Related articles: Esophageal cancer
Definition
Esophageal cancer is a not very common but very aggressive neoplasm, which affects the cells that line the inner surface of the esophagus. Among the most common predisposing factors we mention the abuse of alcohol and smoked or chewed tobacco, a diet low in fruit and vegetables, and chronic inflammation of the esophageal walls (caused by various gastric affections, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia).Most common symptoms and signs *
- Lowering of the voice
- aphagia
- Asthenia
- Dysphagia
- Drumstick fingers
- Pain in the Stomach Mouth
- Hematemesis
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
- Feces picee
- Dry throat
- Freckles
- Mediastinitis
- Nausea
- Knot in the throat
- odynophagia
- Paralysis of the vocal cords
- Weight loss
- Gastrointestinal perforation
- pneumomediastinum
- Hoarseness
- Cough
Further indications
The most common symptom of esophageal cancer, which generally appears only at an advanced stage, is the difficulty in swallowing associated with the annoying feeling that food remains halfway between the mouth and the stomach. The result is a rejection of solid foods (eg meat and bread), a tendency to chew them with greater care and preference for those that are softer or more liquid, drunk in small sips. Also symptoms such as hoarseness, vomiting and hiccups make their appearance in a fairly advanced stage; therefore, prevention is very important, since the possibility of survival increases the more the esophageal cancer is diagnosed earlier.
