Oesophageal Cancer: Types, Symptoms and Treatment
Dr. Pinaki Mahato, DM Medical Oncology, HCG Cancer Center Vadodara
Oesophageal cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the oesophagus or the food pipe. It’s a tube that connects the throat with the stomach. Known to be the sixth most common cause of cancer-related deaths across the globe. It mainly occurs due to high consumption of tobacco products, alcohol, obesity, or frequent instances of heartburn or flowing up of the acid that helps digest the food washing up the food pipe due to factors like lying down immediately after eating spicy and oily food. Oesophageal cancer may not be as common as the other more prevalent types of cancer like breast, lung, and prostate cancer however, the rates of this cancer are on the rise.
Types
Oesophageal cancer is categorized based on the type of cells involved. The several types of oesophageal cancer are Adenocarcinoma, the most common form of oesophageal cancer developing in the lower oesophagus, squamous cell carcinoma arising in the upper and middle oesophagus and several other rare types like small cell carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, melanoma, and choriocarcinoma.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of oesophageal cancer include:
● Difficulty swallowing
● Weight loss
● Chest pain, pressure, or burning in the throat
● Indigestion
● Heartburn
● Persistent cough
Treatment
The type of cells involved, the stage of the cancer, overall health, and treatment choices – all influence the treatments for oesophageal cancer. Esophagectomy is the primary surgical treatment for Oesophageal cancer that involves removing some or all of the swallowing tube (oesophagus) and reconstructing it with a portion of another organ, generally the stomach. It is performed to either eradicate cancer or alleviate symptoms. It is a minimally invasive process that requires removal of the oesophagus by a series of small incisions in the belly (laparoscopically) or the chest (thoracoscopically). The surgeon often opts for robotic surgical tools and a camera-tipped device to insert into the incisions to view and complete the operation without separating the muscles or breaking a rib. \
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be given to shrink the cancer before surgery or given after surgery to ensure all residual cancer cells are destroyed. If lab tests following chemoradiation and surgery reveal that some cancer remains, treatment with immunotherapy medicines may be suggested.
Prevention
Oesophageal cancer can be prevented by few lifestyle tweaks like avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, along with exercising daily, eating balanced diet and less greasy or spicy food and maintaining an optimal body weight. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in the diet to ensure all the required nutrients are consumed in the recommended amounts.
Although not all oesophageal cancers may be avoided, the probability of having this disease can be significantly lowered by avoiding specific risk factors. Those at an increased risk of developing oesophageal cancer should regularly opt for health check-ups and consultations with their physician.
