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Esophageal Cancer Center - Knoxville, TN

Knoxville Oncologist Doctors for Esophageal Cancer

Type of Physician: Oncologist

What is a Oncologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; the oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer and other benign and malignant tumors. These subspecialists decide on and administer chemotherapy as well as consult with surgeons and radiotherapists on other treatment for cancer.

Specialty: Oncology (Medical)

Common Name: Cancer Doctor

Knoxville, Tennessee

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Esophageal Cancer

What is the esophagus?

The esophagus is in the chest. It's about 10 inches long.

This organ is part of the digestive tract. Food moves from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach.

The esophagus is a muscular tube. The wall of the esophagus has several layers:

  • Inner layer or lining (mucosa): The lining of the esophagus is moist so that food can pass to the stomach.
  • Submucosa: The glands in this layer make mucus. Mucus keeps the esophagus moist.
  • Muscle layer: The muscles push the food down to the stomach.
  • Outer layer: The outer layer covers the esophagus.

Cancer Cells

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body.

Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old or damaged cells do not die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.

Growths in the wall of the esophagus can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). The smooth inner wall may have an abnormal rough area, an area of tiny bumps, or a tumor. Benign growths are not as harmful as malignant growths:

  • Benign growths:
    • are rarely a threat to life
    • can be removed and probably won't grow back
    • don't invade the tissues around them
    • don't spread to other parts of the body
  • Malignant growths:
    • may be a threat to life sometimes
    • can be removed but can grow back
    • can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs
    • can spread to other parts of the body
    /u...

Recommended Reading Related to Esophageal Cancer

Radiation Therapy »

What is radiation therapy?

In radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy), high-energy rays are used to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing. A specialist in radiation therapy is called a radiation oncologist.

What are the types of radiation therapy?

Like surgery, radiation therapy is a local treatment; it affects cancer cells only in the treated area. Radiation can come from a machine (external radiation). It can also come from an implant (a small container of radioactive material) placed directly into or near the tumor (internal radiation). Some patients receive both kinds of radiation therapy.

External radiation therapy is usually given on an outpatient basis in a hospital or clinic 5 days a week for a number of weeks. Patients are not radioactive during or after the treatment.

For internal radiation therapy, the patient stays in the hospital for a few days. The implant may be temporary or pe...

Emergency Contact for Knoxville

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Knoxville Hospitals *

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
1901 Clinch Ave SW
Knoxville, TN 37916
(865)541-1111

Baptist Riverside Outpatient Testing
137 W Blount Ave
Knoxville, TN 37920
(865)218-7011

Select Specialty Hospital
1901 Clinch Ave
Knoxville, TN 37916
(865)541-2600

East Tennessee Children's Hospital
2018 Clinch Ave
Knoxville, TN 37916
(865)541-8000

St Marys Health System
900 E Oak Hill Ave
Knoxville, TN 37917
(865)545-8000

University of Tennessee Medical Center
1924 Alcoa Hwy
Knoxville, TN 37920
(865)544-9000

Lakeshore Mental Health Institute
5908 Lyons View Dr
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865)584-1561

Peninsula Hospital
2347 Jones Bend Rd
Louisville, TN 37777
(865)970-9800

Parkwest Medical Center
9352 Park West Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37923
(865)373-1000

Baptist Hospital for Women
10820 Parkside Dr NW
Knoxville, TN 37934
(865)218-6011

Blount Memorial Hospital
907 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy
Maryville, TN 37804
(865)983-7211

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
990 Oak Ridge Tpke
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865)835-1000

Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital & Center
240 W Tyrone Rd
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865)482-1076

Fort Loudoun Medical Center
550 Fort Loudoun Medical Center Dr
Lenoir City, TN 37772
(865)271-6000

Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center
709 Middle Creek Rd
Sevierville, TN 37862
(865)429-6100

St Mary's Jefferson Memorial Hospital
110 Hospital Dr
Jefferson City, TN 37760
(865)471-2500

St Mary's Medical Center of Campbell County
923 E Central Ave
La Follette, TN 37766
(423)907-1200

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