{"id":1232,"date":"2022-05-25T13:26:22","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T13:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/?p=1232"},"modified":"2022-10-20T11:48:05","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T11:48:05","slug":"esophageal-cancer-basics-which-you-must-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/esophageal-cancer-basics-which-you-must-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Esophageal Cancer: Basics Which You Must Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As the name suggests, this malignancy occurs in the esophagus, which is the hollow and long tube running to the stomach from the throat. This tube helps move the food from the back of people\u2019s throat to the stomach, being a helpful organ in the digestive process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is esophageal cancer? Esophageal cancer is a malignancy that usually forms in the cells of the organ, and it can form anywhere along the long, narrow tube.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When looking at statistics, esophagus tumors are more common in men. According to available data from the US, roughly one in 125 men will develop esophageal cancer in their lifetime. For women, the chances are one to 417.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When looking at global data, this malignancy is the sixth most common cancer. Still, esophagus tumor rates vary greatly geographically, leading experts to believe that the incidence correlates with certain nutritional habits, obesity, alcohol, and tobacco use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This blog post will focus on the symptoms and causes of the malignancy. For <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/surgical-oncology\/gist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">esophageal cancer treatment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> options, feel free to schedule an appointment with us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, reach out to <\/span><a href=\"\/omar-rashid\/omar-rashid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dr. Omar Rashid<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> after reading the article if you have any further questions regarding esophageal cancer or oncology in general.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Esopgahus Tumor Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Signs of the malignancy may present themselves as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Weight loss even though the patient isn\u2019t following any weight-watching program.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dysphagia, or difficulties with swallowing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Heartburn and indigestion problems that get worse over time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pressure, burning sensations in the chest, and frequent chest paint<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hoarseness and coughing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When cancer has spread to the bone, bone pain may also be a symptom<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Esophageal bleeding: the organ starts to bleed, and as the blood goes through the entirety of the digestive tract, it may turn the patient\u2019s stool black. The blood loss that occurs over time may become so severe that it may lead to anemia, causing the patient to feel fatigued all the time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remember, having one or even more of these symptoms doesn\u2019t mean that you have esophageal cancer. Some of these signs may indicate that you are dealing with entirely different conditions. Still, suppose you are experiencing them, especially if you have trouble swallowing. In that case, it\u2019s imperative that you visit your doctor so they can rule out esophagus tumors as early as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Below, we will investigate the most obvious symptoms that may help patients learn more about the warning signs of esophageal cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Dysphagia or Trouble Swallowing<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1233 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing.jpg\" alt=\"Woman With Fish Bone Stuck in the Throat,Esophageal Cancer\" width=\"1000\" height=\"661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing-200x132.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing-400x264.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing-600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing-800x529.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Dysphagia-or-Trouble-Swallowing.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the case of esophagus tumors, dysphagia or swallowing difficulties are the most common symptoms. Dysphagia may present itself as the feeling of the food being stuck either in the chest or the throat area. It may even cause the patient to choke on the food in more severe cases. Dysphagia starts mildly and gets more and more troubling as the tumor grows, taking over space in the esophagus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The cancer of the esophagus often remains undetected because people often tend to make dietary changes due to the worsening dysphagia without even being aware of it. They either chew their food more or take smaller bites or even start eating foods that are easier to swallow and can pass the tumor with fewer problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These patients might start to avoid certain foods like meat and bread, which tend to get stuck in the pathway. The cancer of the esophagus may even drive patients to stop eating solid meals completely and makes them switch to a liquid-only diet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If cancer remains untreated, even liquids can get hard to swallow.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Weight Loss<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patients with an esophagus tumor will often lose weight without having any such intentions. This most often happens as a result of the swallowing problems, which keep them from consuming enough food to keep their weight up. The malignancy may speed this process up by increasing the patient\u2019s metabolism and reducing their appetite.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Chest Pain<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some patients may also experience discomfort or pain in the chest\u2019s middle part. For others, the discomfort may present itself as a burning sensation or pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most often, these symptoms get dismissed because burning, pressure, and chest pain may be due to other problems, like heartburn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Seeing a Doctor<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are experiencing these symptoms and they persist, schedule a consultation with your doctor. In the event of being diagnosed with a condition called Barrett\u2019s esophagus, your risk of developing the malignancy is higher. This is a precancerous condition, most often caused by problems with chronic acid reflux.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Esophageal cancer screenings may be a sensible option if you\u2019ve been diagnosed with this precancerous condition. But before diving into it, discuss its advantages and disadvantages with your doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Esophageal Cancer Causes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As of yet, experts aren\u2019t exactly sure what causes the malignancy. The cancer usually develops when the organ\u2019s cells undergo DNA mutations which make them divide and grow out of control. As these abnormal cells accumulate, they form a tumor in the esophagus. Eventually, the cancer can invade other organs and nearby structures.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Esophageal Cancer Types<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These malignancies are categorized differently, based on the cells they form in. By classifying the malignancy like this, experts will be able to determine treatment options more effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Generally, doctors differentiate three types of esophageal cancer cases:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Squamous cell carcinoma<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: These are thin and flat cells on the esophagus surface. This type of malignancy most often happens in the middle or upper parts of the organ, and this is the most common type of esophageal cancer globally.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Adenocarcinoma<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: This malignancy develops in the mucus-secreting gland cells of the organ. This carcinoma will occur in the esophagus\u2019 lower portion. As a matter of fact, this type of esophageal cancer is the most prevalent in the US, primarily affecting white males.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Other rare forms:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> small cell carcinoma, lymphoma, choriocarcinoma, sarcoma, and melanoma may also occur in the esophagus in some cases.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Esophageal Cancer Risk Factors<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors.jpg\" alt=\"Abdominal Pain Patient Woman Having Medical Exam With Doctor on Illness From Stomach Cancer\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2022\/05\/Esophageal-Cancer-Risk-Factors.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some experts believe that chronic irritation in the organ may contribute to the development of the condition. Most often than not, these factors, conditions, and lifestyle choices are linked closest to the development of the malignancy:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Smoking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Obesity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Barret\u2019s esophagus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Having bile reflux<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experiencing swallowing difficulties because of the esophageal sphincter that won\u2019t relax<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drinking hot liquids often<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A diet poor in fruits and vegetables<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Radiation treatment<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Cancer Prevention\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While prevention is nearly impossible, people can take a few steps to dramatically reduce their risk of developing cancer. For example, they can:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Quit drinking or consuming alcohol in moderation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: You don\u2019t have to stop drinking completely. However, this means no more than two drinks a day for healthy males and one for healthy females.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Quit smoking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Talk to your doctor about different quitting strategies and medications that may make the process more bearable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Opt for a healthier diet:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Eat more vegetables and fruits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Keep your weight within healthy limits:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> if you have problems with excess body fat, discuss different <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2019\/12\/26\/676129278\/choose-the-best-diet-for-you\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">weight-loss strategies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with your doctor and aim for a program that enables you to lose weight steadily.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Learn more About the Condition<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned before, some of the symptoms we\u2019ve discussed above may actually signal other health problems. If these signs are persistent and get worse over time, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, if you have any more questions and concerns regarding detection and treatment, feel free to contact our practice and schedule a consultation.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the name suggests, this malignancy occurs in the esophagus, which is the hollow and long tube running to the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[40,41,42,43],"class_list":["post-1232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cancer","tag-cancer-of-the-esophagus","tag-esophageal-cancer","tag-esophagus-tumor","tag-what-is-esophageal-cancer"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}