The esophageal cancer is cancer that affects the initial part of the intestine, the main symptoms of this disease are weight loss, sore throat and cough present for some time.
What is the esophagus?
Esophagus is a long tube that starts at the throat and intestines coming: move the food and forms the first part of the intestine.
Esophageal cancer: Cancer within ‘esophagus
Esophagus Cancer
Types of esophageal cancer
The first is called squamous cell carcinoma and is formed in the upper esophagus, where the cells lining the esophageal tissue grows abnormally.
The second form is adenocarcinoma of the esophagus that forms at the bottom of the organ.
It develops when the glands in the esophageal tissue grows abnormally.
Cancer affects more men than women and the age group affected is between 55 and 70 years.
The abuse of tobacco and alcohol are important risk factors for cancer of the esophagus.
Unfortunately, as with many cancers, including esophageal cancer is asymptomatic and the symptoms can be recognized when it was hit nearby organs.
In cases where the cancer is diagnosed in time, the prospects of recovery are high.
The treatments used are surgery, to remove the diseased part, preceded by chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery.
Symptoms related to esophageal cancer
Dysphagia:
It’s difficult to swallow food, when the esophageal tumor grows in size there is this unfortunate problem: it narrows the esophagus and the food passes to fatigue and over time it will be difficult to swallow even liquids.
Other symptoms are:
* An unexplained weight loss;
* Headache and general malaise;
* Difficult to digest;
* Loud cough and hoarseness;
* Vomiting with streaks of blood.
Because the problems related to swallowing may not be related to esophageal cancer, it is best to seek medical attention and do the detailed examinations.
Cancer
Cancer is nothing more than an alteration of the cell structure of DNA is to change the normal growth of cells that forms the tumor tissue.
If the cancer spreads to nearby organs, there is a chance to heal, but if the cancer is going to affect nearby organs, then the chances of recovery are very slim.
Not only that: in addition to lungs, liver and the stomach, the release can also occur through the lymphatic system and the same blood circulation.
Gastroesophageal reflux
In addition to smoking and alcohol that are recognized as possible causes of esophageal cancer, there is another condition called gastroesophageal reflux.
A valve, which is located between the stomach and esophagus, has the task to be open at the time of passage of food from the esophagus to the stomach.
Often, this valve is not working properly and it happens that opens at the wrong time promoting what is called gastroesophageal reflux.
This is nothing but the passage of gastric juices from the stomach to the esophagus, causing severe heartburn, nausea and chest pain.
The tumor attached to this disease is fortunately very rare, so people who suffer from it do not necessarily incur in this condition.
Who has this disease chronic, may develop over the years with a condition called Barrett’s esophagus: a 100 people who develop Barrett’s esophagus cancer of the esophagus.
This disease leads to the development of new cells in the lower esophagus, the cells are very similar conformation as the cells of the stomach.
This is an unusual formation that is resistant to stomach acid over time but can lead to their transformation into cancer.
Risk Factors / Prevention
The most important risk factors that can lead to esophageal cancer are obesity and a diet devoid of fruits, vegetables and free of some important minerals like zinc and vitamins A, B1 and C which are the main components of fruits and vegetables .
The age group affected by this type of cancer range from 55 to 70 years and is more common in men than in women.
It has also identified the substances that if inhaled for long periods can lead to irritation of the esophagus and thus be the vehicle for cancer:
* Soot;
* Metal powder;
* Vehicle exhaust fumes;
* Lye, which has a wide use in the detergent industry for laundry and home;
* Silica dust, derived from processing of granite, slate, sandstone.
Where is a profession that involves daily contact with these substances, it is necessary to take all precautions to avoid possible exposure to these poisons.
How are diagnosed with esophageal cancer
To diagnose the first step is always made by their family doctor, who after investigating what are the recurrent disease in a family,’ll feel the abdomen of the patient to search for any anomalous presence.
If there is a major bump, or at least a fault, it will be the doctor to invite the patient to perform very thorough examination.
Among the tests they will have the patient undergo endoscopy.
This is a slightly annoying examination lasting about 15 minutes.
To deal with some discomfort, is given a mild sedative and must remain fasting for several hours before the test, so that food can obstruct the investigation.
Through the endoscope, a thin tube that passes from the mouth to the stomach, the practitioner can see whether or not this is an unusual formation.
At the end of the tube there is a light that allows a clear view.
If the specialist finds the presence of an abnormal tissue, it shall remove a small piece of tissue (biopsy) through a clamp attached to the same endoscope.
The fabric will be analyzed in the laboratory and after about 10 days you will have the report.
Another widely used test is that of barium.
Barium is nothing but a white liquid substance, which is taken orally by the patient, which allows you to view the esophagus, in its entirety, through the X-ray
If any portion of the esophagus is not wrapped in barium, this means that the esophagus is blocked, and it is necessary to evaluate why.
Even this consideration, such as endoscopy, takes about 15 minutes.
After examining the patient can eat comfortably, only that it is strongly recommended taking plenty of fluids to help flush the barium from the body.
Once established the presence of tumor, is performed a ‘endoscopic ultrasound to assess the true extent of the cancer and whether there are other bodies, followed by a computerized axial tomography.
This test is much more accurate because, using a series of x-ray images, you can locate any cancer cells in other organs.
How do you address and esophageal cancer treatment
All the tests described above have the express purpose of identifying the type of cancer and especially prescribe the appropriate therapy.
Even in the case of cancer of the esophagus were evindenziati stages:
* Stage 1: Cancer has affected only the superficial mucosa of the esophagus, without affecting other organs or lymph nodes;
* Stage 2A: The tumor involved the muscle that covers the esophagus, but did not involve the lymph nodes:
* Stage 2B: The cancer has affected muscle and nearby lymph nodes;
* Stage 3: Cancer has affected the esophagus, lymph nodes and tissue around it, but is not present in other parts of the body;
* Stage 4: Cancer has affected the liver, lungs and stomach.
As with all diseases, is less severe than serious, the collaboration between the doctors who have different skills is essential.
Among the team of doctors and the patient is faced with the problem and you get to determine the appropriate care to chance.
Obviously, the approach is different depending on the staging of cancer.
A stage 1 and 2 requires the surgical removal of part of the esophagus affected by cancer to lymph nodes along if interested.
This technique is called esophagectomy, preceded by chemotherapy which is responsible for as much as possible to avoid the spread of the tumor.
In stage 3 is used increasingly to surgery that is called esofagogastrectomia: is removed the diseased part of the esophagus, lymph nodes and the top of the stomach, always preceded by cycles of chemotherapy.
In the presence of a fourth stage, unfortunately, a cure for the regression of the disease is not feasible.
The only remedies used to limit the further spread of the cancer and alleviate pain, are radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The only surgery covered at this stage is to remove the hassle associated with dysphagia, difficulty in swallowing.
In many cases, inoperable, we resort to a stent, which is nothing but a small metal tube that serves to keep open the esophagus and facilitate swallowing.
Another type of therapy used to treat cancer of the esophagus, when the first stage, and photodynamic therapy.
Esophagus is injected a drug that makes the body sensitive to light.
Then a laser is inserted through an endoscope, which is directly harming the diseased parts of the esophagus.
Chemotherapy
It is the care that is used to kill the malignant cells.
It can be administered orally or intravenously.
It is a very strong drug that not only kill cancer cells, unfortunately also affects the healthy ones for which the patient is exposed to numerous side effects:
* Nausea and vomiting;
* Hair loss;
* Mouth ulcers;
* Weakness, and weakness.
All these effects are less when you stop caring.
Radiotherapy
It is another technique for cancer: it reduces the tumor using beams of energy at high doses and reduces painful sensations.
It is the most widely used therapy in the case of esophageal cancer, since by decreasing the size of the cancer, it helps to avoid swallowing the surgery or the insertion of a stent.
The radiation has the important side effects that disappear after discontinuation of treatment:
* Fatigue;
* Loss of appetite;
* Spots on the skin;
* Esophageal ulcers.
Unfortunately there are some very important cases of dysphagia that may jeopardize the very life of the patient, as this may create problems related to malnutrition and dehydration.
In this issue you may not add another one called tracheoesophageal fistula.
In practice, the tumor opens a passage between the esophagus and trachea: when the patient tries to introduce solid food or liquid, begins to cough preventing normal activities of mastication which then leads to physical degeneration.
For these severe cases you use a remedy called PEG.
The peg, is nothing but an acronym for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, uses a tube that is connected directly to the stomach with a surgical abdomen.
Prevention
As with all major illnesses or not, you need to take care of your body.
Avoid or limit your intake of tobacco and alcohol, losing weight if obese, have a balanced diet and lots of exercise can prevent the onset of major diseases.
The moment a person becomes aware of an anomalous presence in his body, or has symptoms never charged before, contact your family doctor is the best solution.
