Esophageal cancer is a cancerous (malignant) tumor of the esophagus, the muscular tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach.
See also: Barrett's esophagus
Alternative NamesCancer - esophagus
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsEsophageal cancer is relatively uncommon in the United States. It occurs most often in men over 50 years old. Two main types of esophageal cancer exist: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. These two types look different from each other under the microscope.
Squamous cell esophageal cancer is associated with smoking and alcohol consumption.
Barrett's esophagus, a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), significantly increases the risk for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Other risk factors for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus include:
Tests used to help diagnose esophageal cancer may include:
Stool testing may show small amounts of (occult) blood in the stool.
TreatmentWhen esophageal cancer is only in the esophagus and has not spread, surgery is the treatment of choice. The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer.
See:
Sometimes chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of the two may be used instead of surgery, or to make surgery easier to perform.
If the patient cannot tolerate surgery or the cancer has spread to other organs, chemotherapy or radiation may be used to help reduce symptoms. This is called palliative therapy. In such cases, the disease is usually not curable.
Other treatments that may be used to improve a patient's ability to swallow include endoscopic dilation of the esophagus (sometimes with placement of a stent to keep the esophagus dilated), or photodynamic therapy. In photodynamic therapy, a special drug is injected into the tumor, which is then exposed to light. The light activates the medicine that attacks the tumor.
Support GroupsPatients can often ease the stress of illness by joining a support group of people who share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.
Expectations (prognosis)Esophageal cancer is a very difficult disease to cure. When the cancer has not spread outside the esophagus, surgery may improve chances of survival.
Radiation therapy is used instead of surgery in some cases where the cancer has not spread outside the esophagus.
For patients whose cancer has spread, cure is generally not possible and treatment is directed toward relieving symptoms.
ComplicationsCall your health care provider if you have difficulty swallowing with no known cause and it does not get better, or if you have other symptoms of esophageal cancer.
PreventionThe following may help reduce your risk of squamous cell cancer of the esophagus:
People with symptoms of severe gastroesophageal reflux should seek medical attention.
Screening with EGD and biopsy in people with Barrett's esophagus may lead to early detection and improved survival. People who are diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus should be checked regularly for esophageal cancer.
ReferencesOrlando RC. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 140.
National Cancer Institute. Esophageal Cancer Treatment PDQ. Updated July 2, 2009.
Esophageal Cancer. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2009. Accessed October 17, 2009.
Esophageal cancer is a cancerous (malignant) tumor of the esophagus, the muscular tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach.
See also: Barrett's esophagus
Alternative NamesCancer - esophagus
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsEsophageal cancer is not very common in the United States. It occurs most often in men over 50 years old.
Two main types of esophageal cancer exist: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. These two types look different from each other under the microscope.
Squamous cell esophageal cancer is linked to smoking and alcohol consumption.
Barrett's esophagus, a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), increases the risk for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. This is the more common type of esophageal cancer. Other risk factors for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus include:
Tests used to help diagnose esophageal cancer may include:
Stool testing may show small amounts of blood in the stool.
TreatmentWhen esophageal cancer is only in the esophagus and has not spread, surgery is the treatment of choice. The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer.
See:
Sometimes chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of the two may be used instead of surgery, or to make surgery easier to perform.
If the patient is too ill to have major surgery or the cancer has spread to other organs, chemotherapy or radiation may be used to help reduce symptoms. This is called palliative therapy. In such cases, the disease is usually not curable.
Other treatments that may be used to help the patient swallow include:
Patients can often ease the stress of illness by joining a support group of people who share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.
Expectations (prognosis)Esophageal cancer is usually not curable. When the cancer has not spread outside the esophagus, surgery may improve the chances of survival.
Radiation therapy is used instead of surgery in some cases where the cancer has not spread outside the esophagus.
For patients whose cancer has spread, a cure is generally not possible. Treatment is directed toward relieving symptoms.
ComplicationsCall your health care provider if you have difficulty swallowing with no known cause and it does not get better, or if you have other symptoms of esophageal cancer.
PreventionThe following may help reduce your risk of squamous cell cancer of the esophagus:
People with symptoms of severe gastroesophageal reflux should seek medical attention.
Screening with EGD and biopsy in people with Barrett's esophagus may lead to early detection and improved survival. People who are diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus should consider getting regular checkups for esophageal cancer.
ReferencesDas A. Tumors of the esophagus. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 46.
National Cancer Institute. Esophageal Cancer Treatment PDQ. Updated July 20, 2010.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. V2. 2010. Accessed January 22, 2011.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 01/31/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association was created in 2002.
You can find information on the stages of esophageal cancer at the National Cancer Institute government operated website. You can also read information about the stages of esophageal cancer through the associated Wikipedia page.
He died of cancer
Signs of esophageal cancer include difficulty swallowing or choking while eating, chest pain or pressure, and indigestion. More information on symptoms of esophageal cancer can be found here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/esophageal-cancer/DS00500/DSECTION=symptoms
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is diagnosed in about 13,000 people annually in the United States; it is responsible for approximately 1.5-5% of cancer deaths each year.
I can't really explain it but VERY aggressive. The sign of esophageal cancer is when you are having a hard time swallowing solid food. Then you are having a hard swallowing liquids and small, chewy foods. Your risk for esophageal is when you smoke, or secondhand smoke. That is the common risk. There are many more risks in the world for esophageal cancer. So, watch what you are doing with your life because esophageal cancer can grow on your esophagus at a young age! you don't have to be an adult. Just like diabetes.
Robert Kardashian died of esophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer was discovered by physicians during ancient European times, around the year 3000 BC. Even today, it remains one of the rarest forms of cancer and the most difficult to treat.
The periwinkle awareness ribbon is used as the symbol of support or awareness of esophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer, for one. For a one-word answer, there is esophagitis.
Usually mouth, throat, esophageal, and lung cancers.