Oesophageal Cancer
What Is It?
The oesophagus or food pipe is part of the digestive system. It is also sometimes called the gullet. The oesophagus has three main sections - the upper, middle and lower. Cancer can develop anywhere along the length of the oesophagus. It carries food and liquids to the stomach with waves of muscle contractions. Glands in the wall of the oesophagus produce mucous to help food to slide down more easily when you swallow. It is the cells of these glands that become cancerous in adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus.Like all other parts of the body, the area containing the oesophagus also contains lymph nodes/glands. They help to control infection by filtering foreign material out of the blood and lymphatic fluid, including bacteria and viruses. The lymph nodes are often the first place that cancer cells spread to when they break away from a tumour.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include:Difficulty swallowing
Weight loss
Pain or discomfort in the throat or back, behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades
Acid indigestion
Hoarseness or chronic cough
Vomiting
Coughing up blood