Oesophageal Cancer

Oesophageal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the oesophagus, a tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. The accumulation of these extra cells forms a mass of tissue called tumour.

According to the type of cells that are involved, oesophageal cancers are classified as:

  • Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus: It is the most common type of oesophageal cancer which develops from the cells of mucus-secreting glands in the oesophagus.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma: It is a type of cancer which develops from cells which are on the inside lining of the oesophagus.

The exact cause of oesophageal cancer is not known, however certain factors such as advancing age, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), obesity, Barrett's oesophagus, diet, smoking, alcohol, chemicals and pollutants may increase your risk of developing oesophageal cancer.

In the early stages of oesophageal cancer, you may have no symptoms. As the cancer grows you may have weight loss, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), chest pain, fatigue, frequent choking, indigestion, coughing, and hoarseness.

Your doctor can often detect oesophageal cancer by asking you several questions about the symptoms you are experiencing and performing a thorough physical examination. Certain tests may be ordered and could assist in determining the diagnosis and may include:

  • Barium X-rays: These are diagnostic x-rays in which barium is used to diagnose tumours or other abnormal areas. You are asked to drink a liquid that contains barium while X-rays are taken. The barium coats the walls of the oesophagus and stomach and makes the abnormalities visible more clearly.
  • Endoscopy: An endoscopy is a procedure in which a long thin flexible tube with a tiny camera is used to examine the lining of the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
  • Biopsy: A small sample of tissue is removed and examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cells.
  • CT scan: Involves drinking a liquid and then laying on a bed where a special liquid is injected into the vein while the scan is performed. The scan performs multiple X-rays which are then compiled by a complex computer program to give detailed images. The scan gives your doctor information on the size of the tumour, location and involvement of other organs in your body.

Oesophageal cancer may be treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Surgery to remove the portion of your oesophagus that contains the tumour and nearby lymph nodes is called oesophagectomy. The remaining section of the oesophagus is connected again to your stomach.

  • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  • St Vincent's Private Hospital
  • Gastroenterological Society of Australia
  • Gastroenterological Society of Australia
  • Monash University
  • Australia and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association
  • Australia & New Zealand Gastro Oesophageal Surgery Association
  • Eastern Health
  • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  • Knox Community Hospital
  • Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
  • Goulburn Valley Health
  • Epworth Eastern Hospital
  • General Surgeons Australia
  • Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons (AUGIS) of Great Britain and Ireland
  • Association for Academic Surgery