What is Esophageal Cancer?

The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the throat all the way down to the stomach. Cancer of the esophagus usually starts in the cells that line the inside of the esophageal tube.

Identification

• Esophageal cancer is cancer of the esophagus. It can occur anywhere along the tube, from the end of the throat all the way down to where the stomach begins.

Geography

• Esophageal cancer is most common in Asia and parts of Africa. It is not common in the United States.

Types

• There are two types of esophageal cancer: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma starts in the cells that line the esophagus. Adenocarcinoma starts in the cells that produce mucus and fluids.

Effects

• Sometimes a tumor in the esophagus can make eating difficult or impossible. Doctors may insert a stent to allow food to pass through the esophagus, or nutrition may be given intravenously to prevent malnutrition.

Prevention/Solution

• Smoking is a risk factor associated with esophageal cancer. Quitting smoking reduces the chance of esophageal cancer. Genetics also play an important role in esophageal cancer, so the chance of having esophageal cancer increases if a relative has had it. Careful screening of at-risk patients increases the likelihood of catching esophageal cancer in its early stages.

Treatment

• The treatment for esophageal cancer varies by stage and by patient. The most common treatments include surgery to remove part of the esophagus, radiation therapy to kill cancer cells, chemotherapy drug administration to kill cancer cells, laser therapy to kill cancer cells with a laser beam, and electrocoagulation to kill cancer cells with an electric current.