Esophageal Cancer Prognosis

The esophagus or the gullet is a long pipe that connects the throat and the stomach. This swallowing tube or food pipe is located between the spine and the wind pipe (or trachea) and is approximately 25 centimeters long. The inner lining of the esophagus is richly supplied with glands that keep the passage moist. The main function of the esophagus (or the food pipe) is to transport chewed food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach for digestion. This muscular pipe, which is an important part of the digestive system is also affected with a number of disorders. One such problem is esophageal cancer. When the cells in the inner lining of the esophagus (mucosa) begin to multiply at an abnormal pace, then it can result in esophageal cancer..

What is Esophageal Cancer?

The esophagus consists of four layers - the mucosa (or the innermost layer), the submucosa, the muscle layer and the outer layer. In esophageal cancer, the cancerous cells attack the mucosa, from where they spread to the other layers of the esophagus and metastasize to other parts of the body. As mentioned earlier, the cells of the mucosa membrane undergo abnormal multiplication and quickly spread to the other layers, affecting them. Esophageal cancer can affect any part of the esophagus. For reasons unknown, the incidence of esophageal cancer can be found more in men as compared to women.

Esophageal cancer can be categorized into two types - adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. In adenocarcinoma, the lowest part of the food pipe, which is located near the stomach, is affected. It begins as a malignant tumor and has a tendency to spread quickly. Individuals suffering from Barrett's esophagus are at a higher risk of contracting adenocarcinoma in comparison to others. On the other hand, in squamous cell carcinoma, the cancerous cells attack the upper part of the gullet near the throat. This carcinoma is very common across the world.

Causes of Esophageal Cancer

The exact cause of the cancer of the esophagus is still a mystery. However, many doctors believe that esophageal cancer may be caused due to mutations in the DNA. Unhealthy lifestyle like chewing tobacco, smoking and alcohol can also irritate the lining of the esophagus and trigger the growth of cancerous cells. Unfortunately, the initial symptoms of this life-threatening disorder cannot be detected. The symptoms surface only after the cancer has progressed to an incurable stage. The esophageal cancer symptoms may include difficulty in swallowing food or fluid, pain, passing blood in stools, and sometimes vomiting blood. Some individuals may also experience chest pain, heartburn and a sore feeling on the entire length of the gullet. Though incurable, this cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical removal of the diseased portion.

Prognosis of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer prognosis depends on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the patient's age and overall health condition, and his response to the treatment administered. The staging of cancer determines the progression of the disease. Including stage 0, there are five stages on which the severity and metastasis of this deadly disease are described. According to oncology (the branch of medicine related to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention of cancer), in the initial stages i.e stage 0 to stage 3, the spread of this life-threatening disease can be controlled with the help of medication and therapy. But in stage 4, which is the end stage, the cancer has completely metastasized and the condition becomes irreversible.

Early diagnosis of this disease can improve the chances of survival of the patient. Sadly the overall prognosis of esophageal cancer, especially for stage 4 is very dismal. This is due to the fact that the initial signs of cancer do not surface, until they increase in severity. Diagnosis is often done at the advanced stages, when it is late to control the spread of the cancerous cells. In the stages 0 to 3, the cancerous cells metastasize to the lymph nodes and nearby organs in the body. But in stage 4, the cancer cells spread throughout the body and cause its degeneration. Hence, stage 4 cancer prognosis often has poor results. The esophageal cancer survival rate may vary according to the stage of the cancer. The survival rate for the final stage is very poor and is below 5 percent, which is very unfortunate. The individual suffering from esophageal cancer may be required to make certain modifications in his lifestyle. The patient is put on an easy to swallow and digest diet like porridge, soups and purees etc. Nutritional supplements may also be prescribed to maintain the overall health of the patient.

Though there is no proper treatment yet for esophageal cancer, with the help of proper therapy and care, a patient with esophageal cancer can lead a near-normal life.