Oesophageal Cancer
Uploaded by mumsa1 on Jan 27, 2012
Oesophageal cancer can be successfully treated if diagnosed in its early stages.
In this article:
What is cancer?
What is oesophageal cancer?
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer
Causes
Diagnosis
Effect on your life
Treatment
Advice & Support
What is cancer?
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells in the body begin to grow, divide and reproduce in an uncontrollable way. These abnormal cells then invade and destroy healthy tissue, including organs.
What is oesophageal cancer?
The pipe down which food is carried from your mouth to your stomach is called your oesophagus. Oesophageal cancer is where cancerous cells develop in your oesophagus, (in its lining or mucus-forming glands), forming a cancerous tumour.
Although not a common form of cancer in the UK, oesophagus cancer is on the increase.
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer include:
Difficulty and pain when swallowing
A general feeling of discomfort and pain in and around your throat
Skeletal pain around the shoulder blades
Back pain
Breastbone pain (and sometimes rib pain)
Weight-loss
Nausea and vomiting
Heartburn
Hoarse voice
Note: Some people with oesophageal cancer may also cough up blood.
Causes
Causes of oesophageal cancer include:
Smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Obesity
As part of the ageing process
Environmental factors (e.g., exposure to dangerous chemicals and pollutants)
GORD (acid reflux from the stomach)
About GORD: GORD stands for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (also known as acid reflux). It is an unpleasant burning feeling in the chest which rises to the throat. This occurs when stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.
When the ring of muscle that sits between your oesophagus and your stomach weakens over time and fails to function as it should then GORD can occur. Acid seeps through the ring up into the throat in a sort of ‘backwards motion’, and can feel uncomfortable.
Although GORD can be a cause of oesophageal cancer, this is rare.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of oesophageal cancer can be based upon an individual’s symptoms, physical examination results and screening test results. Also, if you suffer an injury of some kind, cancer can be detected through abnormalities brought to light through an X-ray.
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms, arrange an appointment with your GP immediately. They will take your medical history, ask you some questions about your symptoms, and then carry out a short physical examination. Primarily, your GP will be looking for a lump in your abdomen (this can indicate that a cancerous tumour has formed).
You may then be referred to a cancer specialist at your local (or nearest) hospital. There, a biopsy (the surgical removal of a small...