Esophagus Cancer
Throat is the tube that unites mouth to the stomach. This tube helps the nourishment move from the mouth into the throat and down to the stomach to be processed. Esophageal growth is harmful tumor that happens in the throat. This can happen anyplace along the tube, however it is by and large focused on the lower piece of the throat. It generally starts with the cells that are lined in the throat. Esophageal malignancy can be named adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
The cells in the esophagus develop mutations in their DNA and divide way out of control. The abnormal,
accumulated cells grow into a tumor and infiltrate structures close to it and spread into the body.
Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma is associated with drinking excessive
amounts of alcohol and excessive smoking. Squamous cells are thin and flat lining the surface of the
esophagus. It often occurs in the middle of the esophagus.
Adenocarcinoma: Adenocarcinoma is common and associated with GERD – gastroesophageal reflux
disease which can result in Barrett esophagus conditions. It starts with the mucous-secreting glands lodged in
the esophagus.
Other: There are other rare types of cancer that may occur in the esophagus such as lymphoma,
melanoma, sarcoma, choriocarcinoma and small cell cancer.
Some of the predominant causes of esophageal cancer are:
- Obesity
- Drinking very hot liquids
- Excessive smoking
- Excessive intake of alcohol
- Esophageal sphincter – difficulty swallowing
- Barret’s esophagus
- Bile reflux
- Continuous radiation treatments to chest and upper abdomen
- GERD – Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Eating no or less amount of fruits and vegetables
Some signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer include:
Difficulty in swallowing: Dysphagia is a very common symptom of esophageal cancer. It feels as if food is stuck in the throat or chest. It starts mildly but later intensifies. If cancer is severe ,swallowing of even liquids become difficult to.
Chest Pain: Individuals experience pain and discomfort in the middle of the chest which is not related to eating or swallowing.
Regurgitation: Reverse movement of food is through the esophagus is experienced without being able to swallow food completely.
Weight loss: Fifty percent of the people lose weight progressively. This is due to
inability to swallow food.
Other
- Chronic cough
- Vomiting blood or bleeding into the esophagus
- Pneumonia
- Hiccups
- Hoarseness
- Bone pains
Biopsy: Cells and tissues from the esophagus is taken and examined under a microscope for cancer.
Barium Swallow: In this method, the patient swallows a liquid, and the passage of this liquid is captured on an x-ray to identify esophageal problems
Endoscopy: A thin tube called an endoscope is passed down the throat. An endoscopic ultrasound apparatus attached to its tip utilizes sound waves to give more information about the tumor.