Ever heard of Esophageal cancer?

Well, Esophageal cancer is cancer that occurs in the oesophagus.  It is a long, hollow tube that runs from your throat to your stomach. It, oesophagus helps move the food you swallow from the back of your throat to your stomach to be digested.

Oesophageal cancer usually begins in the cells that line the inside of the oesophagus and can occur anywhere along the oesophagus.

More men than women get esophageal cancer and Esophageal is the sixth most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

Signs and symptoms of oesophagal cancer include:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Weight loss without trying
• Chest pain, pressure or burning
• Worsening indigestion or heartburn
• Coughing or hoarseness

   

  Oesophagal cancer occurs when cells in the oesophagus develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. The changes make cells grow and divide out of control. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumour in the oesophagus that can grow to invade nearby structures and spread to other parts of the body. It’s not exactly clear what causes esophageal cancer.