Oesophageal cancer is a type of cancer or growth of a malignant tumour on the lining of the oesophagus or food pipe.  The food pipe is a long hollow tube that lies behind the windpipe and connects the throat to the stomach. It helps to slide down the food you swallow from the back of the throat to the stomach to get digested. Also Read: Lung Cancer: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

As the tumour grows, it causes uncontrolled proliferation of the cells, throughout the longitudinal section of the food pipe and even spread to other parts of the body, affecting the deep tissues and muscles of the oesophagus.

There are two main types of Oesophageal cancer which includes:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

In this type, cancer starts in the flat thin square cells lining the food pipe and mostly appears at the top or middle of the oesophagus. This type of cancer mostly occurs due to addiction to smoking or drinking.

Adenocarcinoma:

In this type, cancer occurs in the glandular cells of the oesophagus, that is responsible for the production of mucus and are most common at the lower extremity of the oesophagus. This form is common in men and mostly occurs due to obesity and a long history of acid reflux.

Undifferentiated Carcinoma:

A type of cancer, where the cells although proliferate at a rapid rate, they are underdeveloped when looked under a microscope or during biopsy giving them a grade of undifferentiated carcinoma.

Other rare types of oesophageal cancer depend upon the part the cancer is spreading onto which includes:

• Melanoma
• Lymphoma
• Choriocarcinoma
• Sarcoma
• Small cell cancer

Oesophageal cancer is more common in men than in women and the risk of getting this type of cancer usually depends upon age, lifestyle modifications and medical conditions. With the continued proliferation of the cancer cells, it can ultimately lead to complications such as extreme pain and bleeding from the throat and inability to drink or swallow something. The various risk factors that can lead to this untimely fatal disease include:

Risk Factors

• Addiction to alcohol. Also Read: Alcohol And Its Effects On The Human Body
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Snuffing tobacco powder
• Using betel liquid
• Suffering from Water Brash or GERD i.e. Oesophageal Reflux Disease,
• Suffering from Achalasia, a condition where the muscles at the lower extremity of the oesophagus don’t relax properly
• Having Barrett’s Oesophagus, a condition where the cells lining the oesophagus becomes abnormal due to long term indigestion or acid reflux are prone to getting oesophageal carcinoma
• Obesity
• Diet lacking fruits and vegetables

Symptoms

The common signs and symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer include:

• Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing
• Chest pain
• Weight loss
• Heartburn or Indigestion
• Coughing
• Frequent choking while eating or swallowing
• Vomiting
• Food reflux
• Fatigue
• Hiccups

Diagnosis and Treatment

Oesophageal cancer is usually diagnosed by the doctor after properly reviewing the signs and symptoms followed by acknowledging the patients’ past medical history along with a thorough physical examination. It is also important to know about the particular stage of cancer for proper diagnoses and treatment.

Stages Of Oesophageal Cancer:

Stage 0:

Formation of non-cancerous abnormal cells on the cellular lining of the oesophagus.

Stage I:

Growth of cancer cells on the oesophageal lining.

Stage II:

Proliferation of the cancer cells to the muscle layer or the outer layer of the oesophagus

Stage III:

Spreading of the cancer cells into the inner muscle layer or the connective tissue layer of the oesophagus.

Stage IV:

Termed as the last or advanced stage when the cancer cells have spread onto the deeper tissues and other organs of the body.

The various diagnostic procedures to identify the correct cancer stage includes:

• Barium-swallow X-ray
• Endoscopy
• Biopsy
• Imaging techniques like CT-Scan, Bronchoscopy, Laparoscopy, Thoracoscopy, Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Just like any other carcinoma, treatment and recovery from oesophageal cancer are possible if the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage so as to stop the abnormal growth of cells from spreading further. Depending upon the particular stage the patient is diagnosed with, the various treatment options include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Electrocoagulation
• Cryotherapy
• Photodynamic therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Diagnostic Procedures That Help Detect Esophageal Cancer?

The common diagnostic tests that a specialised doctor usually conducts on a patient suspected of Esophageal cancer include:

Imaging test, Endoscopy, Bronchoscopy, Thoracoscopy, Laparoscopy, Endobronchial ultrasound, Endoscopic ultrasound, Percutaneous biopsy, Biopsy and Blood tests.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Esophageal Cancer Therapy?

Side effects are quite common during any type of cancer treatment and esophageal cancer is no exception. E.g., an endoscopic mucosal resection may cause bleeding in the oesophagus, or narrow certain areas of the oesophagus. Then again, an esophagectomy may increase the risk for complications including impeding the patients from being able to lie flat to sleep afterwards, eating smaller, frequent meals and undergoing occupational or speech therapy to relearn how to swallow food and water.

How To Manage The Side -Effects Of Esophageal Cancer Treatment?

If the therapies undergone for treating esophageal cancer have caused areas of the oesophagus to get narrow, the surgeon or gastroenterologist may perform other endoscopic procedures to expand these regions surgically. For advanced cancer patients who have difficulty swallowing food and water, doctors may conduct radiation therapy to shrink the tumours blocking the oesophagus. In case, the patient is unable to swallow food after the surgery, a feeding tube may also be provided to help the person eat till the person fully recovers.