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The oesophagus is the gullet (tube) that carries food down from the throat to the stomach, contracting as it pushes the food down
Symptoms
Difficulty swallowing
Weight loss
Throat pain/discomfort
Indigestion
Vomiting
It mainly affects people over the age of 55 and is more common in men than in women but the disease is not usually hereditary. Heavy smoking and drinking alcohol are two of the biggest risk factors for oesophageal cancer, particularly a combination of both.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of upper GI cancers is best done with an Endoscopy. CT scanning may be needed to determine the extent of the condition.
Treatment Cancer of the oesophagus may be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the type, size and stage of the tumour. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There are other treatments available to ease swallowing difficulties
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