Original Source: https://refluxmdinc.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-to-understand-if-you-have.html
Esophageal cancer is the cancer of the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube-like body part that connects the mouth and the stomach. When the esophagus develops a malignant tumor, it is considered as cancer.
This cancer often remains silent and detected at the last stage of the disease. So, many people do not realize they have this cancer.
This cancer does not have any strong symptoms. All types of cancer usually show some signs of esophageal cancer. But instead, it shows other related signs. There are two main subtypes of esophageal cancer-
Squamous cell carcinoma: This cancer develops in the upper part of the esophagus. The cell lining of the esophagus extends malignant growth.
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus: In the junction of the esophagus and the stomach exists the epithelial cells? These cells become malignant in the case of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Proton Pump Inhibitors are often used as a treatment.
In some rare cases, patients develop lymphoma, melanoma, choriocarcinoma, sarcoma, or small cell cancer.
Symptoms:
All these symptoms become evident as cancer advances.
• Dysphasia: This is the main symptom of esophageal cancer. The tumor grows inside the esophagus tube and creates a blockage. Hence, food cannot travel towards the stomach through the esophagus. A lot of people experience difficulty in swallowing their food. Swallowing becomes extremely painful in the later stage.
• Acid reflux: If cancer affects the lower portion of the esophagus acid, reflux becomes frequent. The acid often travels back to the mouth through the esophagus.it happens because the elasticity of the esophagus loosens up. So people suffer from acidity regularly.
• Vomiting: The tumor creates a blockage and prevents food from reaching the stomach. Hence, many start vomiting as they try to swallow any food.
• Many people often feel a sharp pain in their throat as swallowing food becomes tougher with time.
• Those who have esophageal cancer usually get frequent heartburn.
• People may cough up food and blood as their cancer advances in stages. It is because the tumor in the esophagus sheds skin when the food collides with it.
• In many cases, the voice of the cancer patient changes and becomes more cracky or hoarse.
• Cancer can cause weight gain or weight loss
Treatments:
The treatment depends on when the cancer is detected. If the disease is detected in the early stage, then there are better chances of recovery. But in later stages, the treatment becomes complicated, and patients may need surgery.
Treatment depends on the stage of cancer and the health of the patient. Doctors might also consider the age and another disease of the patient.
Surgery- If the tumor is more significant in size, then doctors might go door an operation. There are two types of surgery,
Esophagectomy- Doctors remove the cancerous part of the esophagus and reconnect the remaining portion to the stomach.
Esophagogastrectomy- If the esophagus becomes infected with cancer, and then doctors might remove it. Also, if the surgeons cannot reconnect the part of the esophagus and stomach, they might cut a small part of the small intestine to connect the stomach.
Of both of these surgeries are not possible, then the doctors might get direct access to the stomach through external procedures. Patients need to contact their doctors if they experience the above symptoms and need to go for a screening test. Easy detection is best for recovery.