Oesophageal cancer
The oesophagus (food pipe) is a muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Oesophageal cancer is when abnormal cells in the oesophagus grow in an uncontrolled way. If it is not found and treated early, oesophageal cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
Causes of oesophageal cancer
We do not know exactly what causes oesophageal cancer, but there are things that increase your risk of developing it. It is more common in men than in women. It usually occurs in people over the age of 60, but it can be found in younger people.
Other risk factors for oesophageal cancer include:
- smoking
- drinking alcohol
- certain medical conditions, such as Barrett’s oesophagus or reflux disease
- being a very unhealthy weight.
Having one or more of these risk factors does not mean that you will get oesophageal cancer. Even if you have no risk factors you can still get it.
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer
There may be no early warning signs that you have oesophageal cancer. Some symptoms may include:
- tiredness
- difficulty swallowing
- reflux, indigestion or heartburn that does not go away
- weight loss without trying
- pain when swallowing
- a hoarse voice or cough.
These symptoms are usually caused by conditions other than cancer. But it is important to get them checked by your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Diagnosing oesophageal cancer
If your healthcare provider thinks you might have oesophageal cancer, they will refer you for further tests.
Usually the first test used to look for oesophageal cancer is a gastroscopy. A gastroscopy is a procedure to examine the upper part of your digestive system using an endoscope — a long, thin, flexible tube that has a camera and a light to examine the lining of the oesophagus. If the person doing the procedure sees an area that looks suspicious, they may remove a small amount of tissue from the oesophagus. This is called a biopsy. The tissue is then looked at more closely under a microscope.
If these tests show that cancer is present, more tests may be done to find out if the cancer has spread anywhere else in the body. These tests may include blood tests and radiological imaging tests, such as a CT scan, MRI scan or x-ray.
Treating oesophageal cancer
If you have oesophageal cancer, you will be referred to a specialist. A team of health professionals with expertise and experience with oesophageal cancer will look after your care.
The treatment for oesophageal cancer depends on:
- the type and stage (how far it has spread)
- the severity of your symptoms
- your preferences.
The main treatments for oesophageal cancer are:
- surgery
- radiation therapy
- chemotherapy.
It may also be a combination of these treatments.
Self care when you have cancer
It is important to take care of yourself when you have cancer. Try to:
- eat as well as you can
- get regular physical activity
- get plenty of sleep
- talk to the people who care about you
- accept or ask for help when you need it.
Cancer support
Once someone has been diagnosed with cancer, we know there are some difficult days ahead. No matter where you are on the cancer pathway, there is always someone to connect with for support.
There are local services available to help make things easier for you and your whānau.
Support we offer — Cancer Society
There are a number of benefits of belonging to a support group.