Esophageal Cancer- a Threat Not to Be Neglected

The esophagus is the hollow tube that runs from your throat to stomach. This tube helps us to swallow food by moving it towards our stomach. Any disruption in the esophagus can cause esophageal cancer. According to statistics, esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers throughout the world that causes maximum deaths in cancer. Usually, men suffer from esophageal cancer more than women. Here, you will get effective information on the disease, its symptoms and ways to prevent it. Read on to know more.

Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

While talking about esophageal cancer symptoms, you need to know that there are no vivid signs or symptoms at an early stage. With time, you can get certain symptoms, like-

·         Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing

·         Hoarseness and coughing

·         Abrupt weight loss

·         Heartburn and regular indigestion

·         Chest burn, a feeling of pressure in the chest and pain

Causes of Esophageal Cancer

Till now, it is really not clear the exact reasons for esophageal cancer. Usually, it happens when the cells in your esophagus got mutated and double up faster. The cell growth becomes out of control and cancer spreads rapidly. The abnormal cells accumulated and form a tumor in the esophagus that grows and captures the nearby areas, makes it difficult to swallow anything. Though the exact cause is not figured out till now, there are certain risk factors that increase the chance of esophageal cancer to some great extent. They are as follows-

·         Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD

·         Drinking alcohol

·         Smoking

·         Obesity

·         Achalasia

·         Bile reflux

·         Barrett’s Esophagus

·         The habit of drinking hot drinks, like tea, coffee, etc., always

·         Not having enough fruits and vegetables

·         Radiation treatment to your upper abdomen area for a long time

What Are the Complications A Patient of Esophageal Cancer Can Have?

Any patient of esophageal cancer can suffer from the following complications with the advancement of the stage-

1.      Pain- As soon as esophageal cancer crosses each stage, the patient will suffer from immense pain around the chest and throat.

2.      Obstruction in the Esophagus- With the advancement of the stage, it will be difficult to swallow any food or liquid.

3.      Bleeding- Esophageal cancer is the reason for bleeding in the esophagus. Initially, it will be less, but it will increase gradually.

How to Protect Yourself from Esophageal Cancer

1.      Stop Smoking- If you are still doing that, quit it now. Through counseling and medication, you can get rid of this bad habit.

2.      Quit Drinking- Alcohol is another reason that can cause esophageal cancer. So, you have to try limiting your alcohol intake.

3.      Have a Healthy Diet- Include more fruits and vegetables to your regular diet and limit having spicy and fatty foods.

If you ever face issues like heartburn, chest pain, acid reflux, difficulty in swallowing and so on, on a regular basis, you should consult your doctor immediately. Negligence can lead to deadly disease.