Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is cancer that occurs in the esophagus — a long, hollow tube that runs from your throat to your stomach. Your esophagus helps move the food you swallow from the back of your throat to your stomach to be digested. Esophageal cancer usually begins in the cells that line the inside of the esophagus. Esophageal cancer can occur anywhere along the esophagus. More men than women get esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Incidence rates vary within different geographic locations. In some regions, higher rates of esophageal cancer may be attributed to tobacco and alcohol use or particular nutritional habits and obesity.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer include:
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Weight loss without trying
- Chest pain, pressure or burning
- Worsening indigestion or heartburn
- Coughing or hoarseness
Causes
Esophageal malignant growth happens when cells in the throat foster changes (transformations) in their DNA. The progressions cause cells to develop and separate crazy. The gathering of unusual cells structures cancer in the throat that can extend to attack close by designs and spread to different pieces of the body.
Risk factors
It’s felt that ongoing aggravation of your throat might add to the progressions that cause esophageal disease. Factors that cause disturbance in the cells of your throat and increment your gamble of the esophageal illness include:
- Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Smoking
- Having precancerous changes in the cells of the esophagus (Barrett’s esophagus)
- Being obese
- Drinking alcohol
- Having bile reflux
- Having difficulty swallowing because of an esophageal sphincter that won’t relax (achalasia)
- Having a steady habit of drinking very hot liquids
- Not eating enough fruits and vegetables
- Undergoing radiation treatment to the chest or upper abdomen