Esophageal cancer is uncommon, making up about 1% of diagnosed cancers in the United States.
Difficulty with swallowing is often the first symptom of esophageal cancer.
Tests such as endoscopy help confirm a diagnosis.
Verywell / Katie Kerpel
Esophageal cancer varies tremendously around the globe, both in incidence and in the common risk factors.
At the current time,esophageal adenocarcinomais slightly decreasing in the United States.
Understanding the Esophagus
Theesophagusis the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
The lower esophageal sphincter is a band of tissue near the junction of the esophagus with the stomach.
Before reaching the stomach, the esophagus passes through thediaphragm.
If a tumor begins in this region it is known as asquamous cell carcinoma.
If a malignant tumor begins in this region, it’s called anadenocarcinoma.
At the current time, adenocarcinomas are more common in the United States and several other developed countries.
Causes
We don’t know the precise causes, though genetics seem to play a role.
Severalrisk factors for esophageal cancerhave been identified and they vary depending on the particular bang out of esophageal cancer.
It is also more common in blacks than in whites.
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in red and processed meats may have a protective effect.
Diagnosis
A number of different tests may be used todiagnose esophageal cancer.
Often times, the first test ordered is abarium swallow.
In this procedure, a tube is placed through the mouth and into the esophagus.
Staging is very important in choosing the best treatments for the disease.
For early-stage tumors, surgery (esophagectomy) may offer the chance for a cure.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Coping
Coping with esophageal cancer can be very difficult.
Physically, difficulty with swallowing is not only uncomfortable but can interfere significantly with nutrition.
Socially, a diagnosis of esophageal cancer often leads to unwelcome changes in roles within a family.
And practical matters ranging from insurance concerns to finances add to the burden.
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American Cancer Society.Tests for Esophageal Cancer.
American Cancer Society.Surgery for Esophageal Cancer.
American Cancer Society.Immunotherapy for Esophageal Cancer.
CancerCare.Coping With Esophageal Cancer.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Esophageal Cancer: Signs and Symptoms.
Bast, R., Croce, C., Hait, W. et al.Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine.
Wiley Blackwell, 2017.
