what are the causes and treatments?

The esophagus is a muscle tube essential to the digestion process, responsible for carrying food from the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells begin to grow in the inner wall of the organ. What are its characteristics ?

There are two main types of esophageal cancer :

  • The carcinoma epidermoid, the most common type. It develops in the upper or middle region of theesophagus.

  • Theadenocarcinoma, from glandular cells located in the lower third of the esophagus.

What are the causes of esophageal cancer?

The disease occurs when cells in the esophagus develop mutations in their DNA. The cells that undergo this process determine the type of Cancer from which the patient suffers. These mutations cause cell growth and division at an accelerated and uncontrolled rate. The cells that accumulate form a tumor in the esophagus, which can spread to other organs of the body.

It is believed that chronic irritation of the esophagus can contribute to changes in the DNA of its cells, which can lead to cancer. Some of the factors that cause this irritation include:

  • Increase in consumption of alcoholic beverages

  • Bile reflux

  • Diet low in fruits and vegetables

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

  • Obesity

  • Tobacco consumption

What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?

In its initial phase, the esophageal cancer has no symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, certain characteristics begin to appear:

  • Difficulty or pain during swallowing

  • Retrosternal pain (behind the middle bone of the sternum)

  • Chest pain

  • Sensation of obstruction to the passage of food

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Loss of appetite

In most cases, difficulty swallowing, also called dysphagia, is a sign that the cancer is already at an advanced stage. Early detection of canceresophagus is very important because the disease is very aggressive and progresses quickly. There may be a serious risk of spreading cancer cells to organs near the esophagus and lymph nodes.

How is the diagnosis of esophageal cancer made?

Among the specialists who can diagnose esophageal cancer is theoncologist, the gastroenterologist, or the endocrinologist.

The diagnostic esophageal cancer is mainly caused by endoscopy digestive, which is an imaging Review that examines the interior of the digestive tract. In the presence of dysphagia for food solid, which means that the disease is probably in an advanced state, a contrasting radiological study as well as an endoscopy with biopsy are recommended for confirmation.

The diagnosis will also help the doctor determine what stage the patient's cancer is at. To do this, he will have to measure the extent of the tumor, that is, the distance at which the cancer cells have spread.

Here are the different stages of cancer, which will allow us to assess the most effective treatment options:

  • Stage 1: Cancer occurs in the surface layers of the cells lining the esophagus.

  • Stage 2: the cancer has already invaded the deeper layers of the mucosa from the esophagus and could extend to nearby lymph nodes.

  • Stage 3: The cancer has spread to the deeper layers of the lining of the esophagus, surrounding tissue, or even the lymph nodes.

  • Stage 4: the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

What are the treatments for esophageal cancer?

Treatment of esophageal cancer can be done using three distinct approaches: surgery, the radiotherapy and the chemotherapy. In general, a combination of these three types can be more effective than just one of them.

In most cases, the most appropriate option is surgery. She can focus on bothablation of the tumor (if it is small and localized) and on the removal of part of the esophagus, recommended when the tumor has already spread to neighboring organs and lymph nodes.

However, depending on the extent of the disease, treatment may be only palliative, meaning aimless curative.

This will also interest you

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