After your treatment is completed, you will have regular check-ups and possibly scans. You will probably continue to have these for several years. Many people find that they get very anxious for a while before the appointments. This is natural and it may help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation.
These appointments are a good opportunity to discuss with your doctor any concerns or problems you may have. If you notice any new symptoms between check-ups, or are anxious about anything, contact your doctor or specialist nurse for advice.
After your treatment you may find that you feel more tired than usual and have a poor appetite. You are quite likely to feel very full; even after eating just small amounts. It can take several months to feel better after treatment and up to a year to adjust to the changes in your digestive system. It may be many months before you are able to eat a more normal-sized meal and the diarrhoea stops. If you find you have difficulties with swallowing again after treatment it does not necessarily mean that the cancer is coming back; it can be caused by the treatment itself. Your doctor may suggest dilatation to deal with this problem.
For people whose treatment is over apart from regular check-ups, our section on adjusting to life after cancer treatment gives useful advice on how to keep healthy and adjust to life after cancer.
Work
It can be hard to judge the best time to go back to work. Your decision if and when to go back is likely to depend mainly on the type of work that you do and whether or not your income is affected. It is important to do what is right for you.
Getting back into your normal routine can be very helpful and you may want to return to work as soon as possible. Many people find that going back to work as soon as they feel strong enough gives them an opportunity to forget their worries, as they become involved with their job and colleagues again. Talk to your employer about your situation – it may be possible for you to work part-time or job share.
On the other hand it can take a long time to recover fully from treatment for oesophageal cancer, and it may be many months before you feel ready to return to work. Do not feel pressurised into taking on too much, too soon.
Your consultant or GP will be able to help you decide when and if you should return to work.
Our section on work and cancer, gives information about employment rights and financial issues for people with cancer.
Travel insurance
If you have had cancer it can be more difficult to get travel insurance. We have a section about travel and cancer which includes a list of travel insurance companies who offer insurance to people with medical conditions including cancer.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Advice on diet for people affected by oesophageal cancer
While you are waiting for treatment it is important to eat well, using food supplements if necessary. You may be able to see a hospital dietitian for advice at the time of diagnosis and after surgery. If you are unable to swallow at all, you should let the hospital know immediately.
If you have had surgery that has not removed a major part of your stomach, you can start to eat as soon as your doctor says you can. You will usually start with a soft diet while you are still in hospital, and will often be advised to remain on this for a few weeks. This will naturally exercise the surgical join and help keep the passage open as it heals.
Gradually you will be able to start eating solid foods again, as long as there are no large lumps and you chew the food well. You may feel rather worried about eating solid foods at first but this will lessen as you become more used to a normal diet again. Your doctor or specialist nurse can give you further advice about this. Some people may have an allergic reaction to milk for a while.
When you eat, acidic liquid flows into the stomach to help digest the food. This can cause an uncomfortable feeling of indigestion because of the new position of your stomach.
If you have had part of your stomach removed, you will find that you feel full very quickly because your stomach will be smaller. To help prevent these problems, eat little and often rather than trying to eat large meals. It can also help to chew food well and eat slowly.
Bouts of diarrhoea are fairly common after any operation for cancer of the oesophagus. From time to time you may need to cut out some foods, such as fruit, vegetables, cereals and reduce the amount of milk you drink (or eat in food) to help deal with this problem.
If you have had radiotherapy, or a tube fitted in your oesophagus, you will probably need a softer diet. Avoid foods which may block the tube or which you may have difficulty in swallowing; such as raw fruit and vegetables, tough meat or crusty bread. Complan® and any powdered food supplement must be very thoroughly mixed. It is also a good idea to eat slowly and to have plenty to drink during and after meals.
The Oesophageal Patients Association can give recipes and ideas to make your meals more interesting. If you begin to have difficulty in swallowing again, it may be that your tube has become blocked. Contact your hospital doctor or nurse for advice.
Our diet section includes some recipe ideas which may also be helpful.
If you have had surgery that has not removed a major part of your stomach, you can start to eat as soon as your doctor says you can. You will usually start with a soft diet while you are still in hospital, and will often be advised to remain on this for a few weeks. This will naturally exercise the surgical join and help keep the passage open as it heals.
Gradually you will be able to start eating solid foods again, as long as there are no large lumps and you chew the food well. You may feel rather worried about eating solid foods at first but this will lessen as you become more used to a normal diet again. Your doctor or specialist nurse can give you further advice about this. Some people may have an allergic reaction to milk for a while.
When you eat, acidic liquid flows into the stomach to help digest the food. This can cause an uncomfortable feeling of indigestion because of the new position of your stomach.
If you have had part of your stomach removed, you will find that you feel full very quickly because your stomach will be smaller. To help prevent these problems, eat little and often rather than trying to eat large meals. It can also help to chew food well and eat slowly.
Bouts of diarrhoea are fairly common after any operation for cancer of the oesophagus. From time to time you may need to cut out some foods, such as fruit, vegetables, cereals and reduce the amount of milk you drink (or eat in food) to help deal with this problem.
If you have had radiotherapy, or a tube fitted in your oesophagus, you will probably need a softer diet. Avoid foods which may block the tube or which you may have difficulty in swallowing; such as raw fruit and vegetables, tough meat or crusty bread. Complan® and any powdered food supplement must be very thoroughly mixed. It is also a good idea to eat slowly and to have plenty to drink during and after meals.
The Oesophageal Patients Association can give recipes and ideas to make your meals more interesting. If you begin to have difficulty in swallowing again, it may be that your tube has become blocked. Contact your hospital doctor or nurse for advice.
Our diet section includes some recipe ideas which may also be helpful.
Treatment for oesophageal cancer
Treatment types
Cancer of the oesophagus can be treated using surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The choice of treatment will depend upon the exact type of oesophageal cancer, its stage, position and size, as well as your age and general health. The treatments can be used alone or in combination. When diagnosing and treating cancer doctors consider the oesophagus in three sections: upper, middle and lower.
Other treatments may be used to ease any swallowing difficulties you may have. These include: intubation or stenting (inserting a tube into the oesophagus to keep it open), dilatation (stretching the oesophagus), laser treatment and photodynamic therapy. You may be offered one or more of these treatments, which are described in greater detail on the difficulty in swallowing section.
Treatment planning
In most hospitals a team of specialists will discuss with you the treatment that they feel is best for your situation. This multidisciplinary team (MDT) will include a surgeon who specialises in oesophageal cancers, a medical oncologist (chemotherapy specialist), a clinical oncologist (radiotherapy specialist and chemotherapy specialist) and may include a number of other healthcare professionals such as a:
nurse specialist
dietitian
physiotherapist
occupational therapist
psychologist or counsellor.
Treatment choices
If two treatments are equally effective for your type and stage of cancer, your doctors may offer you a choice of treatments. Sometimes people find it very hard to make a decision. If you are asked to make a choice, make sure that you have enough information about the different treatment options, what is involved and the side effects you might have, so that you can decide which is the right treatment for you.
Talking about treatment
Remember to ask questions about any aspects that you don’t understand or feel worried about. You may find it helpful to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of each option with your cancer specialist, nurse specialist or with the nurses at Cancerbackup.
If you have any questions about your treatment, don't be afraid to ask your doctor or nurse. It often helps to make a list of questions and to take a close friend or relative with you.
Giving your consent
Before you have any treatment your doctor will explain the aims of the treatment to you and you will usually be asked to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent, and before you are asked to sign the form you should have been given full information about:
the type and extent of the treatment you are advised to have
the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment
any other treatments that may be available
any significant risks or side effects of the treatment.
If you do not understand what you have been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are complex, so it is not unusual for people to need their treatment to be explained more than once.
It is often a good idea to have a friend or relative with you when the treatment is explained, to help you remember the discussion more fully. You may also find it useful to write down a list of questions before you go for your appointment.
People often feel that the hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it is important for you to be aware of how the treatment is likely to affect you and the staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.
If you feel unable to make a decision about the treatment when it is first explained to you, you can always ask for more time. You are also free to choose not to have the treatment, and the staff can explain what may happen if you do not have it.
Benefits and disadvantages of treatment
Many people are frightened at the thought of having cancer treatments, particularly because of the potential side effects that can occur.
Although many of the treatments can cause side effects, knowledge about how treatments affect people – and improved ways of reducing or avoiding many of these problems – have made most of the treatments easier to cope with.
Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary depending upon the individual situation.
Early-stage oesophageal cancer
In people with early-stage cancer of the oesophagus, treatment may be given with the aim of curing the cancer. Occasionally additional treatments are given to reduce the risk of it coming back.
Advanced-stage oesophageal cancer
If the cancer is at a more advanced stage, treatment may only be able to control it, leading to an improvement in symptoms and a better quality of life. Unfortunately, for some people the treatment will have little effect upon the cancer and they will get the side effects without many of the benefits.
Treatment decisions
If you have been offered treatment that aims to cure your cancer, deciding whether or not to accept the treatment may be simple. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is being given to control the cancer for a period of time, it may be more difficult to decide whether or not to go ahead.
Making decisions about treatment in these circumstances is always difficult, and you may need to discuss in detail with your doctor whether or not you wish to have treatment. If you choose not to, you can still be given supportive (palliative) care, with medicines to help control any symptoms.
Second opinion
A number of cancer specialists work together as a team to decide the most suitable treatment for each person. Even so, you may want to have another medical opinion. Most doctors will be pleased to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion, if you feel that this will be helpful. The second opinion may cause a delay in the start of your treatment, so you and your doctor need to be confident that it will provide useful information.
If you go for a second opinion, it may be a good idea to take a friend or relative with you, and to have a list of questions ready, so that all your concerns are covered during the discussion
Cancer of the oesophagus can be treated using surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The choice of treatment will depend upon the exact type of oesophageal cancer, its stage, position and size, as well as your age and general health. The treatments can be used alone or in combination. When diagnosing and treating cancer doctors consider the oesophagus in three sections: upper, middle and lower.
Other treatments may be used to ease any swallowing difficulties you may have. These include: intubation or stenting (inserting a tube into the oesophagus to keep it open), dilatation (stretching the oesophagus), laser treatment and photodynamic therapy. You may be offered one or more of these treatments, which are described in greater detail on the difficulty in swallowing section.
Treatment planning
In most hospitals a team of specialists will discuss with you the treatment that they feel is best for your situation. This multidisciplinary team (MDT) will include a surgeon who specialises in oesophageal cancers, a medical oncologist (chemotherapy specialist), a clinical oncologist (radiotherapy specialist and chemotherapy specialist) and may include a number of other healthcare professionals such as a:
nurse specialist
dietitian
physiotherapist
occupational therapist
psychologist or counsellor.
Treatment choices
If two treatments are equally effective for your type and stage of cancer, your doctors may offer you a choice of treatments. Sometimes people find it very hard to make a decision. If you are asked to make a choice, make sure that you have enough information about the different treatment options, what is involved and the side effects you might have, so that you can decide which is the right treatment for you.
Talking about treatment
Remember to ask questions about any aspects that you don’t understand or feel worried about. You may find it helpful to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of each option with your cancer specialist, nurse specialist or with the nurses at Cancerbackup.
If you have any questions about your treatment, don't be afraid to ask your doctor or nurse. It often helps to make a list of questions and to take a close friend or relative with you.
Giving your consent
Before you have any treatment your doctor will explain the aims of the treatment to you and you will usually be asked to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent, and before you are asked to sign the form you should have been given full information about:
the type and extent of the treatment you are advised to have
the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment
any other treatments that may be available
any significant risks or side effects of the treatment.
If you do not understand what you have been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are complex, so it is not unusual for people to need their treatment to be explained more than once.
It is often a good idea to have a friend or relative with you when the treatment is explained, to help you remember the discussion more fully. You may also find it useful to write down a list of questions before you go for your appointment.
People often feel that the hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it is important for you to be aware of how the treatment is likely to affect you and the staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.
If you feel unable to make a decision about the treatment when it is first explained to you, you can always ask for more time. You are also free to choose not to have the treatment, and the staff can explain what may happen if you do not have it.
Benefits and disadvantages of treatment
Many people are frightened at the thought of having cancer treatments, particularly because of the potential side effects that can occur.
Although many of the treatments can cause side effects, knowledge about how treatments affect people – and improved ways of reducing or avoiding many of these problems – have made most of the treatments easier to cope with.
Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary depending upon the individual situation.
Early-stage oesophageal cancer
In people with early-stage cancer of the oesophagus, treatment may be given with the aim of curing the cancer. Occasionally additional treatments are given to reduce the risk of it coming back.
Advanced-stage oesophageal cancer
If the cancer is at a more advanced stage, treatment may only be able to control it, leading to an improvement in symptoms and a better quality of life. Unfortunately, for some people the treatment will have little effect upon the cancer and they will get the side effects without many of the benefits.
Treatment decisions
If you have been offered treatment that aims to cure your cancer, deciding whether or not to accept the treatment may be simple. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is being given to control the cancer for a period of time, it may be more difficult to decide whether or not to go ahead.
Making decisions about treatment in these circumstances is always difficult, and you may need to discuss in detail with your doctor whether or not you wish to have treatment. If you choose not to, you can still be given supportive (palliative) care, with medicines to help control any symptoms.
Second opinion
A number of cancer specialists work together as a team to decide the most suitable treatment for each person. Even so, you may want to have another medical opinion. Most doctors will be pleased to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion, if you feel that this will be helpful. The second opinion may cause a delay in the start of your treatment, so you and your doctor need to be confident that it will provide useful information.
If you go for a second opinion, it may be a good idea to take a friend or relative with you, and to have a list of questions ready, so that all your concerns are covered during the discussion
Staging of oesophageal cancer
The stage of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether it has spread beyond its original site. Knowing the extent of the cancer helps the doctors to decide on the most appropriate treatment.
A commonly used staging system for cancer of the oesophagus is described below:
Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ (CIS) – This is a very early stage of oesophageal cancer. There are cancer cells in the lining of the oesophagus, but they are contained entirely within the lining. Oesophageal cancer is not often diagnosed this early, as there are usually no symptoms at this stage.
Stage 1 – The cancer is found only in the surface layers of the lining of the oesophagus or in a small part of the oesophagus. It has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other organs.
Stage 2 – This means that the cancer has either grown into the muscle layer of the oesophageal wall or spread to nearby lymph nodes, but has not spread to any other organs. If the cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is stage 2A. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is stage 2B.
Stage 3 – The cancer has grown through the wall of the oesophagus. It may also have spread to nearby lymph nodes and other body tissues close to the oesophagus, but there is no spread to other parts of the body.
Stage 4 – The cancer has spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs or stomach and is known as secondary or metastatic cancer.
TNM staging
Your doctors may also describe your cancer using the TNM staging system.
T describes the size of the tumour. There are five different stages ranging from T0–T4.
N describes whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. There are four stages depending upon the number of lymph nodes that are involved, ranging from N0–N3.
M describes whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body, such as the liver or the lungs (secondary or metastatic cancer). There are two stages: M0 is where there are no metastases; M1 is where there are metastases.
The TNM staging system is more complex, and it can give more precise information about the stage of your tumour.
A commonly used staging system for cancer of the oesophagus is described below:
Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ (CIS) – This is a very early stage of oesophageal cancer. There are cancer cells in the lining of the oesophagus, but they are contained entirely within the lining. Oesophageal cancer is not often diagnosed this early, as there are usually no symptoms at this stage.
Stage 1 – The cancer is found only in the surface layers of the lining of the oesophagus or in a small part of the oesophagus. It has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other organs.
Stage 2 – This means that the cancer has either grown into the muscle layer of the oesophageal wall or spread to nearby lymph nodes, but has not spread to any other organs. If the cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is stage 2A. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is stage 2B.
Stage 3 – The cancer has grown through the wall of the oesophagus. It may also have spread to nearby lymph nodes and other body tissues close to the oesophagus, but there is no spread to other parts of the body.
Stage 4 – The cancer has spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs or stomach and is known as secondary or metastatic cancer.
TNM staging
Your doctors may also describe your cancer using the TNM staging system.
T describes the size of the tumour. There are five different stages ranging from T0–T4.
N describes whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. There are four stages depending upon the number of lymph nodes that are involved, ranging from N0–N3.
M describes whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body, such as the liver or the lungs (secondary or metastatic cancer). There are two stages: M0 is where there are no metastases; M1 is where there are metastases.
The TNM staging system is more complex, and it can give more precise information about the stage of your tumour.
Further tests for oesophageal cancer
If the tests show that you have cancer of the oesophagus, your doctor may want to carry out further tests. These help the doctor to see the extent (or stage) of the cancer and decide on the best type of treatment. You will probably have a chest x-ray (if one has not already been done) and other tests, which may include any of the following:
CT scan
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
Laparoscopy
PET scan
Waiting for your test results
CT scan
A CT (computerised tomography) scan takes a series of x-rays which build up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The scan is painless but takes from 10 to 30 minutes. CT scans use a small amount of radiation, which will be very unlikely to harm you and will not harm anyone you come into contact with. You will be asked not to eat or drink for at least four hours before the scan.
Having a CT scan
You may be given a drink or injection of a dye which allows particular areas to be seen more clearly. For a few minutes, this may make you feel hot all over. If you are allergic to iodine or have asthma you could have a more serious reaction to the injection, so it is important to let your doctor know beforehand. You will probably be able to go home as soon as the scan is over.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
The involves the same procedure as the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, but a tiny ultrasound probe is connected to the end of the endoscope tube and passed along the oesophagus.
Ultrasound uses sound waves to build up a picture of the area. It allows the doctors to get a deeper view of the wall of the oesophagus and surrounding areas. This may give them a clearer idea of the size and depth of the tumour. It also allows them to see whether lymph nodes nearby are enlarged, and possibly, whether this enlargement is due to cancer or simply an inflammation caused by infection.
Laparoscopy
This test involves a small operation done under a general anaesthetic and will mean a short stay in hospital. It allows the doctor to look at the upper part of the abdomen (tummy) from the inside. This is to see whether the cancer has spread into the abdomen.
The doctor makes a small cut (about 2cm) in the skin and muscle near the tummy button (navel) and carefully inserts a thin, flexible fibre-optic tube (laparoscope) into your abdomen.
The doctor can then examine the area and may take samples of tissue (biopsies) to be examined under the microscope. Whether or not a laparoscopy is needed depends on the position of the tumour within the oesophagus.
PET scan
Positron emission tomography scans (PET scans) can be used to find whether the cancer has spread beyond the oesophagus, or to examine any lumps that remain after treatment to see whether they are scar tissue or whether cancer cells are still present.
A PET scan uses low-dose radioactive glucose (a type of sugar) to measure the activity of cells in different parts of the body. A very small amount of a mildly radioactive substance is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. A scan is then taken a couple of hours later. Areas of cancer are usually more active than surrounding tissue and show up on the scan.
PET scans are a new type of scan and you may have to travel to a specialist centre to have one.
They are not always necessary but you can discuss with your doctor whether one would be useful in your case.
Waiting for your test results
It will probably take from one to two weeks for the results of your tests to be ready, and a follow-up appointment should be arranged for you before you go home. This waiting period will be an anxious time for you and it may help to talk things over with the hospital's specialist nurse, a close friend, a relative or a knowledgeable support organisation such as Cancerbackup or the Oesophageal Patients Association.
Diagnosis of Cancer of the Gullet
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer
Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) is the most common symptom of oesophageal cancer. Usually, there is a feeling that food is sticking on its way down to the stomach, although liquids may be swallowed easily at first.
There may also be some weight loss, and possibly some pain or discomfort behind the breastbone or in the back. There may be indigestion or a cough.
These symptoms can be caused by many things other than cancer, but you should always tell your doctor, particularly if they do not go away after a couple of weeks.
How oesophageal cancer is diagnosed
Your GP will examine you, and will arrange for you to go to hospital for tests and to see a specialist. At the hospital the specialist will ask you about your general health and any previous medical problems before examining you. You may have blood tests and a chest x-ray taken to check your general health. The following tests are commonly used to diagnose cancer of the oesophagus:
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (oesophagoscopy)
Barium swallow
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (oesophagoscopy)
This procedure enables the doctor to look directly at the oesophagus through a thin flexible tube called an endoscope. The endoscope has a tiny camera and a light on the end. If necessary, the doctor can take a small sample of the cells (a biopsy) to be examined under a microscope. This can usually confirm whether or not there is a cancer.
You can usually have an endoscopy as an outpatient, but occasionally an overnight stay in hospital is needed. Once you are lying on your side on the couch you may be given a sedative, usually injected into a vein in your arm, to make you feel sleepy and reduce any discomfort during the test.
Alternatively, a local anaesthetic may be sprayed on to the back of your throat before the doctor passes an endoscope down into your oesophagus. Sometimes both an injection and the spray are used. The doctor then looks through the endoscope and examines the inside of the oesophagus.
Endoscopy can be uncomfortable but should not be painful. After a few hours, the effect of the sedative will wear off and you will be able to go home. You should not drive for several hours after the test and if possible you should arrange for someone to travel home with you.
If you have had the local anaesthetic spray to the back of your throat you may need to stay in the hospital until the anaesthetic has worn off. This usually takes about four hours and you should not try to swallow anything during this time. Some people have a sore throat afterwards; this is normal and should disappear after a couple of days. If it doesn’t, let your doctor at the hospital know. You should also tell your doctor if you have any chest pain.
Occasionally, the doctor may want to carry out treatment such as stretching (dilatation) of the oesophagus at the same time as an endoscopy. This can help you to swallow food more easily.
Barium swallow
A liquid barium solution is swallowed, which shows up on x-ray. Using an x-ray machine, the doctor can watch the barium as it flows down the oesophagus towards your stomach. At the same time x-ray pictures are taken of your oesophagus. A barium swallow takes about 15 minutes and should not be painful.
Cancer of the Gullet
The gullet (oesophagus)
The oesophagus (pronounced e-sof-fa-gus), is also known as the gullet. It is a long, muscular tube that connects your throat to your stomach. It is at least 12 inches (30cm) long in adults. When you swallow food it is carried down the oesophagus to the stomach, and the walls of the oesophagus contract to move the food down.
At the upper part of the oesophagus it runs behind, but is separate from, the windpipe (trachea). The windpipe connects your mouth and nose with your lungs, enabling you to breathe.
Various lymph nodes (which filter fluid and can trap bacteria, viruses and cancer cells) are near the oesophagus; in your neck, in the middle of your chest and near the area where the oesophagus joins the stomach. A tumour can occur anywhere along the length of the oesophagus.
Causes of oesophageal cancer
Each year, nearly 7600 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. It is becoming more common in Europe and North America. Men are affected more than women and it occurs generally in older people.
There are two types: squamous cell carcinoma and oesophageal cancer (which is known as adenocarcinoma). The causes are unknown, but cancer of the oesophagus would appear to be more common in people who have long-term acid reflux (backflow of stomach acid into the oesophagus). Damage to the oesophagus caused by acid reflux is known as Barrett's oesophagus.
Barrett’s oesophagus is a condition where abnormal cells develop in the lining of the lower end of the oesophagus. It is not a cancer, but over a long period of time a small number of people with this condition (around 1 in 100) may develop a cancer of the oesophagus.
Cancer of the oesophagus is more commonly seen in some populations in the Far East and Central Asia, which suggests that diet, or the environment, may affect its development.
Squamous cell carcinoma is more common among smokers and people who drink a lot of alcohol (especially spirits) or have a poor diet.
Other conditions affecting the oesophagus, such as achalasia, may also very occasionally lead to cancer. Achalasia is where the muscle that controls the opening between the oesophagus and the stomach does not relax properly. This makes food build up in the oesophagus and stops it emptying into the stomach.
In most people, cancer of the oesophagus is not caused by an inherited faulty gene, and so other members of your family are not likely to be at risk of developing it. However, a very small number of people who have a rare inherited skin condition known as tylosis may develop oesophageal cancer.
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