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

• Children
• 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) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• General Information about Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Is Cancer of the Esophagus? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

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

Prevention and Risk Factors

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

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
• Supportive Therapy for Esophageal Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Option Overview (Esophageal Cancer) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Living as an Esophagus Cancer Survivor (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Barrett's Esophagus (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Questions to Ask About Esophageal Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Risks of Esophageal Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

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

Clinical Trials

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

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

• Article: SPOTlight on GLOW.
• Article: Outcomes of early fiberoptic bronchoscopic sputum aspiration and lavage after thoracoscopic...
• Article: Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel plus cisplatin versus 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin...
• 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 Cancer Support Services (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Children

• Childhood Esophageal Cancer Treatment (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