The esophagus is part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its function is to move food from the mouth to the stomach for digestion. It is classified as a muscle and is composed of several layers: inner lining, submucosa, muscle layer, and outer layer. Esophagus cancer generally begins growing in the inner layer of the esophagus and can spread to the surround tissues. Cancer cells can also break off and find their way to other parts of the body inducing other cancerous tumors to grow. This is called metastasis. It is unknown what causes esophageal cancer but risk factors that increase your chances of developing the disease include being over the age of 65, being male, smoking, drinking heavily, unhealthy died, obesity, and acid reflux.
Esophagus cancer is asymptomatic meaning it typically does not present any symptoms. However difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, chest pain, and fatigue have been associated with the disease. It is a good idea to make an appointment with your health care provider for screening if these symptoms persist and become worrisome. Your doctor may diagnose the disease by having you drink a barium solution and taking x-rays of your throat. He may also use an endoscopy to look directly at the tissue in your esophagus. If cancerous tissue is found, a biopsy is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis and to determine if the cancer is malignant or benign.
There are several treatment options available for esophagus cancer. This includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. The type of treatment prescribed generally depends on the severity of the disease, its location, and whether it has spread to other parts of your body. Surgery may be performed at the outset to remove very small tumors found at the beginning stages of the disease. If the disease is advanced enough, however, more aggressive surgical intervention may include removing part of the esophagus (esophagectomy) or part of the throat as well as the upper part of the stomach (esophagogastrectomy). Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be prescribed in conjunction with surgery.
There is no cure for esophagus cancer. Treatment of the disease is difficult even with current medical technology. Patients suffering from this disease may be encouraged to participate in clinical trials so the more effective treatment options may be found. It is best to speak with your health care provider about all of your treatment options as well as their associated benefits and risks.
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