor.com: Esophageal - Barrett's esophagus is a risk factor for cancer. Discussion of this topic and related matters.

OncologyChannel: Esophageal Cancer - Offers access to resources and information including such subject areas as diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer Group Institute: Esophageal Cancer - Provides general information in a fact-sheet presentation.

University of Chicago: Section of Gastroenterology - Gives a summary of topics related to esophageal cancer.

Cancer.gov: Esophageal Cancer - Resource of the U.S. National Cancer Institute including access to an online booklet, clinical trials, medical articles and other general information.

MEDLINEplus: Esophageal Cancer - U.S. National Library of Medicine source including links to general information sites.

The Johns Hopkins Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Cancer Web - Presents an extensive illustrated FAQ regarding this disease and its precursor condition.

Imperial Cancer Research Fund - UK charity offers news and information about esophageal cancer. It also provides details on fundraising.

Ellis Fischel Cancer Center: Esophageal Cancer - Overview information from the University of Missouri.

The Virtual Hospital: Esophageal Carcinoma - Guided approach to many aspects of this cancer from the University of Iowa.

Related Pages on HealthTales.com: