Esophageal Cancer is the growth of a tumor in the lining of the esophagus, a hollow tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus is a necessary organ that allows food to travel to the stomach where it can be broken down into nutrients for the body to use (Esophageal Cancer, mayoclinic.org). When discussing esophageal cancer, it is important to understand what can cause the growth of a tumor in the esophagus, what the potential risk factors are, the symptoms, how this cancer can be diagnosed, treatments, and a prognosis for long-term recovery. With the knowledge of esophageal cancer, more precautions can be taken to decrease the possibility of receiving this illness. Cancer is the rapid growth of abnormal cells and the invasion
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Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are treatments for cancers including esophageal cancer. A general surgery for cancer is to remove the tumor if it is small enough. If a patient has esophageal cancer, than other surgeries like an esophagectomy or esophagogastrectomy are also available. An esophagectomy is when the surgeon removes the portion of the espohagus that contains the tumor while also removing nearby lymph nodes. The esophagus that remains is surgically connect to the stomach; the stomach is often moved up to connect to the remaining esophagus. An esophagogastrectomy is performed exactly the same as an esophagectomy except in addition, the upper part of the stomach is removed as well. The remaining esophagus and stomach are then attached together, and if necessary, part of the colon will be surgically transferred to connect the esophagus to the stomach. Chemotherapy is a treatment that can be combined with radiation therapy and is typically used when surgeons are unable to remove the tumor because the cancer has spread beyond the esophagus. This treatment uses certain chemicals such as Mechlorethamine or Cyclophosphamide to kill off the cancerous cells (Types of Chemotherapy, chemocare.com). The treatment of chemotheraphy helps in relieving symptoms and side effects of cancer but creates new side effects; side effects depend on what chemicals are used. Radiation therapy has the same …show more content…
Although survival rate reflects upon the need of more medical advancements of treatments, esophageal cancer makes up only 1% of all cancer cases found in the United States; with about 16,980 newly recorded cases in 2015. In other countries such as India, Iran, northern China and Southern Africa, esophageal cancer is of a greater percentage in cases reported. Esophageal cancer is 3 to 4 times more common in men than in women, of the 16,980 newly reported cases in the United States during 2015, only about 3,410 are made up of women while an astounding 13,570 are made up of men (What are the Key Statistics About Cancer of the Esophagus, cancer.org).These statistics help grasp the comprehension of the chance of being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the United
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are treatments for cancers including esophageal cancer. A general surgery for cancer is to remove the tumor if it is small enough. If a patient has esophageal cancer, than other surgeries like an esophagectomy or esophagogastrectomy are also available. An esophagectomy is when the surgeon removes the portion of the espohagus that contains the tumor while also removing nearby lymph nodes. The esophagus that remains is surgically connect to the stomach; the stomach is often moved up to connect to the remaining esophagus. An esophagogastrectomy is performed exactly the same as an esophagectomy except in addition, the upper part of the stomach is removed as well. The remaining esophagus and stomach are then attached together, and if necessary, part of the colon will be surgically transferred to connect the esophagus to the stomach. Chemotherapy is a treatment that can be combined with radiation therapy and is typically used when surgeons are unable to remove the tumor because the cancer has spread beyond the esophagus. This treatment uses certain chemicals such as Mechlorethamine or Cyclophosphamide to kill off the cancerous cells (Types of Chemotherapy, chemocare.com). The treatment of chemotheraphy helps in relieving symptoms and side effects of cancer but creates new side effects; side effects depend on what chemicals are used. Radiation therapy has the same …show more content…
Although survival rate reflects upon the need of more medical advancements of treatments, esophageal cancer makes up only 1% of all cancer cases found in the United States; with about 16,980 newly recorded cases in 2015. In other countries such as India, Iran, northern China and Southern Africa, esophageal cancer is of a greater percentage in cases reported. Esophageal cancer is 3 to 4 times more common in men than in women, of the 16,980 newly reported cases in the United States during 2015, only about 3,410 are made up of women while an astounding 13,570 are made up of men (What are the Key Statistics About Cancer of the Esophagus, cancer.org).These statistics help grasp the comprehension of the chance of being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the United