Esophageal Cancer

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

The esophagus is a hollow tube that carries food and liquids from your throat to your stomach. Early esophageal cancer usually does not cause symptoms. Later, you may have symptoms such as

• Painful or difficult swallowing
• Weight loss
• A hoarse voice or cough that doesn't go away

You're at greater risk for getting esophageal cancer if you smoke, drink heavily, or have acid reflux. Your risk also goes up as you age

Your doctor uses imaging tests and a biopsy to diagnose esophageal cancer. Treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. You might also need nutritional support, since the cancer or treatment may make it hard to swallow.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• Esophageal Cancer (Society of Thoracic Surgeons)
• Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
• General Information about Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Is Cancer of the Esophagus? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Esophagus (National Cancer Institute)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Esophageal Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute)
• How Is Cancer of the Esophagus Diagnosed? (American Cancer Society)
• Stages of Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Understanding Esophageal Dilation (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) Also in Spanish
• Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Series (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Upper GI Endoscopy (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Can Cancer of the Esophagus Be Found Early? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal Cancer Prevention (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Esophagus Cancer: Palliative Therapy (American Cancer Society)
• Photodynamic Therapy (American Cancer Society)
• Treatment Option Overview (Esophageal Cancer) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Options by Stage (Esophageal Cancer) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

• What Happens After Treatment for Cancer of the Esophagus? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Barrett's Esophagus (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Risks of Esophageal Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Cancer of the Esophagus? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Cancer of the Esophagus (National Cancer Institute)
• Preoperative Chemotherapy, Radiation Improve Survival in Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
• Snapshot of Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Are the Key Statistics about Cancer of the Esophagus? (American Cancer Society)
• What's New in Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment? (American Cancer Society)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Diabetes mellitus carries a risk of esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis.
• Article: Chemoradiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy plus surgery for esophageal cancer.
• Article: Effect of perioperative oral care on prevention of postoperative pneumonia...
• Esophageal Cancer -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society
• ASGE: Find a Doctor (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
• Find a Cancer Doctor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
• Find an ENT (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish
• Organizations That Offer Support Services (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Coughing up blood (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Diet and eating after esophagectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophagectomy - minimally invasive (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophagectomy - open (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Understanding Chemotherapy (National Cancer Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish
• What to Know about Brachytherapy (A Type of Internal Radiation Therapy) (National Cancer Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish
• What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy (National Cancer Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish