What is it?
Cancer of the oesophagus (food pipe, where food is carried from the throat to the stomach).
- The condition affects men more than women mainly of ages greater than 55 years old.
There are mainly two forms of cancer:
Squamous cell carcinoma
- Mutation of the squamous cells and hence lead to cancer/tumour in oesophagus (the majority of the oesophagus is lined with these cells).
Adenocarcinoma
- Mutation of the columnar cells (the area at the bottom of the oesophagus, and where the oesophagus joins the stomach)
Cause
Syndromes
Medication
Vitamins, herbals and minerals
Symptoms
(Occur mainly when cancer lump has become larger or has spread to other nearby parts of the body)
- Pain and difficulty swallowing?
- Hoarseness or croaky voice?
- Coughing up blood?
- Swollen lymph glands and/or reoccurring mouth ulcers?
- Short of breath?
- Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
- Feel full quickly when eating trapped wind and burping (‘foul rotten egg smell’)?
- Long term persistent indigestion, frequent heartburn or constant abdominal pain?
- Stomach lumps?
- Sore throat longer than three days or more?
- Dry cough longer than three weeks?
- General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
- Unexplained weight loss?
- Unknown lumps or swellings on any part of body?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Do not wait, phone for ambulance if have or develop:
- Shortness of breath (Aspirated pneumonia)
- Non-stop Hiccups (oesophageal tumour invades the phrenic nerve or diaphragm. Irritation of these structures causes these repeated contractions of the diaphragm)
- Black tarry stools (Old blood from oesophagus tumour has passed through stomach and intestine and excreted with faeces)
- Swollen lymph nodes
This condition can lead to:
- Excess saliva and drooling
This condition can cause the symptom:
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Oesophageal Cancer in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
- NHS
Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help (British National Health Service).
- Medscape
Latest medical news and expert commentary in your specialty as well as disease information.
- Pharmaceutical Journal
The Pharmaceutical Journal covers analysis, features, opinion, learning and careers articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical science.
- Healthline
Medical Information and health advice you can trust
- ChatGPT
Get instant answers, find creative inspiration, and learn something new.
- Medical News Today
Medical news and health news headlines posted throughout the day, every day.
- WebMD
Better Information. Better Health.
- Cleveland Clinic
Pushing the Standards of care.
- Mayo Clinic
No.1 Hospital in the Nation (America)
- Drugs.com
Know more. Be sure.
- National Organisation of Rare Diseases
NORD is dedicated to supporting education, elevating care, advancing research, and driving policy for rare diseases.
- Verywell Health
Know more. Fell better.
- Fit for Travel
Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad.
- DR Axe
Health and fitness news. Recipes, Natural Remedies
