What is oesophageal cancer?

Oesophageal cancer (or esophageal cancer – U.S spelling) is a malignant tumour found anywhere in the oesophagus. In Australia it is most commonly found in the lower section of the oesophagus, adjoining the stomach. The main types of oesophageal cancer are:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma which starts in the cells that line the oesophagus. (This is more common in Asia.)
  • Adenocarcinoma which starts in the glandular tissue of the cells lining the oesophagus.

In 2015 there were 1469 new cases of oesophageal cancer diagnosed in Australia.

In 2016, there were 1338 deaths from oesophageal cancer in Australia.

The five year survival rate for oesophageal cancer is 21%.

 

Diagnosis for oesophageal cancer

Recommended tests for oesophageal cancer are likely to depend on your symptoms. Tests to diagnose oesophageal cancer may include:

Endoscopy

The most common investigation for oesophageal cancer is an endoscopy. Your doctor will use an endoscope (thin, flexible tube with a camera at the end) to look at your digestive tract. A small amount of tissue may also be removed (biopsy) and examined by a pathologist to check for signs of disease.

Endoscopic ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound uses an endoscope with a probe which releases soundwaves that bounce off anything solid such as a tumour or organ. This test may indicate if cancer has spread into the oesophageal wall or lymph nodes.

Further tests

Scans or imaging tests such as CT/PET scans or a laparoscopy may be used to detect if the cancer has spread. Less frequently, tests such as a bone scan or an ultrasound may be used.

 

Treatment for oesophageal cancer

The type of treatment you have will depend on the extent of the cancer.

Staging

Tests for oesophageal cancer may also indicate the extent of the cancer and how far it has spread. This is called staging and will help your doctor decide on the best treatment for you.

Surgery

Surgery is commonly used to treat oesophageal cancer. The type of surgery is likely to depend on the size and location of the tumour.

You may have chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy before surgery to shrink the tumour. This is known as neoadjuvant treatment.

In surgery, part or all of the oesophagus is removed. If part of the oesophagus is removed the surgeon will rejoin the remaining part to your stomach. If the whole oesophagus is removed, your stomach or part of your bowel may be used to replace it.

Adjuvant therapy

You may have chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy after surgery in order to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Treatment team

Depending on the treatment you receive, you may see a number of different health professionals including:

  • a GP who will arrange the first tests
  • an endoscopist who diagnoses and treats diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
  • an upper gastrointestinal surgeon specialising in surgery to treat gastrointestinal diseases
  • a radiation oncologist to coordinate radiotherapy
  • a medical oncologist to coordinate chemotherapy
  • cancer nurses
  • other allied health professionals such as physiotherapist, speech pathologist, social worker and dietitian.

Palliative care

Palliative care care aims to improve quality of life without trying to cure the disease, by alleviating symptoms of oesophageal cancer such as difficulty swallowing and nausea. Palliative care for oesophageal cancer may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other medications.

Source: https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/oesophageal-cancer