The esophagus is a long tube-like organ that’s an important part of the digestive system. It is responsible for carrying the saliva, fluids, and foods from the throat to your stomach. Cancer occurs in this organ when cancerous cells develop in its tissues. Compared with other types of cancer, esophageal cancer is rare and is one of the types of gastrointestinal cancer. Read on to know more about the signs, risk factors, causes, and treatment.
Esophageal cancer and its types
Cancer in the esophagus occurs when the tube lining develops a malignant tumor along its length. As the cancerous cells grow and multiply, the condition can affect the deep tissues and muscles in the esophagus. This will eventually progress steadily. Here are the major types of esophageal cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma
This type develops in squamous cells that surround the esophagus. It also affects the upper and middle regions of the esophagus.
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma occurs in the glandular cells, which usually do not exist in the esophagus lining. But they grow there due to another condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Tumor growth generally begins in the esophagus’s lower part, which is close to the stomach.
Apart from these conditions, some other rare types are carcinosarcoma, esophageal lymphoma, primary malignant melanoma, choriocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
Symptoms
Cancer doesn’t show any potential or visible symptoms in its early stage. Here’s the list of the most common esophageal cancer symptoms.
- Difficulty in swallowing, especially when eating dry foods like bread or raw vegetables
- Frequent choking
- Heartburn or acidity
- Indigestion problems
- Feeling as though food is stuck in the throat
- Burning sensation or pressure in the chest
When the cancer cells grow rapidly, the condition worsens. This can lead to more severe symptoms such as:
- Difficulty in swallowing fluids and even saliva
- Hoarseness in throat
- Vomiting or nauseated feeling
- Coughing
- Black stool due to the bleeding in the esophagus
Causes and risk factors
Researchers have not yet found the exact cause for esophageal cancer. But damage to DNA is believed to be a primary cause. Chronic irritation of the esophagus lining can also be another reason. The condition begins at the cellular level due to gene mutations and inherited environmental factors. It will ultimately induce abnormal growth, leading to the development of tumors and cancerous masses. Nonetheless, certain factors can increase one’s risk of developing the condition, including,
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Precancerous changes in the esophagus tissues
- Achalasia, a condition wherein the esophagus muscles fail to contract effectively
- Poor meal choices that have inadequate nutrients
- Radiation treatment focusing on the upper abdomen or chest region
Treatment
If one is diagnosed with esophageal cancer, the healthcare professional is likely to recommend a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A cancer specialist will fully diagnose the symptoms to come up with a customized treatment approach. Some of the effective and advanced treatment options are mentioned below:
Radiofrequency ablation
It employs heat energy to destroy the cancer tissues without affecting the cells or organs in the surroundings.
Radiation therapy
This approach can be incorporated independently or in combination with chemotherapy. Radiation beams target tumor cells through the skin to reduce the size or destroy the tumor mass.
Cryotherapy
It is an alternative treatment option that freezes the pre-cancerous or abnormally growing cells in the tissues of the esophagus.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy helps eliminate the cancer cells in a particular region.
Surgery
When the above-mentioned treatments do not lead to any improvement in the individual, the physician may suggest a surgical procedure known as esophagectomy. This technique involves removing certain tissues or a part of the esophagus that is completely affected by a tumor. Surgeons then reconstruct the part that’s removed by using another organ.
After undergoing esophageal cancer treatment, it is extremely important to have periodic follow-up visits and check-ups with the healthcare professional. Besides the frequent visits, one should incorporate healthy lifestyle changes to prevent cancer recurrence and potential side effects of treatment.
