Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer & How to Cure?

by Patient Education Gastrointestinal Surgeon

Oesophagus is the pipe which takes food from the mouth to the stomach. It usually affects people above the age of fifty-five years. Since the outcome of oesophageal cancer is not good, anyone suspected of Oesophageal Cancer should be diagnosed at the earliest.

For instance, one with a new onset of dysphagia of less than fifty-five years of age need to be diagnosed.

Like any other cancers, Oesophageal Caner arise from the innermost cell lining of the Oesophagus. In upper, two-third of Oesophagus is usually Squamous cell cancer while in the lower, one-third of Oesophagus is Adenocarcinoma.

There are Numerous Risk Factors for Oesophageal Cancer:

Age: Common in people less than fifty-five years of age

Diet: High fat or processed food are the risk factors

Smoking

Alcohol

Where we live: Common in China

GERD/GORD: Long term infalmmation can lead to cancer in theone-third where initially the cells change nature because of reflux of acid (Barrrett’s Oesophagus). One in hundreds of these conditions can turn to cancer.

Chemical carcinogens: Long term exposure to chemical carcinogens (Specific to India like Tobacco/Gutka/Thambaku)

Symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer Include:

Difficulty in swallowing (Dysphagia): Commonest symptom. Seventy-five percent Oesophagus has be occluded by the Oesophagus for one who experiences Dysphagia. Hence, more than fifty-five percent of people have advanced diseases at the time of diagnosis.

Vomiting: Especially after food

Painful swallowing (Odynophagia)

Weight loss

Vomiting blood (Haemetemesis)

Hoarse voice

Confirming whether one has Oesophageal Cancer is done by Gastroscopy (Type of Endoscopy) and biopsy. Once the cancer is confirmed with biopsy one has to be assessed for stage of the cancer which is usually done by CT scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis. One might also need Endoscopic Ultrasound or PET CT and this would be decided by the treating specialist on individual basis.

One or combination of above tests would tell us whether the cancer is confined to Oesophagus or it has spread to other parts. It would also tell us to which part of the body cancer has spread to. This process is called staging. Treatment of the cancer depends on the stage of the cancer.

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