Esophageal Cancer Treatment And Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer occurs while cancer cells develop in the esophagus, a tube-like structure that runs from your throat to your stomach. Food goes from the mouth to the stomach as the esophagus. The cancer begins at the inner layer of the esophagus as well as may spread throughout the other layers of the esophagus and to other parts of the body (metastasis).

There are two common types of esophageal cancer:

Squamous cell carcinoma arises while cancer starts in the flat, thin cells that make up the lining of the esophagus. This form most often shows in the top or middle of the esophagus, however it may appear anywhere.

Adenocarcinoma occurs while cancer begins in the glandular cells of the esophagus that are responsible for the production of fluids such as mucus. Adenocarcinomas are most ordinary in the lower portion of the esophagus.

Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer include

·         Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

·         Weight loss without trying

·         Chest pain, burning or pressure

·         Worsening indigestion or heartburn

·         Coughing or hoarseness

Although these symptoms may specify esophageal cancer, they also can be caused by other, less serious health problems. Some esophageal cancer patients experience none of these signs as well as others experience diverse symptoms entirely.

 Typically, the first symptom of esophageal cancer is difficulty swallowing, which might feel as if food is stuck in the throat as well as may lead to choking. Although this symptom is frequently mild to start, as cancer grows, it creates worsens as well as may eventually lead to an inability to swallow liquid.

Complications

There are a number of complications that might occur with esophageal cancer. Some of these occur due to local contribution, such as the narrowing of and erosion of the esophagus. Others may occur due to the spread of the tumor as well as yet others have to do with the difficulty obtaining sufficient nutrition with a narrowed esophagus.

Malnutrition

An extremely ordinary complication of esophageal cancer is malnutrition due to the decreased capability to eat and swallow foods. This may require a feeding tube, placed either through the nose or stomach, to offer nutrition.

Hemorrhage (Bleeding)

Some bleeding may also arise due to ulceration of the esophagus, or as a complication of stent placement. Options will depend on the circumstances but may include cautery (burning the bleeding blood vessels).

Back Pain

Back pain is fairly ordinary in advanced esophageal cancer due to the invasion of the tumor into the area between the lungs (the mediastinum) or between the membranes that line the heart (the pericardium).

Treating esophageal cancer

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs as well as Esophageal Cancer Symptoms that worry you. Your doctor might recommend surgery if the cancer hasn’t spread to other parts of your body. Your doctor may instead recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy as the finest course of action. These treatments are also sometimes performed to shrink tumors in the esophagus so that they can then be removed more easily with surgery.