Oesophageal Cancer Awareness
What is Oesophageal Cancer?
Oesophageal cancer occurs anywhere in the oesophagus, also known as the gullet or food pipe. A muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.
There are two main types of oesophageal cancer:
- Adenocarcinoma
Developing from cells within mucous glands
- Squamous cell carcinoma
Developing from cells lining the inside of the oesophagus
There are five stages of oesophageal cancer. From stage 0 (high-grade dysplasia) to stage 4 (advanced).
Oesophageal Cancer Symptoms
People with oesophageal cancer can experience very common symptoms, so it is important to get checked out by a medical professional.
The most common symptom is problems swallowing.
Other possible symptoms include:
- Acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion
- Unintended weight loss
- Nausea and/ or vomiting
- Hoarseness of voice
- Fatigue and a lack of energy
- Pain or discomfort in the throat and chest
You may also cough up blood due to bleeding in the oesophagus, though this is less common.
Diagnosing Oesophageal Cancer
To diagnose oesophageal cancer, we will perform a gastroscopy (a type of endoscopy).
During this procedure, we can take a small tissue sample (biopsy) to look for cancer cells.
If we find evidence of cancer, we will investigate the stage through tests, such as a laparoscopy or a CT scan.
We may also do a blood test to check your general health.
Oesophageal Cancer Treatment
We may be able to treat the early stages of oesophageal cancer with an endoscopic procedure, such as Endoscopic resection (ER) and HALO radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
Other treatment options include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Targeted therapies
- Surgery, such as an oesophagectomy
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of oesophageal cancer, contact our specialists for a thorough consultation and diagnosis.
Book an appointment
Contact us for further information about oesophageal cancer and to book an initial in-person or remote consultation today.
For more oesophageal cancer awareness, visit our oesophageal cancer page, where we discuss who is more likely to experience oesophageal cancer and further explain the treatment options for oesophageal cancer.
Discover more conditions that affect the oesophagus by watching our Video FAQs. We cover oesophageal strictures, Barrett’s oesophagus, and eosinophilic oesophagitis, as well as others.
