The esophagus is a muscular tube between the mouth and stomach. It's about 25 cm to 35 cm (10 to 14 inches) long in an average adult and about 2 cm (¾ inch) wide. The esophagus is made up of several layers. The cancer usually begins in the innermost layer and works its way outwards. Cancer can occur anywhere along the length of the esophagus. However, most esophageal cancers occur in the lower-third region of the esophagus.
Esophageal cancer is three times more common among men than women. Although it accounts for approximately 1% of all cancers in the North American population, esophageal cancer is a much more common cancer in other parts of the world, such as Iran, northern China, and India. The rate of esophageal cancer differs among ethnicities depending on the type of cancer.
As with most cancers, the actual causes of esophageal cancer are unknown. There are, however, some known risk factors in its development. Some of these include:
Some cancerous tumours in the esophagus have spread there from elsewhere in the body. Cancers of the larynx, pharynx, tonsils, lungs, breast, liver, kidney, prostate, testicles, bone, and skin can all spread to the esophagus.
People with certain medical conditions can have an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. These conditions include:
The symptoms of esophageal cancer generally don't begin to show until the tumour has progressed. They include:
While these symptoms can be signs of other difficulties, it's important to get them checked if they persist.
One of the most obvious problems associated with this type of cancer is difficulty swallowing. As the tumour gets larger, swallowing firm food becomes impossible and eventually only fluids can get by. After surgery where part of the esophagus is removed, swallowing may be hard for a time but should improve as healing progresses.
A second problem that arises is weight loss due to the problems associated with swallowing. Consulting a dietitian in order to maintain a good nutritional status is an important step in treating esophageal cancer. Poor nutrition can slow the healing process.
Finally, the cancer can spread to the rest of the body, most commonly the lungs and liver.
Complications can arise from the treatment as well as from the cancer, especially if the cancer has spread.
If other causes for the symptoms have been ruled out and esophageal cancer is suspected, your doctor may review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and do some of the following tests:
If a diagnosis of cancer has been made, the next step is to discover the stage (i.e., how far the cancer has progressed). This will involve:
The stages are:
The treatment of esophageal cancer depends on the stage of the illness or the progression of the disease. Like most cancers, the options for treatment are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the three.
Surgical treatment targets the cancer and aims at removing it. This is the most common treatment for esophageal cancer. Before recommending surgery, your doctor will consider your overall health as the operation can prove a long and demanding process.
If the entire esophagus is removed, the surgeon may create a new passage in the chest for food to pass through into the rest of the gastrointestinal tract using the bowel or stomach. Several different approaches can be used, with incisions required in the neck, chest, or abdomen.
Often the surgeon will begin with a "mini" operation on the abdomen to ensure no cancer has spread there. Occasionally, some parts of the procedure can be performed by inserting a thin tube with a light on the end into either the abdomen (laparoscopy) or chest area (thoracoscopy). The use of laparoscopy and thoracoscopy can help minimize the side effects after the operation.
In rare cases, for cancers very high in the esophagus (near the mouth or throat), surgery requires the removal of the structures in the neck, such as the voice box.
Swallowing might be difficult following the surgery, and reflux is often a problem. At first, the diet should be liquid, and then should progress to soft foods. A stent (a special type of tube) can also be left in place to widen the esophagus to make eating easier.
If surgery is not possible, a laser may be used to remove tumour cells and relieve blockages of the esophagus. To allow the esophagus to heal after surgery, stomach tubes passing directly through the skin into the stomach may allow feeding. These tubes are easily inserted at the time of surgery, or may even be inserted using a local anesthetic without involving a hospital stay.
Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, can be either external or internal. External radiotherapy is aimed directly at the cancerous cells. Internal radiotherapy involves inserting a radioactive substance directly into the esophagus.
For people undergoing radiation therapy, there are several side effects to watch for. They include:
These reactions are usually temporary but can cause great discomfort during treatment. Your health care team may be able to offer tips to help reduce the side effects.
Chemotherapy is treatment using medications that kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy medications are usually injected directly into the veins. Because the medications then circulate throughout the body, the side effects, although temporary, are more generalized than those from radiotherapy. They include:
Chemotherapy is often given in conjunction with radiotherapy and in advanced stages of the disease, or where the person is too frail to tolerate surgery. This combination may offer similar chances for survival and cure as surgery.
Targeted therapies can be used to treat esophageal cancer in some patients. These therapies target and inhibit molecules that tell cancer cells to grow and divide. Just like many other cancer therapies, there can often be side effects, which vary depending on which targeted therapy drug is used. The most common side effects include:
Immunotherapy helps strengthen the body's immune system to improve its ability to fight esophageal cancer. The side effects of immunotherapy can include:
Photodynamic therapy may be used to relieve the symptoms of esophageal cancer. This involves taking a medication to make the cancer cells more sensitive to light. Then, the affected area is exposed to a special light source, which kills the cancer cells.
After treatment for esophageal cancer, it's crucial to keep the esophagus open. To do so, esophageal dilation or bougienage might be performed. This procedure dilates (widens) the esophagus, making swallowing easier. This is not a permanent solution and might need to be repeated regularly.
As with many cancers, minimizing the risks could decrease the chances of developing esophageal cancer. This means stopping smoking, drinking in moderation, eating a healthy diet, and having any persistent throat problems checked by a doctor.
At this point, the best prevention is to be aware of the possible signs and symptoms and to act on them as soon as possible.