Esophageal cancer (patient information): Difference between revisions
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==How do I know if I have esophageal cancer and what are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?== | ==How do I know if I have esophageal cancer and what are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?== | ||
Early esophageal cancer | Early stages of esophageal cancer do not display any recognizable symptoms. As the malignant tumors grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms: | ||
:*[[Dysphagia]]: This is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer. It | :*[[Dysphagia]]: This is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer. It causes problems swallowing, with the feeling like the food is stuck in the throat or chest. At first it is often mild, and then gets worse over time. At last, patients can no longer eat and can only consume water. | ||
:*[[Chest pain]] or [[chest burning sensation]]: Chest pain with swallowing may occur | :*[[Chest pain]] or [[chest burning sensation]]: Chest pain with swallowing may occur if the tumor is large enough to block the esophagus. Some patients describe a feeling of pressure or burning in the chest. | ||
:*[[Hiccups]]: This happens because | :*[[Hiccups]]: This happens because of digestive dysfunction of the esophagus. | ||
:*[[ | :*[[vomiting blood]]: When a tumor invades a blood vessel, vomiting blood occur. This may be the first symptom in some patients. | ||
:* | :*Weight loss: This occurs because swallowing problems prevent patients from eating enough to maintain their weight. Other factors include loss of appetite and increase in metabolism from the cancer. | ||
Infections or other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. | Infections or other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. | ||
Revision as of 19:10, 22 July 2009
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What is Esophageal cancer?
Esophageal cancer is not very common in the United States. The esophagus is a hollow muscular tube, starting in the throat and ending at the stomach, and is used to carry the food you swallow to your stomach to be digested. It is hard to detect esophageal cancer in its early stages. Even if you get symptoms, they may not cause you to be alarmed and seek help from your doctor. However, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include dysphagia, chest pain, weight loss and coughing up blood. Treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and laser therapy. Esophageal cancer patients also need nutritional support.
How do I know if I have esophageal cancer and what are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?
Early stages of esophageal cancer do not display any recognizable symptoms. As the malignant tumors grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Dysphagia: This is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer. It causes problems swallowing, with the feeling like the food is stuck in the throat or chest. At first it is often mild, and then gets worse over time. At last, patients can no longer eat and can only consume water.
- Chest pain or chest burning sensation: Chest pain with swallowing may occur if the tumor is large enough to block the esophagus. Some patients describe a feeling of pressure or burning in the chest.
- Hiccups: This happens because of digestive dysfunction of the esophagus.
- vomiting blood: When a tumor invades a blood vessel, vomiting blood occur. This may be the first symptom in some patients.
- Weight loss: This occurs because swallowing problems prevent patients from eating enough to maintain their weight. Other factors include loss of appetite and increase in metabolism from the cancer.
Infections or other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Who is at risk for esophageal cancer?
How to know you have esophageal cancer?
When to seek urgent medical care
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for esophageal cancer
Prevention of esophageal cancer
What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)
Copyleft Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/esophagealcancer.html
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_esophagus_cancer_12.asp?sitearea=