There are two types of cancer of the esophagus, depending on the type of cells that are cancerous. The first type is located in the lining of the esophagus, which consists of flat thin cells called squamous cells. Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in these squamous cells and is usually found in the upper and middle part of the esophagus.
The other type is called adenocarcinoma and usually develops at the bottom of the esophagus, which is lined with columnar cells.
Esophageal cancer begins in the esophagus, but it can develop outside the wall of the esophagus and spread to other parts of the body, such as bones, lungs, liver, and brain, through the lymphatic system.
What lifestyle triggers esophageal cancer?
Although squamous cell carcinoma is associated with alcohol and any kind of tobacco use, adenocarcinoma is more associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The development of adenocarcinoma from Barrett's esophagus is considered relatively rare, but its number increases higher than any other esophageal cancers.
the symptoms
- Chest pain or heartburn
Acid reflux is known to be one of the culprits of esophageal cancer. The lining of the esophagus is not intended to affect the acidic fluid from the stomach, so it can cause inflammation in the esophagus and create a burning sensation or pain in the chest, also known as heartburn. Frequent exposure to gastric acid can damage the esophageal lining and turn squamous cells into glandular cells that are commonly found in the intestines. This adaptation develops Barrett's esophagus, which is more resistant to acid, but people with Barrett's esophagus have 30–30-fold increased risk of esophageal cancer, according to Dr. Romero, a gastroenterologist from the Mayo Clinic. About 10% of patients with GERD develop Barrett's esophagus and the only way to confirm whether he has it or not is by doing endoscopy and biopsy, although endoscopy cannot 100% identify all cases of EB. People with Barrett's esophagus usually seek help because of symptoms of GERD, such as acid reflux or heartburn. Barrett's esophagus itself does not create overt symptoms, so if a patient with GERD does not have symptoms of acid reflux, he probably will never know of BE.
Barrett's esophagus can turn into adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the esophagus that develops at the base of the esophagus.
- Problems with swallowing
People with cancer of the esophagus will have difficulty swallowing - whether it be liquid or solid foods - and suffer from pain while swallowing. Food can stick to the esophagus, and when regurgitation occurs, undigested food can be torn out.
- Weight loss
Many people want to lose weight, but definitely not because of esophageal cancer. Problems with swallowing can lead to malnutrition, because their difficulty in swallowing prevents them from eating enough to maintain their weight. Uncontrolled development of cancer cells also increases the metabolism in these cells, leaving almost nothing to feed the remaining non-cancerous cells.
- Vomiting of blood and / or Tarina
When cancer spreads to the intestines, it can cause vomiting of blood, blood in the stool, and iron deficiency anemia.
Most cases of esophageal cancer are found in the later stages of cancer development, for example, when patients have difficulty swallowing. For this reason, cancer is considered very lethal, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 15%. However, if Barrett's esophagus is diagnosed at an early stage, patients can develop some action plans, such as lifestyle changes, periodic medical examinations, and anything that can improve the quality of life. We can’t do anything to stop or heal Barrett’s esophagus, a study by Kaiser Permentee Research’s Research Department found that drinking a glass of wine every day can reduce the risk of developing Barrett’s esophagus by 56 percent.
