Esophageal Cancer : Symptoms and Treatment

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The esophagus is a hollow muscular tube that’s responsible for moving food from the throat to the stomach. Esophageal cancer can occur when a malignant tumor forms in the lining of the esophagus.

As the tumor grows, it can affect the deep tissues and muscle of the esophagus. A tumor can appear anywhere along the length of the esophagus, including where the esophagus and the stomach meet.
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What are the common types of esophageal cancer?

There are two common types of esophageal cancer:

Squamous cell carcinoma occurs when cancer starts in the flat, thin cells that make up the lining of the esophagus. This form most often appears in the top or middle of the esophagus, but it can appear anywhere.

Adenocarcinoma occurs when cancer starts in the glandular cells of the esophagus that are responsible for the production of fluids such as mucus. Adenocarcinomas are most common in the lower portion of the esophagus.
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What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?
During the early stages of esophageal cancer, you probably won’t experience any symptoms. As your cancer progresses, you may experience:

unintentional weight loss
indigestion
heartburn
pain or difficulty when swallowing
frequent choking while eating
vomiting
food coming back up the esophagus
chest pain
fatigue
chronic cough
hiccups
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What causes esophageal cancer?
As with most cancers, the cause of esophageal cancer isn’t yet known. It’s believed to be related to abnormalities (mutations) in the DNA of the cells related to the esophagus. These mutations signal the cells to multiply more rapidly than normal cells.

These mutations also disrupt the signal for these cells to die when they should. This causes them to accumulate and become tumors.
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Who is at risk for developing esophageal cancer?
Experts believe that the irritation of esophageal cells contributes to the development of cancer. Some habits and conditions that can cause irritation include:

consuming alcohol
smoking
having a reflux disorder, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
having Barrett’s esophagus, which is a condition characterized by damaged esophageal lining due to GERD
being overweight
not eating enough fruits and vegetables
having achalasia, a condition where the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus doesn’t relax properly

People at increased risk of esophageal cancer include the following:

Men are three times more likely than women to develop esophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer is more common in African-Americans than in other ethnicities.
Your chances of developing esophageal cancer increase with age. If you’re over the age of 45, your risk may be higher.

Diagnosing esophageal cancer:
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Testing methods for diagnosing esophageal cancer include the following:

An endoscopy involves the use of an instrument with a camera attached to a tube that goes down your throat and allows your doctor to view the lining of your esophagus to check for abnormalities and irritation.
A barium swallow is an X-ray imaging test that allows your doctor to see the lining of your esophagus. To do this, you swallow a chemical called barium while the images are being obtained.
A biopsy is a process in which your doctor removes a sample of the suspicious tissue with the help of an endoscope and sends it to a lab for testing.
A CT scan, PET scan, or MRI may be used to see if cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Preventing esophageal cancer:
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Although there’s no sure way to prevent esophageal cancer, there are a few steps you can take to lower your risk:

Avoiding cigarettes and chewing tobacco is key.
Limiting your consumption of alcohol is also thought to lower your risk.
Eating a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and maintaining a healthy weight may also be effective ways to avoid esophageal cancer.

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  Esophageal Cancer