What is Esophageal Cancer?
Esophagus Cancer
The esophagus or food pipe is a muscular tube between the mouth and stomach. It is about 25 cm to 35 cm (10 to 14 inches) long in an average adult and about 2 cm (3-4 inch) wide.
What are the symptoms?
Painful or difficulty swallowing, Weight loss, Pain behind the breastbone, Hoarseness, cough, Indigestion and heartburn.
What are Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer?
| smoking and chewing tobacco | Smoking and chewing tobacco is the major risk factor for lung cancer. |
| alcohol abuse | |
| irritating foods or drinking very hot liquids | consuming highly irritating foods or drinking very hot liquids – this likely causes injury to the mucosal tissue in the esophagus |
| Certain medical conditions can have an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. | • Achalasia, • gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), • Plummer-Vinson syndrome and Barretts esophagus. • tylosis |
How to Diagnose this Disease ?
| Physical examination and history | An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease. |
| Chest x-ray | An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body. |
| Esophagoscopy | A procedure to look inside the esophagus to check for abnormal areas. An esophagoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. |
| Biopsy | The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. The biopsy is usually done during an esophagoscopy. |