cancer clinic
Cancer Immunity Clinic
01
Causes
Esophageal cancer is common in men and it usually develops over the age of 60. Iron deficiency anemia, vitamin A deficiency, zinc deficiency, high-fat diet, high calcium, etc. are known as the risk factors of esophageal cancer, and most of all, subalimentation is the most important risk factor.
Smokers who smoke less than 15 cigarettes a day have 2 times higher relative risk, who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day have 62 times higher relative risk.. As an independent risk factor, alcohol shows 3.5 times higher relative risk. For smokers who drink alcohol, relative risk increases in proportion to the amount of alcohol they drink, usually it is known that is is 10~20 times higher.
02
Symptoms
There is no specific symptom at the early stage. As cancer progresses, symptoms, such as dysphagia (having difficulty in swalloing foods), chest pain, etc., may appear. Since the esophagus works as a food pipe, when it narrows to two thirds of its normal lumen, dysphagia is caused. When the tumor is small, there may be no symptom, but there may be heartburn or chest pain caused by ulcer formed from esophageal cancer. Also, esophageal-respiratory fistula may occur as cancer infiltrate into the surround organs, and cardiovascular complications may be caused by invading into the heart or the aorta.
Esophageal cancer possible symptoms
When dysphagia is slowly progressing, it may be considered as a sign of esophageal cancer development. If patients have the symptoms of dysphagia accidentally, most of the cases may be cased by pill esophagitis or etting foreign substance stuck in esophagus, however, gradual progression of dysphagia should be suspected to have esophageal cancer. Also, those who enjoy drinking and smoking, and are in aged over 60 are recommended to have regular checkups on esophagus and stomach annually.
03
Diagnostic Tests
| Type of Cancer | Examination Method | Advantages of Examinination | Disadvantages of Examination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esophageal cancer | Endoscopy | Accurate diagnosis and biopsy are possible. | Patients may feel pain. |
| esophagography | It is possible to see the overall outline of the tumors and to check the effects of the tumors on the digestive system. | It is simple. Patients must use contrast medium, which may cause diarrhea, etc. | |
| Esophagus endoscopic ultrasound | Checking tumors beneath submuchous layer is possible. | The cost is high. |
04
Treatments
Treatment methods are vary depending on cancer stages. In case of carcinoma in situ, esophageal cancer which is found only in epithelial layer only and has not spread, it can be cured by endoscopic mucosal resection.
If the size of cancer is big or endoscopic treatment is technically impossible, esophageal resection will be performed. When cancer is found in mucosa or submucosa, and at stage 1 where it has not spread to lymph nodes, it can be cured by performing esophagectomy and it shows high 5-year survival rate as 80~100%.
05
Prevention
Avoid use of cigarette and alcohol, and intake of salty and hot foods.