Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is associated with the esophagus and it is uncommon cancer but a type of cancer which is not healed easily. There are so many causes behind this like alcohol, smoking, diet, pollutants and many more and there are certain symptoms of Esophageal Cancer which indicates the esophageal cancer.

Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer are as follows :-

Swallowing Difficulty

1. Difficulty in swallowing food :- This is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer. It may happen that when you eat food and swallow then there is some burning sensation in your throat and feeling of sticking food to the food pipe. This can happen due to the tumor that develops inside the esophagus.

2. Unnecessary weight loss :- If you are undergoing loss of weight without trying anything, then you should have to take care of yourself as this is also a common symptom of cancer.

Throat Pain

3. Blood while coughing :- Blood coughing up indicates the problem in throat and the problem must be diagnosed as this may be esophageal cancer.

4. Hoarseness :- If there is some irritation in your throat and there is hoarseness in your voice then you must visit the doctor as this is also the symptom.

5. Chest & throat Pain :- One of the other symptom of esophageal cancer is Chest and throat pain. If there is chest pain and throat pain or burning near the heart then it indicates esophageal cancer.

Fatigue

6. Fatigue :- Fatigue is common symptom of cancer and esophagus cancer too. Thus along with above symptoms fatigue without any reason should be taken in care.

Choking while eating

7. Chocking while eating :- If you are having trouble while swallowing your food and food just come back after swallowing then there may be chances that you have esophagus cancer.









 REFERENCES :-
 American Cancer Society
 Mayo Clinic
 Cancer Research UK

Risk Factors and Causes of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer is one of the uncommon cancer but now it is growing from the past 30 years and affecting the lives of people. It is increasing due to change in the dietary habits, pollution and drinking and smoking habits.

There are so many risk factors and causes of esophageal cancer which are as follows :-

smoking & drinking

1. Smoking & drinking Alcohol :- Smoking & drinking Alcohol increase the risk of esophageal cancer. When you smoke cigarette or pipe, then some of the smoke particles are inhaled in through esophagus to the lungs and thus leads to esophageal cancer.

Diet

2.  Diet :- The persons having diet rich in red meat are at higher risk of esophageal cancer. The food rich in spices and hot drinks also increase the risk of cancer. Eastern countries uses much spices and thus are at high risk of cancer. Diet rich in fruits and vegetables is an ideal one and it can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer as these contains certain vitamins and minerals and they are good antioxidants which can fight the free radicals which are responsible for cancer formation.

Barret's Esophagus

3. Barret's esophagus :- This is the condition in which the the cells lining the esophagus become abnormal due to acid reflux in which the acid present in the stomach is shifted back towards the esophagus and led to irritation in the esophagus and abnormality in the esophagus cells.

Obesity

4. Obesity :- This is also a main cause and a risk factor which can increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Obese people are more vulnerable to esophageal cancer as they have more chances to have Barret's esophagus.

Pollutants & Chemicals

                                           
5. Pollutants and certain chemicals :- If you are exposed to certain chemicals and pollutants for a long span of time then you are at a high risk of esophageal cancer and particularly if you inhale these chemicals which include soot, silica dust, metal dust and vehicle exhaust fumes and many other pollutants.

Age Factor & Tooth loss

6. Age & Tooth loss:- Age is also a factor which can put you on risk of esophageal cancer. There is a rare chance of having this cancer in early ages but the risk increases after the age of 45. It has been observed that people who have lost their tooth due to any deficiency of vitamins or minerals or other factors are at more risk of esophageal cancer because they suffer from chewing problems and the large pieces of food irritates the esophagus.


REFERENCES :-
Cancer Research UK
NHS Choices

Esophageal Cancer and types of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer is that type of cancer which is associated to the esophagus. This type of cancer generally occurs through the lining tissues of esophagus. Esophagus is also known as food pipe which carries the food from throat to the stomach. This is an uncommon cancer. It is most common in the developing nations like Asia and African countries. Esophagus cancer can develop anywhere in the nearby parts of the esophagus. I can happen due to excessive smoking and drinking and also due to abnormal eating habits and the back action of the acid present in the stomach. There are two types of esophageal cancer one in the upper part and second in the lower part that are Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of esophagus respectively.

There are two types of Esophageal cancer that are as follows :-

Types of Esophageal Cancer

1. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of esophagus :- This type of esophagus cancer is formed in the upper part of the esophagus and it is common in the Asian and African countries. This type of cancer is caused due to the drinking and smoking at high rates.



2. Adenocarcinoma of esophagus :- This type of esophagus cancer is formed in the lower parts of the esophagus near the stomach. This is associated with the backward flow of the acid present in the stomach. This leads to obesity and increase in the belly.




REFERENCES :-
NHS Choices
Wikipedia
National Cancer Institute

What happens when you quit SMOKING ???

SMOKING cigarette is one of the major cause of many types of tumors and cancers and it can harm us in several other ways like causing mouth cancer, lung cancer, larynx cancer, esophageal cancer, throat cancer, pancreatic cancer cervical cancer and many more. The rate of deaths due to smoking cigarettes is on a rise and numbers are in millions every year. Now if a person quit smoking and lead a normal life, then there should be a drastic change in person's life and the change is shown a\in this article within a span of 15 years after quitting smoking. The effect on body after quitting smoking in different are described as

Effect of quitting smoking

1. After 20 minutes :- When you quit smoking, right after 20 minutes the heart beat and the blood pressure are dropped again to the normal conditions and you feel somewhat relaxed and cool.

2. After 12 hours :- there is a major change after 12 hours in the body and the toxic blood due to the presence of  Carbon Monoxide becomes nontoxic as the level of carbon monoxide drops to normal.

3. After 2 weeks :- the lungs comes to such a position that they start working normally and the functioning is improved as the circulation of air by the lungs improve.

4. After a month :- the ill effects of smoking like the shortening of breath and other ailments like cough becomes less vulnerable. The functioning of lungs improve and the side line hairs of the lungs start working properly and they clean the lungs that were before causing infection to the lungs.

5. After 1 year :- Smokers are at a high risk of heart diseases. After 1 year of quitting cigarette the risk of heart disease is reduced by 50%.

6. After 5 years :- Smokers are at a high risk of various cancers like esophageal cancer, mouth cancer, bladder cancer and cervical cancer but after 5 years of quitting smoking the risk rate is reduced by 50%.

7. After 10 years :- The death rate of a smoker is more than that of a non smoker due to various ailments that they acquire by smoking. After 10 years of quitting of smoking the risk of death by the deadly pancreatic cancer and larynx cancer is reduced by 50%.

8. After 15 years :- After this term the risk of heart disease to the quitter becomes equal to a non smoker.

This was the effect on body when you QUIT SMOKING and I personally recommend you to QUIT SMOKING if you are smoking right now because the pleasure it gave you for few minutes takes away everything from you after sometime. So to QUIT SMOKING is the best way out to live a dignified and healthy life.