Esophageal cancer is in seventh place on the list of the most common diseases. That is why in this article I want to consider this disease in more detail. So, the goal of the article is to learn as much as possible about what esophageal cancer is: symptoms, treatment, signs, causes of the problem.
Introductory word
At the very beginning, you need to understand those concepts that will be actively used in this article. So, the esophagus is the most important organ that connects the human stomach with the oral cavity. At the same time, the esophagus “does not like” hot or cold, too hot or fried. Due to these factors, the mucous membrane of the organ can become inflamed, which will lead to the appearance of a problem such as tumors. And if modern medicine can still cope with benign neoplasms, then malignant tumors pose a threat not only to the health, but even to the life of the patient. The problem is also complicated by the very difficult identification of the disease in the early stages of its onset (absence of symptoms).
About the disease
It is worth saying that at the very early stages of the disease, esophageal cancer is almost impossible to determine. And all because there will be completely no symptoms that can tell a person that something is wrong with the body. And only after the tumor narrows the esophagus by almost half, a person can feel a certain discomfort. It is worth saying that esophageal cancer in men is more likely to occur 4 times than in women. Risk group - people aged 50-60 years. If a person has a malignant tumor, it will unevenly affect the organ. So, the upper part of the esophagus will be affected by about 10%, the middle - by 40%, and the lower - by about 50%.
Causes of occurrence
The main purpose of this article is to study the symptoms and causes of esophageal cancer. So, among the causes of this disease, the following can be distinguished:
- Nutrition. The first cause of cancer of the esophagus is the frequent consumption of hot food, as well as the use of alcohol and its surrogates. Also, too sharp dishes should be excluded from the diet.
- Geographical factor. Scientists have noticed that the patient’s place of residence also affects the onset of the disease. But everything again comes down to a culture of food consumption. Thus, the incidence of carcinomas is higher in some areas of China, Iran, as well as in Central Asia. And all because they like pickled food, mold mushrooms and too hot dishes.
- Vitamin deficiency. A lack of vitamins A and C can lead to the development of cancer of the esophagus.
- About three times the risk of the disease is higher for those who smoke, and 12 times higher for those who abuse alcohol.
- The risk of esophageal cancer increases if this organ was burned with alkali. Even if many years have passed since the incident.
- And, of course, some diseases can cause the development of malignant tumors. Esophageal cancer may be due to achalasia of the esophagus or the so-called Barrett's esophagus.
Symptom 1. Dysphagia
At the very beginning, you need to consider the first signs of cancer of the esophagus. It is thanks to them that you can determine the disease. So, first of all, the patient will feel difficulty swallowing food. A person will have a feeling that in the throat something is interfering with the normal passage of food, that food is constantly stuck. To avoid discomfort, a person will have to chew everything very carefully. If the disease is started and not treated, then after a while even the liquid will not be able to move normally along this organ. At the last stage of the disease, a person cannot normally swallow even his own saliva. Almost all stages of the development of the disease (except the first) are accompanied by painful sensations.
Stages of dysphagia
Studying the first signs of esophageal cancer, it is worth saying that the difficulty in swallowing at the very beginning of the disease occurs periodically, it does not constantly bother a person. That is why it is difficult to determine the disease. After all, if a person does not bother anything, then there is no point in contacting a doctor. Dysphagia itself has four stages:
- At the first stage, a person has difficulty swallowing large pieces of food, as well as passing fiber foods (meat, bread, some vegetables or fruits).
- In the second stage, it is difficult for the patient to swallow already thick cereals and mashed potatoes.
- The third stage of dysphagia involves difficulty in the passage of fluid through the esophagus.
- The last stage is a complete obstruction of the esophagus.
Symptom 2. Pain
What else is characterized by cancer of the esophagus? The first signs are pain. They occur in almost all patients at various stages of the disease. The nature of the pain can be different - it can be either acute or dull. In this case, unpleasant sensations arise not in the throat, but in the neck, between the shoulder blades and in the lower jaw.
Symptom 3. Reflux
What are the first signs of esophageal cancer? So, doctors say that burping can also testify to this disease (or reflux as a scientific language). However, if it occurs after heavy eating or after spicy dishes and infrequently - this is normal. If burping occurs regardless of food intake at any moment of the day or night - this may be a bell to the urgent need to be examined by a doctor.
Symptom 3. Vomiting, nausea
When the tumor grows, the patient may experience not only nausea, but even vomiting. Anxiety should be caused by bloody impurities in the vomit.
Symptom 4. Blood
Further we consider the first signs of cancer of the esophagus. As already mentioned above, blood can be observed in the patient's vomit. This becomes possible due to the appearance of wounds and ulcers in the esophagus (this leads to the growth of the tumor). Part of the blood can come out with vomit, and some can get into the stomach. That is why an admixture of blood can also be in the patient's stool.
Symptom 5. Increased salivation
If a person has esophageal cancer, the first signs are hiccups and increased salivation. Hiccups occur due to the difficult passage of air through the esophagus. And increased salivation is a consequence of tumor growth and problems with swallowing one's own saliva. Fluids have nowhere to go, it accumulates in the mouth and brings discomfort to a person.
Symptom 6. Fatigue, weight loss
Next, we recognize the signs of cancer of the esophagus. So, a person may also have a breakdown, weight loss, and temperature may rise. And all because because of problems with swallowing the patient simply stops eating (this way pain can be avoided). And this entails an insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals, which causes similar symptoms. Against the background of the weakening of the body, a variety of colds that can cause an increase in temperature can “pester” the patient.
Symptom 7. Change in voice, cough
The main and first symptoms of esophageal cancer are a frequent cough and a change in the timbre of a person’s voice. All this can occur as a result of the proliferation of metastases in the larynx, bronchi. Hoarseness may appear in the voice, as with a normal respiratory illness. Often a person has pain in the vocal cords.
Symptom 8. Bad breath
Well, when the disease is no longer at the first stage, the patient may have bad breath. Also, lymph nodes may increase, which will indicate that metastases "settled" there. The smell of rot from the mouth will result from the decomposition of the cancerous tumor.
Complications
Having considered the first symptoms of cancer of the esophagus, it is worth saying that with the decay of a malignant tumor, the patient may experience the following complications:
- Esophageal bleeding. May be accompanied by vomiting of blood, nausea, loss of consciousness. With prolonged bleeding from the tumor, the patient may develop black stools. These situations require urgent medical attention.
- Tumor perforation. The patient may also form a hole in the esophagus, which will lead to the development of inflammation in the mediastinum. All this will be accompanied by pain, fever, as well as intoxication of the body.
Diagnostics
We further consider a disease such as cancer of the esophagus. Symptoms and signs - sorted it out. Now I want to talk about using what methods and procedures you can make an accurate diagnosis. So, it is impossible to limit oneself to only one examination of the esophagus, this will not give a complete picture of the disease. The following studies will be needed to make a diagnosis:
- X-ray This procedure makes it possible to determine the physiological characteristics of the tumor, as well as to find out its exact location.
- Fibrobronchoscopy will help determine the degree of tumor growth in the esophagus, as well as to understand whether metastases have appeared.
- Esophagogastroscopy will help outline the boundaries of the tumor and clarify the prognosis for the future.
- Ultrasound and CT are minor procedures that help clarify the diagnosis, determine the size of the tumor and the presence of metastases.
- Laboratory blood tests make it possible to determine tumor markers.
Treatment
Esophageal cancer causes a lot of problems. Symptoms and signs, stages, treatment and prognosis are all very important and must be discussed with your doctor. So, at this stage, I would like to consider in more detail all those treatment methods that may be relevant in this case.
- Radiation therapy.
- Surgical intervention. In this case, the patient will have the esophagus removed. Also, plastic of the stomach or intestinal tube will be needed.
- Combined method: radiation therapy with surgical intervention.
As for chemotherapy, as an independent method it is ineffective.
Damage to the lower and middle parts of the esophagus. In this case, surgery with subsequent radiation and chemotherapy will be effective. If it is impossible to remove the tumor, radiation therapy will be applied.
If the patient affects the upper third of the esophagus, then radiation therapy will be relevant.
If the disease is very neglected, and the patient has the last stage of dysphagia (normal nutrition is impossible) - impose a gastrostomy. This is an surgical intervention when, under local anesthesia, the patient’s stomach is sutured to the anterior abdominal wall, then a tube for feeding is inserted into it.
Forecast
When the first signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer are considered, treatment and prognosis are also important to talk about. If everything has already been said about the treatment, then it's time to find out the forecasts for the lives of patients with this disease. First of all, I want to say that it all depends on the degree of development of the disease, on the age of the patient and various other factors. That is, any case must be considered separately. However, you can provide general figures:
- If cancer of the esophagus has not been treated, the prognosis in this case is not the most favorable. The average life expectancy of patients since the detection of the disease is approximately 6-8 months. If the diagnosis was carried out in the early stages, some patients lived for about 5 years without treatment.
- If radiation therapy has been used, patient survival is significantly increased.
- With combined treatment after radical surgery, approximately half of the patients live more than five years.
- With complex treatment (if metastases were detected), approximately 57% of patients have lived for more than five years.