Esophagus is a tube-like structure that runs from throat to stomach. Food enters from mouth to stomach the through the Esophagus. Oesophageal cancer begins in the inner layer of the food pipe and can spread out to involve the other layers of the Esophagus and to other parts of the body (metastasis).There are two main types of oesophageal cancer, Squamous and Adenocarcinoma. Squamous type of can occur along the entire length of esophagus whereas Adenocarcinoma occurs in the lower esophagus near the stomach and is believed to be largely related to acid and reflux disease.
Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer
Early on there may be no symptoms. In advanced cases, symptoms include:
What Are Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer?
Factors which increase a person's risk of developing esophageal cancer include:
Risk of adenocarcinoma of the is higher in white obese men, but squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is more common in Asian and black population.
How Is Esophageal Cancer Diagnosed?
To diagnose esophageal cancer, doctor will review your symptoms and order few test like endoscopy, biopsy and imaging scans. Above information is required in order to plan your treatment.
What Are the Stages of Esophageal Cancer?
The stages of esophageal cancer are given a number (I to IV); higher the number, more advanced is the cancer. In general Stage I & II cancer are confined to esophagus, in Stage III disease spread beyond esophagus into surrounding structures whereas in Stage IV The cancer has spread to other organs in the body.
How Is Esophageal Cancer Treated?
As with other cancers, treatment has greater chances of success if the cancer is detected early. Unfortunately, it is asymptomatic in early stages and by the time it is detected, it is often already in an advanced stage (has spread throughout the esophagus and beyond).
Treatment of esophageal cancer depends on many factors, including overall health or performance status of the individual and stage of the cancer.
Prevention
Although there is no sure way to prevent it but we can certainly reduce the risk of esophageal cancer by adopting healthy lifestyle and habits such as:
More News Click Here
Discover thousands of colleges and courses, enhance skills with online courses and internships, explore career alternatives, and stay updated with the latest educational news..
Gain high-quality, filtered student leads, prominent homepage ads, top search ranking, and a separate website. Let us actively enhance your brand awareness.
Download EasyShiksha Mobile Apps from Android Play Store, Apple App Store, Amazon App Store, and Jio STB.
1 million+ learned on the EasyShiksha App
