Esophageal cancer is the cancer of the food canal in common terms. This canal or tube takes food from the mouth directly straight down to the stomach.
The esophagus starts from the back of the throat, continues until the stomach above, and ends at the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).
Between the stomach and the esophagus, a partitioning wall called the diaphragm.
This is the information at a glance, which you need to know about the esophagus to understand how this gets affected by cancer.
How sensitive the esophagus may become when affected by cancer
There are some organs and parts of the body. As this is one of the most important organs of the body, which takes the food to the stomach, and you cannot do without proper functioning and feel of this part, any problem and irritation with this must be attended immediately.
When affected by cancer, the person doesn’t realize that there is a serious problem in the body until cancer has progressed to an advanced stage while showing some unavoidable symptoms.
But in the case of the food canal, you can get to know that there is a problem right from the beginning in most cases.
That’s because this sensitive canal takes food to the stomach, and hence has daily traffic and gets invaded by various types of foods, spices, drinks, and temperatures.
Signs of esophageal cancer
Although many of the described signs may relate to another medical problem or condition other than cancer, one or many of them are found in cancer patients.
- Heartburn and a feeling of pressure in the chest
- Painful swallowing of food, especially the ones which are chunky and not tender. With time, the cancer cells grow, and the tumor enlarges.
- Most of the pathways to the stomach may get blocked. Liquids are also swallowed with lots of pain and pressure at this stage.
- Indigestion
- Vomiting
- Hoarseness invoice
- Frequent coughing
- Choking of food
- Weight loss for no apparent reasons
- Throat pain
If you are getting many of these signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer, then you must visit a doctor and get yourself checked.
Factors inviting esophageal cancer
You would have increased chances of getting esophageal cancer if:
- You are inclined towards tobacco use or alcohol consumption.
- You have an acid reflux problem or GERD.
If not taken care of or controlled on time, both acid reflux problems and tobacco consumption may result in esophageal cancer for strong reasons.
Tobacco and alcohol have always been linked to cancer.
Acid reflux causes cancer because the acids in the stomach, which are made to digest the food and kill any pathogen in the food, when comes in contact with the esophagus, burns or digests the healthy tissues of the esophagus too, just like the ingested food.
This affects the healthy cells of the food canal. The acid burns those cells, which are not meant to be exposed to this acid, and hence have no protective covering like the internal layer of the stomach has.
That’s why with repeated contact and burning, the cells develop cancer.
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