Esophageal cancer in the list of most commondiseases is in seventh place. That is why in this article I want to consider this disease in more detail. So, the purpose of the article is to learn as much as possible about what is esophageal cancer: symptoms, treatment, signs, causes of the problem.

Introductory word

At the very beginning you need to deal with thoseconcepts that will be actively used in this article. So, the esophagus is the most important organ that connects the human stomach with the oral cavity. At the same time the esophagus "does not like" hot or cold, too sharp or roasted. Due to these factors, the mucous membrane of the organ can become inflamed, which will lead to problems such as tumors. And if modern medicine can still cope with benign neoplasms, then malignant tumors pose a threat not only to health, but even to the life of the patient. The problem is also complicated by a very difficult diagnosis of the disease in the early stages of its occurrence (no symptoms).

About the disease

It is worth mentioning that in the earliest stagesthe cancer of the esophagus is almost impossible to determine. And all because there will be completely no symptoms that can tell a person that something is wrong with the body. And only after the tumor will narrow the esophagus by almost half, a person will be able to feel some discomfort. It should be noted that cancer of the esophagus in men occurs more often 4 times than in women. The risk group is people aged 50-60 years. If a person has a malignant tumor, it will unevenly hit the organ. Thus, the upper part of the esophagus will be affected approximately by 10%, the average by 40%, and the lower part by approximately 50%.

Causes

The main goal of this article is to study the symptoms and causes of esophageal cancer. So, among the causes of this disease can be identified the following:

1. Food. First of all, the cause of esophageal cancer is the frequent consumption of hot food, as well as the use of alcohol and its surrogates. Too much food should be excluded from the diet.
2. Geographical factor. Scientists have noticed that the patient's place of residence also affects the onset of the disease. But everything again comes down to a culture of eating. Thus, the incidence of carcinoma is higher in some areas of China, Iran, and also in Central Asia. And all because they love pickled food, mold mushrooms and too hot dishes.
3. Deficiency of vitamins. The lack of vitamins A and C can lead to the development of esophageal cancer.
4. Approximately three times the risk of the disease is higher among those who smoke, and 12 times higher in those who abuse alcohol.
5. The risk of cancer of the esophagus increases if this organ has been burned with alkali. Even in the event that many years have passed after the incident.
6. And, of course, some diseases can cause the development of malignant tumors. Esophageal cancer can be a consequence of achalasia of the esophagus or the so-called Barrett's esophagus.

Symptom 1. Dysphagia

At the outset, you need to consider the first signscancer of the esophagus. It is thanks to them that you can determine the disease. So, first of all, the patient will feel difficulty in swallowing food. A person will have a feeling that something in the throat prevents the normal passage of food, that food is constantly stuck. To avoid discomfort, a person will have to thoroughly chew everything. If the disease is started and not treated, then in time even the liquid will not be able to move normally around this organ. At the last stage of the disease a person can not properly swallow even his own saliva. Almost all stages of the development of the disease (except the first) are accompanied by painful sensations.

Stages of dysphagia

Studying the first signs of cancer of the esophagus, it is worthsay that the difficulty of swallowing at the very beginning of the disease occurs periodically, it does not constantly bother the person. That is why it is difficult to determine with the disease. In fact if the person nothing disturbs, also there is no sense to address to the doctor. Dysphagia itself has four stages:

1. In the first stage, a person has difficulty in swallowing large pieces of food, as well as when passing a fibrous meal (meat, bread, some vegetables or fruits).
2. In the second stage, it is difficult for a patient to swallow thick porridge and mashed potatoes.
3. The third stage of dysphagia involves difficulty in passing through the esophagus.
4. The last stage is complete obstruction of the esophagus.

Symptom 2. Pain

What is characteristic of esophageal cancer? The first signs are painful sensations. They occur in almost all patients at various stages of the disease. The nature of the pain can be different - it can be either acute or dull. In this case, unpleasant sensations arise not in the throat, but in the neck, between the scapula and in the region of the lower jaw.

Symptom 3. Reflux

What are the first signs of esophageal cancer? So, doctors say that evidence of this disease can also belch (or scientific language - reflux). However, if it occurs after a heavy meal or after sharp meals and infrequently it is normal. If the eructation occurs irrespective of food intake at any time of the day and night - this may be a bell to urgently need to be examined by a doctor.

Symptom 3. Vomiting, nausea

When the tumor grows, the patient may experience not only nausea, but even vomiting. Anxiety should cause bloody impurities in the vomit.

Symptom 4. Blood

We further consider the first signs of esophageal cancer. As already mentioned above, blood may be observed in the emetic masses of the patient. This becomes possible due to the appearance of wounds and ulcers in the esophagus (this leads to a tumor overgrowth). Part of the blood can come out with vomit, and some get into the stomach. That's why an admixture of blood can also be in the patient's stool.

Symptom 5. Increased salivation

If a person has cancer of the esophagus, the first signs -hiccups and increased salivation. Hiccups arise from the difficulty of passing through the esophagus. And increased salivation is a consequence of the growth of the tumor and problems with swallowing your own saliva. Liquids have nowhere to go, it accumulates in the mouth and brings a person discomfort.

Symptom 6. Fatigue, weight loss

Further, we recognize the signs of esophageal cancer. So, a person can also have a loss of strength, weight loss, the temperature can rise. And all because because of problems with swallowing the patient simply ceases to eat (so you can avoid pain). And this entails insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals, which causes similar symptoms. Against the background of the weakening of the body to the patient, various colds can "pester", which will cause a rise in temperature.

Symptom 7. Change in voice, cough

The main and first symptoms of esophageal cancer arefrequent coughing and changing the timbre of a person's voice. All this can arise as a consequence of the proliferation of metastases in the larynx, bronchi. In the voice, hoarseness may appear, as with a normal respiratory disease. Often a person has pain in the vocal cords.

Symptom 8. Odor from the mouth

Well, when the disease is not at the firststage, the patient may develop an unpleasant odor from the mouth. Also, lymph nodes can grow, which will indicate that metastasis has "settled" there. The smell of decay from the mouth will be a consequence of the decomposition of the cancerous tumor.

Complications

Having considered the first symptoms of esophageal cancer, it is worth saying that when a malignant tumor breaks down, the patient may experience the following complications:

1. Esophageal bleeding. May be accompanied by vomiting with blood, nausea, loss of consciousness. With prolonged bleeding from the tumor, the patient may appear black stools. These situations require urgent medical intervention.
2. Perforation of the tumor. The patient may also form a hole in the esophagus, which will lead to the development of inflammation in the mediastinum. All this will be accompanied by pain, fever, and intoxication of the body.

Diagnostics

We consider further a disease like cancer.esophagus. Symptoms and signs - dealt with this. Now I want to talk about using which methods and procedures can make an accurate diagnosis. So, only one examination of the esophagus can not be limited, it will not give a complete picture of the disease. For the diagnosis will need the following studies:

1. X-ray This procedure makes it possible to determine the physiological characteristics of the tumor, as well as to know its exact location.
2. The fibrobronchoscopy will help determine the degree of tumor invasion into the esophagus, as well as understand whether metastases have appeared.
3. Esophagogastroscopy will help to outline the boundaries of the tumor and clarify the forecast for the future.
4. Ultrasound and CT - minor procedures that help to clarify the diagnosis, determine the size of the tumor and the presence of metastases.
5. Laboratory blood test provides an opportunity to determine the tumor markers.

Treatment

Many problems are caused by cancer of the esophagus. Symptoms and signs, stages, treatment and prognosis are all very important and must be discussed with your doctor. So, at this stage in more detail I want to consider all those treatments that may be relevant in this case.

1. Radiation therapy.
2. Surgical intervention. In this case, the patient will be removed the esophagus. Also plastic of a gastric or intestinal tube will be necessary.
3. Combined method: radiation therapy with surgical intervention.

As for chemotherapy, as an independent method, it is ineffective.

Damage to the lower and middle part of the esophagus. In this case, surgery will be effective, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If it is impossible to remove the tumor, radiation therapy will be applied.

If the patient has an upper third of the esophagus, then radiation therapy will be relevant.

If the disease is very advanced, and the patientthe last stage of dysphagia (impossible normal food) - impose gastrostomy. This is a surgical intervention, when, under local anesthesia, the patient's stomach is stitched to the anterior abdominal wall, then a tube is inserted into it for feeding.

Forecast

When the first signs and symptoms of cancer are consideredesophagus, treatment and prognosis - that's also important to tell. If everything is already said about the treatment, then it is time to find out the life predictions of patients with this disease. First of all, I would like to say that everything depends on the degree of development of the disease, the age of the patient and other various factors. That is, any case must be considered separately. However, you can provide general figures:

1. If esophageal cancer has not been treated, the prognosis isThe case is not the most favorable. The average life expectancy of patients since the detection of the disease is approximately 6-8 months. If the diagnosis was carried out in the early stages, without treatment, some patients lived for about 5 years.
2. If radiation therapy was used, patient survival is significantly increased.
3. With combined treatment after radical operations, about half of the patients live more than five years.
4. With complex treatment (if metastases were found) for more than five years, approximately 57% of patients live.
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