| There are two types of esophageal cancer, | | | | normally seek help because of GERD symptoms |
| depending on the type of cells that are malignant. | | | | such as acid reflux or heartburn. Barrett's |
| The first type is found in the lining of the | | | | esophagus itself creates no clear symptoms so if |
| esophagus which is made up of flat, thin cells | | | | a GERD patient experienced no acid reflux |
| called squamous cells. Squamous cell carcinoma | | | | symptoms, he/she will probably never be aware |
| arise in these squamous cells and usually occurs in | | | | of the BE existence. |
| the upper and middle part of the esophagus. | | | | Barrett's esophagus can turn into adenocarcinoma, |
| The other type is called Adenocarcinoma and | | | | the esophageal cancer that develops at the |
| usually develops at the bottom of the esophagus | | | | bottom of the esophagus. |
| that are lined with columnar cells. | | | | - Swallowing Problem |
| Esophageal cancer starts in the esophagus but it | | | | People with esophageal cancer will find difficulty in |
| can develop outside the esophageal wall and | | | | swallowing - whether liquid or solid foods - and |
| spread to other body parts such as bones, lungs, | | | | suffer from pain during swallowing. Food may |
| liver and brain through the lymphatic system. | | | | stick in the esophagus and when regurgitation |
| What Lifestyles Trigger Esophageal Cancers? | | | | happens undigested food can be vomited. |
| While squamous cell carcinoma is related to alcohol | | | | - Weight Loss |
| and any kind of tobacco use, adenocarcinoma is | | | | Many people want to lose weight but definitely |
| more related to gastroesophageal reflux disease. | | | | not due to esophageal cancer. Swallowing |
| The development of adenocarcinoma from | | | | problems may lead to malnutrition because their |
| Barrett's esophagus is considered relatively rare, | | | | difficulty to swallow prevent them from eating |
| however its number is increasing higher than any | | | | enough to maintain their weight. The uncontrolled |
| other esophageal cancers. | | | | development of the cancerous cells also increase |
| Symptoms | | | | the metabolism in these cells leaving almost |
| - Chest pain or heartburn | | | | nothing to feed the remaining non-cancerous cells. |
| Acid reflux is known to be one of the esophageal | | | | - Blood Vomiting and/or Tarry Stools |
| cancer culprits. The esophageal lining is not | | | | When the cancer is spreading already to the |
| designed to be exposed to the acidic fluid from | | | | intestines it may cause blood vomiting, blood in |
| the stomach so it will cause inflammation in the | | | | the stools and iron deficiency anemia. |
| esophagus and create a burning sensation or | | | | Most of esophageal cancer cases are discovered |
| chest pain, also known as heartburn. Frequent | | | | at the later stages of the cancer development, |
| exposure to the gastric acid can damage the | | | | for example when the patients have difficulty to |
| esophageal lining and turn the squamous cells into | | | | swallow. Due to this reason the cancer is |
| glandular cells that are commonly found in the | | | | considered highly lethal, with a 5-year survival rate |
| intestines. This adaptation develops Barrett's | | | | of less than 15%. However if the Barrett's |
| esophagus which is more resistant to the acid, | | | | esophagus is diagnosed at its early stage the |
| however people with Barrett's esophagus have a | | | | patients can make some action plans such as |
| 30- to 125-fold increased risk of developing | | | | change of lifestyle, do medical check up |
| esophageal cancer, according to Dr. Romero, a | | | | periodically and anything that can improve the |
| gastroenterologist from Mayo Clinic. Around 10 | | | | quality of life. Despite there is nothing we can do |
| percent of patients with GERD develop Barrett's | | | | to stop or cure the Barrett's esophagus, a study |
| esophagus, and the only way to confirm whether | | | | by the Kaiser Permenente Division of Research |
| a patient has it or not is by doing endoscopy and | | | | showed that drinking a glass of wine every day |
| biopsy, although endoscopy can't 100% detect all | | | | may lower the risk of Barrett's esophagus by 56 |
| BE cases. People with Barrett's esophagus | | | | percent. |