Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and therefore the stomach. Symptoms often include difficulty in swallowing and weight loss. Other symptoms may include pain when swallowing, a hoarse voice, enlarged lymph nodes ("glands") round the collarbone, a dry cough, and possibly ejection or vomiting blood. The disease is diagnosed by biopsy done by an endoscope (a fiberoptic camera). Prevention includes stopping smoking and eating a healthy diet. Treatment relies on the cancer's stage and placement, along with the person's general condition and individual preferences. Small localized squamous-cell cancers could also be treated with surgery alone with the hope of a cure. In most other cases, chemotherapy with or without actinotherapy is employed together with surgery.