There are two main types of esophageal cancer. Both types are diagnosed,
treated, and managed in similar ways.
The two most common types are named for how the cancer cells look under a
microscope. Both types begin in cells in the inner lining of the esophagus:
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus: This type is usually found in the lower part
of the esophagus, near the stomach. In the United States, adenocarcinoma is the
most common type of esophageal cancer. It's been increasing since the 1970s.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: This type is usually found in the
upper part of the esophagus. This type is becoming less common among Americans.
Around the world, however, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type.
Risk Factors
When you get a diagnosis of cancer, it's natural to wonder what may have
caused the disease. Doctors can seldom explain why one person develops
esophageal cancer and another doesn't. However, we do know that people with
certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop esophageal cancer. A
risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors for esophageal cancer:
Age 65 or older: Age is the main risk factor for esophageal cancer. The
chance of getting this disease goes up as you get older. In the United States,
most people are 65 years of age or older when they are diagnosed with esophageal
cancer.
Being male: In the United States, men are more than three times as likely as
women to develop esophageal cancer.
Smoking: People who smoke are more likely than people who don't smoke to
develop esophageal cancer.
Heavy drinking: People who have more than 3 alcoholic drinks each day are
more likely than people who don't drink to develop squamous cell carcinoma of
the esophagus. Heavy drinkers who smoke are at a much higher risk than heavy
drinkers who don't smoke. In other words, these two factors act together to
increase the risk even more.
Diet: Studies suggest that having a diet that's low in fruits and vegetables
may increase the risk of esophageal cancer. However, results from diet studies
don't always agree, and more research is needed to better understand how diet
affects the risk of developing esophageal cancer.
Obesity: Being obese increases the risk of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
Acid reflux: Acid reflux is the abnormal backward flow of stomach acid into
the esophagus. Reflux is very common. A symptom of reflux is heartburn, but some
people don't have symptoms. The stomach acid can damage the tissue of the
esophagus. After many years of reflux, this tissue damage may lead to
adenocarcinoma of the esophagus in some people.
Barrett esophagus: Acid reflux may damage the esophagus and over time cause a
condition known as Barrett esophagus. The cells in the lower part of the
esophagus are abnormal. Most people who have Barrett esophagus don't know it.
The presence of Barrett esophagus increases the risk of adenocarcinoma of the
esophagus. It's a greater risk factor than acid reflux alone. Many other
possible risk factors (such as smokeless tobacco) have been studied. Researchers
continue to study these possible risk factors.
Having a risk factor doesn't mean that a person will develop cancer of the
esophagus. Most people who have risk factors never develop esophageal cancer.
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition in which the acidified liquid
contents of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. The symptoms of uncomplicated GERD are heartburn,
regurgitation, and nausea. Effective treatment is available for most patients with GERD.
Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette smoking, GERD, postnasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependant upon the cause.
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, angina, heart attack, costochondritis, pericarditis, aorta or aortic dissection, and reflux esophagitis. Diagnosis and treatment of chest pain depends upon the cause and clinical presentation of the patient's chest pain.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a stroke. Dysphagia compromises nutrition and hydration and may lead to aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.
Esophagitis is caused by an infection or irritation of the esophagus. Infections that cause esophagitis include candida yeast infection of the esophagus as well as herpes.
Barrett's esophagus occurs as a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), primarily in white males. GERD refers to the reflux of acidic fluid from the stomach into the esophagus (the swallowing tube), and is classically associated with heartburn.
Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been
considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.
That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and
build.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Achalasia is a disease of the esophagus that mainly affects young adults. Abnormal function of nerves and muscles of the esophagus causes difficulty swallowing and sometimes chest pain.
Schatzki (Schatzki's) ring, is a narrow ring of tissue located just above the junction of the esophagus and stomach. The cause of Schatzki ring is not clearly known, however, some doctors believe they are caused by long term acid reflux. The symptoms of a Schatzki ring is primarily poorly chewed food that stays in chunks becoming stuck in the esophagus. Diagnosis of Schatzki's ring is barium x-ray or endoscopy. Treatment is generally a procedure to stretch or fracture the rings.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Heartburn is a burning sensation experienced from acid reflux (GERD). Symptoms of heartburn include chest pain, burning in the throat, difficulty swallowing, the feeling of food sticking in the throat, and a burning feeling in the chest. Causes of heartburn include dietary habits, lifestyle habits, and medical causes. Treatments for heartburn include lifestyle changes, OTC medication, prescription medication, and surgery.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Asbestos exposure lung disease is divided into three main types, asbestosis (lung scarring caused by asbestos fibers), disease of the lining of the lung (pleural plaques, scarring, or fluid accumulation), and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Cancers of the larynx, throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder have been linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment is dependant upon the type of condition related to asbestos exposure.
Acid backing up into the larynx (voice box), it causes reflux laryngitis. Irritation of the lining of the esophagus, larynx, and throat can lead to esophagitis, sinusitis, strictures, hoarseness, throat clearing, swallowing problems, asthma, chronic cough, and more. Typical symptoms of reflux laryngitis include heartburn, hoarseness, or a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Reflux laryngitis can be treated with OTC medication, prescription medication, and lifestyle changes.
Smokeless tobacco can have negative health effects such as cancers, poor oral health (gum disease and tooth decay), infertility, pregnancy complications, and nicotine addiction.
Disease prevention in men includes routine screening tests that are part of basic prevention medicine. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. Age of screening and timing of screening depends upon the condition being assessed.
Cancer RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the