ESOPHAGEAL (Food Pipe) Cancer

Many health problems like heart diseases, diabetes, cancers can occur due to unhealthy lifestyle. Poor lifestyle choices in today’s times are considered one of the leading causes of many types of cancer.

Habits that typically attract health issues are poor dietary practices, stress, lack of physical activity, inadequate sleep, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. Smoking and alcohol consumption are the reason for the development of lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, colon, and rectum cancer.

Esophageal cancer is a tumor that develops in the esophagus (Food Pipe), the long hollow tube that runs from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus functions to carry the food swallowed from the throat to the stomach for digestion. Esophageal cancer typically originates in the cells lining the esophagus and can develop anywhere along the complete length of esophagus. It mainly affects elderly people and is more common in men than women. Esophageal considered the sixth most common cause of cancer mortality globally. A higher prevalence of esophageal cancer is attributed to unhealthy lifestyle habits including tobacco, alcohol use, obesity, and poor eating practices.  z Symptoms

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Continuous weight loss
• Chest pain, or burning
• Indigestion
• Heartburn
• Coughing
• Hoarseness of voice

Esophageal cancer in the early stage does not show any signs or symptoms.

Types 

It is categorized according to the type of cells that are involved, which include:

Adenocarcinoma: This type originates in the cells of mucus secreting glands in the esophagus, and usually develops in the lower part of the esophagus.