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WHAT
IS AN OESOPHAGUS?
An oesophagus,
also known as the food pipe, is a hollow tube that
carries food and liquids from the throat to the
stomach. When a person swallows, the muscular walls
of the oesophagus contract, to push the food down
into the stomach.
Glands in the lining of
the oesophagus produce mucus, which keep the
passageway moist and make swallowing easier. In an
adult, the oesophagus is about 10 inches long. |
WHAT IS CANCER
OF THE OESOPHAGUS?
Your body is
made up of many types of cells. In normal course,
cells grow, divide, and produce more cells to keep
your body healthy. However, at times this process
goes wrong and cells become abnormal, forming more
cells in an uncontrolled manner. These extra cells
from a mass of tissue, called a growth or a
'tumour'. A tumour which keeps on growing
uncontrollably is called a malignan/cancerous
tumour. Cancer of oesophagus occurs when a malignant
tumour forms in the tissue of your oesophagus. |
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WHAT IS AT A
RISK OF THE CANCER OF OESOPHAGUS?
Oesophageal
cancer is more likely to occur as people get older.
Smoking or using tobacco is one of the major risk
factors. Chronic or heavy use of alcohol is an
important factor and people who use both alcohol and
tobacco have a high risk of developing oesophageal
cancer. Tissues at the bottom of the oesophagus can
become irritated if stomach acid frequently "
backs up" into the oesophagus. This problem is
called gastric reflux. It increases the risk of
cancer.
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WHAT ARE THE
SYMPTOMS OF CANCER OF THE OESOPHAGUS?
Early
oesophageal cancer usually does not have any
symptoms. However, as the cancer grows, symptoms may
develop. The common ones are:
- Difficulty
while swallowing
- Severe weight loss
- Pain
in the throat or back behind the breastbone or
between the shoulder blades.
- Hoarseness or
chronic cough
- Vomiting
- Coughing up blood
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HOW IS CANCER
OF THE OESOPHAGUS DIAGNOSED?
If
any of the above symptoms are present your doctor
will ask you for a detailed medical history and will
perform a physical examination before conducting any
of the following tests:
Barium swallow:
This is a series of X-rays of the oesophagus. You
will be asked to drink a liquid containing barium,
which coats the inside of the oesophagus. An X-ray
will then be taken and any abnormalties in the
oesophagus will become visible on the X-ray.
Oesophagoscopy:
In this a think lighted tube called an endoscope is
passed through your mouth into the oesophagus. Your
doctor is able to see the insides of your
oesophagus. If an abnormal area is found, your
doctor collects the cells and tissues through the
endoscope for examination under a microscope. This
is called a biopsy.
To learn the extent of
disease and suggest a course of treatment your
doctor may order some of the following tests:
Chest
X-ray: This procedure detects the spread of
cancer to your lungs.
CT Scan/MRI: These
procedures may be able to detect the spread of
cancer to your lungs, liver, neck or elsewhere in
your body.
Bone scan: This technique
helps to detect the spread of cancer to your bones.
Bronchoscopey:
Your doctor will put a bronchoscope ( a thin lighted
tube) into your mouth or nose and down through your
windpipe to look into the breathing passages.
HOW
IS CANCER OF THE OESOPHAGUS TREATED?
Depending
on the size, location, and extent of your tumour,
and your general health, cancer of the oesophagus
may be treated with:
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Laser
therapy
Some patients receive a combination
of these treatments.
Sugery
This
is the most common treatment for oesophageal cancer.
Your surgeon may remove the tumour along with a
portion or the entire oesophagus, nearby lymph
nodes, and other tissue in the area. He connects the
remaining healthy part of the oesophagus to the
stomach so that you are able to swallow. |
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New advances
in Surgery - Laparoscopic Oesophagectomy
Laparoscopic
resection of oesophagus is possible. Common belief
that laparoscopy may not remove whole of the cancer
is proven to be baseless. In fact with laparoscope
we can see magnified view under great illumination |
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