Esophagus cancer

What is Esophagus ?

The esophagus, also known as the food pipe, is a muscular tube measuring 20-25 cm long and 2-3 cm wide that serves as a conduit for moving food and drink from the mouth to the stomach.

What is esophageal cancer?

Cancers that start in the area where the esophagus joins the stomach (the GE junction), which includes about the first 2 inches of the stomach (called the cardia), tend to behave like esophagus cancers (and are treated like them, as well); they are grouped with esophagus cancers.

Cancer of the esophagus typically occur in one of two forms, squamous cell carcinomas arising from the stratified squamous epithelial lining of the organ, and adenocarcinomas affecting columnar glandular cells that replace the squamous epithelium. Sarcomas and small cell carcinomas generally represent less than 1%-2% of all esophageal cancers. On rare occasions, other carcinomas, melanomas, leiomyosarcomas, carcinoids, and lymphomas may develop in the esophagus as well. In India, it is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related deaths.

Risk factors

• Gender: The incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is generally higher in men than women in most countries.
• Smoking: Smoking is one of the major risk factor for developing esophageal squamous carcinoma. Smokers have a 5-fold risk of developing this disease compared to non-smokers
• Alcohol: Alcohol is a clear risk factor for squamous carcinoma.
• Tobacco and nutritional deficit: The “chewers of arecanut” (often mixed with tobacco), are common in regions such as Southeast Asia and India and have been linked to the development of squamous carcinoma.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett’s esophagus
• Obesity
• Drugs
• Genetics

Known Carcinogens: Alcoholic beverages, Betel quid with tobacco, Betel quid without tobacco , Smokeless Tobacco, Smoking, X-radiation, Gamma-radiation

Symptoms

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Unexplained weight loss
• Worsening indigestion or heartburn
• Chest pain, pressure or burning
• Coughing or hoarseness

Early esophageal cancer typically causes no signs or symptoms.