Question: What is Esophageal Cancer?
Answer: Cancer of the esophagus is a tumor that begins it's growth in the lining of the esophagus. It can then grow through the wall of the esophagus, and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood or the lymphatic system.
Most of the length of the esophagus is lined with squamous cells. If a malignant tumor grows here, it's called squamous cell cancer. The areas at the bottom of the esophagus and where the esophagus joins the stomach are lined with columnor cells. If a malignant tumor grows here, it's called adenocarcinomas. Some studies have shown that esophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest growing cancer in the western world.
Studies show a relationship between frequency of reflux symptoms and risk of adenocarcinoma. The constant acid reflux will irritate the lining of the esophagus, and complications can occur, such as Barrett's esophagus. Individuals with Barrett's esophages are at an increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma. Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus is replaced by tissue that is similar to that which is normally found in the stomach and intestine. The process of this change is called intestinal metaplasis. Individuals with Barrett's esophagus are about 40 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than individuals in the general population.
