Esophageal cancer occurs in the esophagus which is a long hollow tube that runs from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus carries the food that is swallowed all the way to the stomach to be digested. Esophageal cancer usually begins in the cells that line the inside of the esophagus. Cancer happens when some of the cells multiply in an abnormal way, causing a growth called a tumor to form. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They can occur in any part of the body where the cells multiply abnormally. Esophageal cancer is not common. In areas of the world, such as Asia and parts of Africa, esophageal cancer is much more common. Men and people over the age of 55 are most commonly affected esophageal cancer.
Types of cancer of the esophagus:
Squamous cell carcinoma forms in the upper part of the esophagus when cells on the inside lining of the esophagus multiply abnormally.
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus forms in the lower part of the esophagus when cells inside the mucous glands that line the esophagus multiply abnormally. Mucous glands produce a slimy substance to help food slide down the esophagus more easily.
Other rare types Rare forms of esophageal cancer include choriocarcinoma, sarcoma and small cell cancer.
What are the signs and symptoms of cancer of the esophagus?
A symptom is something the patient feels and reports, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor detect. For example, pain may be a symptom while a rash may be a sign. When cancer of the esophagus first develops, it rarely causes any symptoms. This is because the tumor will initially be very small. It is only when the cancer starts to become larger and more advanced that symptoms start to develop.
Signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer include:
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), Unintentional weight loss, Vomiting, Hoarseness, Indigestion, Heartburn, Chest, back and neck pain.
What causes cancer of the esophagus? The precise cause of esophageal cancer is still unclear. However, there are several risk factors that can increase the chances of developing this form of cancer.
Alcohol, Smoking, Chronic acid reflux, Barrett's esophagus, Diet, Age, Chemicals and pollutants. Chemicals and pollutants which are known to increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
The stages of esophageal cancer are:
Stage I. Cancer occurs only in the top layer of cells lining the esophagus.
Stage II. At this stage, the cancer has invaded deeper layers of the esophagus lining and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III. The cancer has spread to the deepest layers of the wall of the esophagus and to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
Stage IV. At this stage, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
