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What Is Esophageal Cancer?
Esophageal cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow inside the esophagus. The esophagus is the long tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. When you eat or drink, food travels down this tube to be digested.
This cancer often starts in the inner lining of the esophagus. It can form anywhere along the tube. Over time, the cancer may grow and spread to other parts of the body. Men get esophageal cancer more often than women. Smoking and drinking alcohol can raise your risk.
Doctors treat this kind of cancer with surgery, medicines or treatments like radiation. The type of treatment depends on how far the cancer has spread and your overall health.
Early Signs Can Be Hard to Spot
At first, many people with esophageal cancer do not notice anything wrong. As the cancer grows, it can cause:
- Trouble swallowing or feeling like food gets stuck
- Pain, pressure or burning in the chest
- Hoarseness or a dry cough
- Weight loss without trying
- Frequent heartburn that does not go away
*If you have any of these symptoms, especially if they do not improve, talk to your doctor.
How Does It Start?
Your body is made up of trillions of cells. Each one has DNA that tells it what to do. Healthy cells grow, do their job and then die when it is time. In cancer, something changes DNA. Cells start to grow too fast. They do not die when they should.
These cells can form a lump or mass called a tumor. As it grows, it can damage healthy tissue. Cancer cells can also travel to other places in the body. When this happens, it is called metastatic cancer.
Types of Esophageal Cancer
There are different kinds of esophageal cancer. The type depends on the kind of cell where it starts:
- Adenocarcinoma: Begins in mucus-making cells. It usually grows in the lower part of the esophagus and is most common in white men in the U.S.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Begins in flat cells that line the esophagus. More common in the upper or middle parts. It is the most common worldwide.
- Rare Types: Other uncommon types include small cell cancer, sarcoma, lymphoma, melanoma and others.
What Can Raise Your Risk?
Some things can make it more likely to get this cancer:
- Drinking very hot liquids regularly
- Bile moving up into the esophagus
- A problem called achalasia where muscles do not relax properly
- Smoking or heavy alcohol use
- Long-term acid reflux (GERD)
- Not eating enough fruits and veggies
- Being overweight
- A condition called Barrett’s esophagus
- Radiation to the chest or upper belly
*Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will get cancer. But it is good to know what puts you at higher risk.
Problems That Can Happen
As the tumor grows, it can lead to:
- Blockages: Food and liquids may not pass easily
- Bleeding: The tumor might cause bleeding inside the esophagus
- Pain: Especially in later stages, it can become painful
Can You Prevent It?
There is no guaranteed way to stop esophageal cancer, but you can lower your risk:
- Get Checked if You Have Barrett’s Esophagus: People with this condition should ask about screening.
- Cut Down on Alcohol: Limit to one drink per day for women, two for men.
- Eat Healthy: Fruits and vegetables can protect your cells.
- Stay Active: Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days.
- Keep a Healthy Weight: Extra weight increases your risk.
- Quit Smoking: Talk to your doctor about how to stop.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Doctors use several tools to find out if you have esophageal cancer:
- Barium Swallow: You drink a white liquid that helps show the inside of your esophagus on an X-ray.
- Endoscopy: A thin tube with a camera goes down your throat. It lets doctors look inside the esophagus.
- Biopsy: During endoscopy, a tiny piece of tissue may be taken out to test for cancer.
What Happens After Diagnosis?
Once cancer is found, your medical team will check if it has spread. This process is called staging. The stage helps decide your treatment.
Tests may include:
- CT scan
- PET scan
- MRI
- Bronchoscopy
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
*Cancer is staged from zero to four. Lower numbers mean the cancer is smaller and only in one area. Stage four means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
How Is It Treated?
Your care depends on many things: the size of the tumor, where it is, your health and what you prefer. Treatment may include surgery, medicines or both.
- Surgery
- Endoscopic Resection: If the cancer is small and has not spread, doctors may remove it using tools inside an endoscope.
- Esophagectomy: Removes part of the esophagus. Sometimes part of the stomach is removed too. The remaining parts are reconnected so you can still eat.
*Surgery can have serious risks like infection or bleeding. Some people may need a feeding tube while they heal.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses strong medicine to kill cancer cells. It may be used:
- Before surgery to shrink the tumor
- After surgery to kill any remaining cancer
- Alone, to relieve symptoms if the cancer has spread
*Side effects may include tiredness, upset stomach, diarrhea and not feeling hungry.
- Radiation Therapy
This treatment uses beams of energy to kill cancer. It can be used alone or with chemotherapy. Radiation can:
- Shrink the cancer before surgery
- Help with swallowing if the tumor blocks food
*Side effects include sore throat, pain when swallowing and skin problems.
- Combination Therapy
Sometimes chemotherapy and radiation are given together. This is called chemoradiation. It may be used before surgery or instead of surgery. It has more side effects but can work better in some cases.
- Targeted Therapy
These drugs attack certain parts of cancer cells. They do not harm normal cells as much. Your doctor may test your cancer to see if this treatment would work for you.
- Immunotherapy
This treatment helps your immune system find and fight cancer. It is usually used in more advanced stages or when other treatments have not worked.
Get Expert Care for Trouble Swallowing or Esophageal Cancer If you think you may have trouble swallowing or symptoms of esophageal cancer, I am here to help. As a hematologist and oncologist, I specialize in diagnosing and treating blood disorders and cancer.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sandeep Singh: Call: 601-518-7054
Referral Email: ashli.palmer@scrmc.com\
Your health is important. Let’s work together to manage it.
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