Esophagus and stomach cancer often go hand in hand because the stomach and the esophagus are located close together and connected by tissue and muscle. When a cancer is found in either location, often the whole area has to be treated. Receiving a diagnosis of esophagus or stomach cancer can be devastating. Both organs are used daily for food and fluid intake relating to overall survival.
Warning Signs
The esophagus connects the back of the mouth to the stomach. Initial warning signs may include coughing up blood, coughing up a large amount of sputum, hoarseness in the voice, an increase in phlegm, difficulty in swallowing, indigestion, heartburn, choking and vomiting. Some people may also notice a sudden weight loss or increased tiredness.
Risks
There are some risk factors that make certain people more susceptible to getting esophagus and stomach cancer. Men over the age of 55 are at the greatest risk. Other factors include a large rate of alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco, mold exposure and exposure to inhalants. People who have had uncontrolled or excessive acid reflux disease put themselves at a great risk of developing esophageal and stomach cancer. This is because of the increased acid brought back up from the stomach through the esophagus. The stomach acid slowly tears away at the lining, making cancer more likely to develop over time.
Types
There are two main classifications of esophagus and stomach cancer---squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma tends to develop on the outside tissue areas of the esophagus and stomach and can easily develop into a lesion or tumor. Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that forms in the glandular tissue areas of an organ or specific location. Squamous cell types are generally less aggressive than adenocarcinoma, but in their early stages, both respond well to treatment.
Diagnosis
With esophagus and stomach cancer, one of the first priorities should be getting a proper diagnosis. A family doctor or gastroenterologist may make a referral to an oncologist. The oncologist will order a series of tests to see how far the cancer has spread or what stage it is in. Tests may include an esophagram, which takes pictures of the esophagus and the stomach; an endoscopy, which also takes pictures; CT scans, MRIs, or PET scans, which scan images to locate the primary tumor and to see if there is any blood vessel involvement; and an endoscopic ultrasound, which provides details of the extensiveness and exact location of the cancer.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the aggressiveness of the cancer and what stage it is in. Cancer staging ranges between 1 and 4, or I and IV. The lower the number, the more isolated and treatable the cancer likely is. The lower the number, the higher the 5-year survival rate and the less chance the cancer will reoccur. Removal of the tissue or tumor followed by rounds of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy may be a viable treatment option. For later-staged cancer such as a stage IV, palliative care may be the only option. At this point, making the patient comfortable and pain-free is a high priority.
