We all aware of many types of cancers depending to site of body affected like blood cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer. But one of them highly affected by people is Gastrointestinal tract cancer in which there are many parts of GIT tract affected name them as follows:
- Esophageal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Gall bladder cancer
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
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In this article, we will discuss in detail about esophagus cancer. Esophagus is commonly known as food pipe which is long hollow tube that starts from throats and connects to stomach. When we ingest food, this hollow tube opens and after passing food towards stomach, it shuts to avoid back flow of food to throat.
Food pipe cancer is 6th most populous cancer that people are affected by. And, women are more affected as compared to men. Usually, it starts by affecting epithelial lining of the cells inside esophagus.
Earlier it was known that squamous cell carcinoma was most common cancer among individuals but now adenocarcinoma is the common cancer among people.
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If it is detected at early stages can be cured easily with the help of surgery but if detected at the later stages, it requires many kinds of treatment like radiation surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and laser therapies, many targeted therapies and treatment medications.
Introduction Esophagus Cancer Treatment
It is the most common among esophageal cancer. It targets tissue cell multiplication which produces mucus for easy swallow of food and also affects lower esophagus portion.
Squamous cell carcinoma
As the name suggest, affects and multiply squamous cells lining esophagus. It affects upper and middle portion of esophagus.
Other rare types include carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, melanoma and choriocarcinoma.
What is actually cancer?
It is the condition in which tissue begin to multiply, which finally forms the shape of tumor. The cancer becomes aggressive and didn’t come in notice until patient feels symptoms.
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If we talk about esophagus cancer, patient firstly reports difficulty in swallowing which with increase in tumor becomes more and more hurting while swallowing food.
Causes of Esophageal Cancer
The exact reason for this cancer is unknown but there are many possible risk factors associated increased chances of causing esophageal cancer.
- Tobacco use: Even smokeless tobacco causes cancer
- Alcohol: Chronic and heavy consumption of alcohol is one of the reason
- Obesity: This causes inflammation in esophagus causing chances of cancer
- Barrett’s esophagus: The situation in which cells altered at the lower end of esophagus which is actually due to untreated acid reflux
- Chronic acid reflux
- Long term heart burn increases chances of cancer
- Human papillomavirus (HPV): In this kind of situation, the cells changes in vocal cord, mouth spreading towards esophagus. It also occurs in hands, feet, and also in genitals.
- History of cancer with cancer across neck and shoulder can affect esophagus also.
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- Other disorders: Like isachalasia, tylosis etc
- Exposure towards chemicals like exposure to dry cleaning solvents are at higher risk of esophageal cancer.
- Heavy Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Regular habit of drinking hot liquids
- Avoid eating fruits and vegetable in meals
Symptoms
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Heart burn
- Regurgitation of undigested food
- Vomiting blood
- Hoarse voice
- Blood vomits
- Persistent cough
- Pain between shoulder blades
- Unexplained weight loss
- Acid reflux
- Chest pain
Complications
- Obstruction in esophagus making it difficult to pass food
- Bleeding in esophagus can be normal or severe at certain times
- Pain
Diagnosis
- Barium swallow
- Upper endoscopy: To determine cancer, procedure is performed known as esophago-gastric-duodenoscopy.
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- Computed tomography (CT)
- Positron emission topography (PET)
- Bronchoscopy
- Esophageal endoscopic ultrasound
- Biopsy
- Thoracoscopy
Treatment of Esophagus Cancer
The treatment of cancer depends upon the stage of cancer and location of cancer. Not only this, other factors like cause is also concerned.
- For early stage cancers, surgery is more common which is known as esophagectomy in which part of affected esophagus is removed and stomach is directly connected. Chemotherapy and radiation therapies are performed prior to surgery.
- Targeted therapies are also done to control cancer like HER2, Immunotherapy.
- Photodynamic therapy
- Endoscopic laser therapy
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- Endoscopic mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic submucosal dissection
How to prevent cancer?
- Quit smoking
- Quit alcohol
- Weight control
- Avoid maximum use of junk Food
- Add fruits and veggies into meals
- Walking and running alternatively
- Follow workout or yoga
- Follow healthy life
- Wear mask while using chemicals
- Live stress free life
- Maintain body healthy
