Esophageal cancer

Overview

Esophageal cancer is cancer that develops in the esophagus, the food channel that connects the throat to the stomach. Swallowing difficulties and weight loss are common symptoms. Other symptoms include swallowing discomfort, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes around the collarbone, a dry cough, and perhaps coughing up or vomiting blood.

Among gastrointestinal cancers, esophageal cancer has a dismal prognosis. Although esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is the most common kind, Western countries have experienced a significant increase in the prevalence of esophageal adenocarcinoma, which coincides with the obesity pandemic. Early detection efforts have been problematic due to the fact that dysplasia and early cancer are often asymptomatic.