Esophageal cancer is the cancer of
the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube-like body part that connects the mouth
and the stomach. When the esophagus develops a malignant tumor, it is considered as cancer.
This cancer often remains silent and
detected at the last stage of the disease. So, many people do not realize they
have this cancer.
This cancer does not have any strong
symptoms. All types of cancer usually show some signs of esophageal cancer. But instead, it shows other related signs. There are two
main subtypes of esophageal cancer-
Squamous cell carcinoma: This cancer develops in the upper
part of the esophagus. The cell lining of the esophagus extends malignant
growth.
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus: In the junction of the esophagus and the
stomach exists the epithelial cells? These cells become malignant in the case
of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Proton
Pump Inhibitors are often used as a treatment.
In some rare cases, patients develop lymphoma,
melanoma, choriocarcinoma, sarcoma or small cell cancer.
Symptoms:
All these symptoms become evident as
cancer advances.
·
Dysphasia: This
is the main symptom of esophageal cancer. The tumor grows inside the esophagus
tube and creates a blockage. Hence, food cannot travel towards the stomach
through the esophagus. A lot of people experience difficulty in swallowing
their food. Swallowing becomes extremely painful in the later stage.
·
Acid reflux: If cancer affects the lower portion of the
esophagus acid, reflux
becomes frequent. The acid often travels back to the mouth through the
esophagus.it happens because the elasticity of the esophagus loosens up. So
people suffer from acidity regularly.
·
Vomiting: The
tumor creates a blockage and prevents food from reaching the stomach. Hence,
many start vomiting as they try to swallow any food.
·
Many
people often feel a sharp
pain in their throat as swallowing food becomes tougher with time.
·
Those
who has esophageal cancer usually get frequent heartburn?
·
People
may cough up food and blood as their cancer advances in stages. It is because
the tumor in the esophagus sheds skin when the food collides with it.
·
In many cases, the voice of the cancer patient changes and becomes more cracky or
hoarse.
·
Cancer
can cause weight gain or weight loss
Treatments:
The treatment depends on when the cancer is detected. If the
disease is detected in the early stage, then there are better chances of recovery. But
in later stages, the treatment becomes complicated, and patients may need surgery.
Treatment depends on the stage of
cancer and the health of the patient. Doctors might also consider the age and
another disease of the patient.
Surgery- If the tumor is more significant in
size, then doctors
might go door an operation. There are two types of surgery,
Esophagectomy- Doctors remove the cancerous part of the
esophagus and reconnect the remaining portion to the stomach.
Esophagogastrectomy- If the esophagus becomes infected
with cancer, and
then doctors might remove it. Also, if the surgeons cannot reconnect the part of
the esophagus and stomach, they might cut a small part of the small intestine
to connect the stomach.
Of both of these surgeries are not
possible, then the
doctors might get direct access to the stomach through external procedures.
Patients need to contact their doctors if they experience the above symptoms
and need to go for a screening test. Easy detection is best for recovery.
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