Esophageal Cancer

Early on, people may not notice any symptoms.

When people have symptoms from esophageal cancer, they could have:

• Trouble swallowing, particularly solid, dry foods – This gets worse over time.
• Weight loss
• Chest Pain or a burning feeling in the chest
• A hoarse voice

All of these symptoms may be caused by conditions that aren’t cancer. however, if you have these symptoms, tell your doctor.

Yes. If your esophagus cancer doctor suspects you have got esophageal cancer, he or she’s going to do one or more of the subsequent tests:

• Upper endoscopy – this is a procedure during which your doctor puts a thin tube with a camera and light on the tip (called an endoscope) into your mouth and down into your oesophagus. He or she’s going to look into the lining of your oesophagus.
• Barium swallow – Your doctor can give you a drink known as “barium.” Then he or she will take X-rays as the barium moves down your oesophagus.
• Biopsy – For this test, your doctor can take a small sample of tissue from your oesophagus. Another doctor will investigate the sample beneath a microscope to check if it’s cancer. Your doctor can probably do a biopsy throughout an upper endoscopy. A biopsy is the only way to recognize for sure if you have esophageal cancer.

Cancer staging is a means during which esophagus cancer doctor ascertain if cancer has spread past the layer of tissue where it began, and, if so, how far.

The right treatment for you’ll rely a lot on the stage of your cancer and your other medical issues.

Most people with esophageal cancer have one or more of the following treatments:

• Surgery – esophageal cancer can be treated with surgery to get rid of cancer. If your esophagus cancer doctor has to take away a part of your oesophagus during surgery, he or she’s going to reconnect your oesophagus and abdomen so you’ll be able to swallow food.
• Radiation Therapy– This therapy is given to the patients to kill the cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy – The medical term for medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing is known as chemotherapy.

Esophageal cancer can generally be cured with treatment. this can be presumably when the cancer is found at an early stage. If your cancer can’t be cured, your doctor would possibly do alternative treatments to help improve your symptoms. These may include:

• Using electric current or laser beam to kill the cancer cells
• Stent placement to widen the food pipe

After treatment, you’ll be checked every so often to check if cancer comes back. Regular follow-up tests sometimes include exams, blood tests, and imaging tests. Some patients also have follow-up upper endoscopy.

You should also notice the symptoms listed above. Having those symptoms might mean cancer has returned. Tell your esophagus cancer doctor if you have got any symptoms.

If the cancer comes back or spreads, you would possibly have additional radiation therapy or chemotherapy. You would possibly even have other treatments to help improve your symptoms.

It is necessary to follow all of your doctor’s directions regarding visits and tests. it is also necessary to speak to your doctor regarding any side effects or issues you have got throughout treatment.

Getting treated for esophageal cancer involves making several choices, like what treatment to have.

Always let your doctors know how you are feeling about a treatment. Any time you’re offered a treatment, ask:

• What are the advantages of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? will it reduce or prevent symptoms?
• What are the downsides to the current treatment?
• Are there alternative choices besides this treatment?
• What happens if I don’t have this treatment?

More information here: Mayoclinic & Cancer.org