Symptoms of esophageal cancer may include trouble swallowing or choking on food, loss of appetite, coughing that does not go away, and a hoarse voice. If you are experiencing symptoms of esophageal cancer, consult your doctor for evaluation. Depending on the type of tumor, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Some types of esophageal cancers may cause obstruction of the esophagus, which can lead to bleeding and pain.
The main types of esophageal cancer are esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Esophageal squamous cell cancer usually occurs in the upper part of the esophagus, while esophageal adenocarcinoma usually occurs in the lower part of the esophagus. Both forms are often associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, and acid reflux.
Patients who have Barrett’s esophagus are at a higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. This condition occurs when stomach acid recedes into the esophagus and causes a growth in the cells of the esophagus. Symptoms may include loss of appetite and weight loss, pain in the throat or stomach, and difficulty swallowing. If you have Barrett’s esophagus, your doctor may recommend screening for esophageal cancer. Discuss the pros and cons of screening with your health care provider.
Some people are at a higher risk of esophageal cancer because of conditions that affect the digestive system, such as diabetes, hiatal hernia, and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Other factors that can lead to esophageal cancer are cigarette smoke, low-income socioeconomic status, and lack of oral health. These factors can increase your risk of developing esophageal cancer by as much as fifty percent.
Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the most common type of esophageal cancer in the U.S., and it has an exceptionally high incidence rate. In some Western countries, adenocarcinoma makes up half of all esophageal cancer cases. However, in the rest of the world, squamous cell carcinoma still dominates the esophageal cancer incidence. This type of cancer is often associated with heavy alcohol consumption and smoking.
In the United States, the most common type of esophageal adenocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma, occurs in men. This type of cancer is more likely to occur in people who are overweight. Symptoms of esophageal adenocarcinoma include coughing, trouble swallowing, hoarse voice, and weight loss. Adenocarcinomas are found in white men. The symptoms of esophageal cancer may not appear until the cancer has advanced.
Symptoms of esophageal tumors are usually similar to those of stomach cancer. Some people may experience pain in the stomach and chest, and other people may develop aspiration pneumonia. Symptoms of esophageal carcinoma can be difficult to diagnose and are often not found until after the cancer has advanced. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. In the United States, chemotherapy is often used in combination with radiation therapy, which aims to kill cancer cells with x-rays. Other forms of treatment may include a nasogastric tube, which allows the patient to continue feeding while treatment is given. This is especially important for patients who have a tendency to aspirate.
