Oesophageal cancer: Symptoms are common but the risk of death is high, what to do?

One of the most common cancers diagnosed among the people of Bangladesh is esophageal cancer.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), esophageal cancer is the most common cancer in Bangladesh. It is said that about 14% of the total patients suffer from esophageal cancer.

The esophagus is the hollow tube that connects the human mouth to the stomach. Its main function is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach.

It can be cancer from inflammation or tumors inside the esophagus.

According to the World Health Organization’s 2020 report, esophageal cancer was diagnosed in 21,745 people in a year. Of these, about 14 thousand men have been infected and more than seven and a half thousand women.

Although the risk of lung cancer was higher in men earlier, now the cancer of the esophagus has reached the top. Breast cancer, on the other hand, is the most common cancer in women.

It also has the highest mortality rate – about 14%.

According to a 2018 study by the World Cancer Research Fund, Bangladesh has the fourth highest rate of esophageal cancer in Asia.

Experts have urged to take initiatives to prevent esophageal cancer in view of the situation.
When to go to the doctor?

There are some possible symptoms of esophageal cancer, but because they are so common, it is difficult for many to understand that the cause can be cancer.

Samiul Islam, a pathologist and former director of the National Cancer Institute, and Britain’s Department of Health Services, said there are a few things to watch out for.

In the initial stage, it will be difficult to swallow solid food. Later, it may be difficult to swallow even liquid food.
Digestive problems such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. If the disease does not heal after two weeks of normal treatment.
If you lose a lot of weight in six months to a year, then there is distaste for food.
Cough for a long time. Shortness of breath at night. Pain in the neck and chest, especially when swallowing.
Nausea, vomiting, weakness. Shortness of breath while eating.
Constant constipation or diarrhea.

Experts say that if these symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor. However, having these symptoms does not mean that someone is suffering from esophageal cancer. These can be common symptoms.

What Causes Ovarian Cancer:

There is a strong link between diet and lifestyle. Islam. There are several main causes of cancer.

Consume foods with artificial colors and preservatives.
Drink warm water at all times.
Eating too much fast food, semi-cooked food, fried food in burnt oil.
Alcohol, tobacco, tobacco, tobacco and excessive drinking.
obesity
Adults over the age of 40 are most at risk. The risk decreases after the age of 75.

ডা. Islam says that anyone can be affected by esophageal cancer. The reason is not always clear.
Ways to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer

If you are overweight or obese, try to control it. Exercise regularly.
Allow the hot beverage to cool slightly before drinking, so that it does not damage the esophagus.
Avoid drugs, alcohol, tobacco, alcohol, and other stimulants.
Avoid outside fast food or unhealthy adulterated food and try to eat healthy home-made food, especially vegetables.
If there is polyp in the colon then treat it.
Get a medical checkup every year after the age of 45 years on the advice of a doctor.

Diagnosis:

Doctors recommend certain tests to determine if you have breast cancer. They’re:
Endoscopy and biopsy:

To see the abnormalities in the wall of the esophagus, endoscopy gives a clear idea about the condition of any problem in the esophagus or stomach, where the problem is.

For this, a long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside is taken through the patient’s mouth to the esophagus and stomach, and the camera is viewed inside.

There will be no difficulty in this exam. But it can be a little disconcerting. Many doctors use anesthetic or numbing spray to numb the throat.

Many people are able to sleep with general anesthesia.

If there is a suspicion of cancer, the specialist can collect a small sample of cells during this procedure. These cells are then sent to the laboratory to be tested for cancer. This is called biopsy.

Barium X-ray:

Many doctors recommend this procedure. Specialists do this x-ray by making the patient drink.

Doctors get a clear picture from the barium coating to the wall of the esophagus.

However, there are doubts about how clear the X-ray will give a picture of the wall of the esophagus.

Apart from this, doctors can ask for CT scan of the chest, PET scan of the stomach, gastroscopy, ultrasound scan, endoscopic ultrasonogram, etc. to understand the patient’s condition.

After examining the patient’s medical report, the doctor decides on the best treatment for the patient.
Treatment:

If you are told that you have esophageal cancer, it is important to take the necessary measures without worrying.

You may need more testing.

Basically, endoscopy re-examines the size of the cancer and how far it has spread. Laparoscopy can also be done.

Oesophageal cancer is mostly curable with treatment. But the treatment is complicated, experts say.

Treatment depends on where the cancer is in the esophagus, the size and type of esophageal cancer, the location of the cancer cell or tumor, its stage, how far it has spread, the patient’s overall health condition, and whether the patient is ready for a major operation.

Breast cancer is of two types.

Adenocarcinoma occurs in the lower part of the esophagus near the stomach and stomach.

Squamous cell carcinoma, on the other hand, usually occurs in the middle and upper part of the esophagus. This cancer is easy to remove through surgery. Islam.
Surgery

Surgery is the best solution for esophageal cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be used.

If the esophageal cancer is in the early stages and has not spread much, it is surgically removed to remove the cancerous part. Alternate feeding tubes are then added.

As an alternative to the esophagus, the organs of the digestive system are used if there is no stomach. The first operation is performed on the stomach, followed by the chest.

If the cancer spreads further, some parts of other organs around the esophagus, such as the upper part of the stomach, may have to be cut off.

Although the treatment is quite complex and time-consuming, Bangladesh has enough capacity to provide this treatment. Islam.

But he stressed the importance of detecting cancer at an early stage. If the cancer has spread to the stomach, intestines or other organs apart from the esophagus, then the life of the patient may be in danger.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatments are used to kill cancer cells in the patient’s esophagus.

Chemotherapy reduces the risk of cancer before surgery. Chemotherapy after surgery can get rid of any remaining cancer and prevent the risk of the cancer coming back, according to Britain’s Department of Health Services.

The doctor will decide whether to do chemotherapy first or later.

But if the patient is not ready for surgery, if he is not able, then attempts are made to control the cancer cells by radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Many people regurgitate food through stenting.
Radiotherapy

High-energy radiation or radiotherapy is used to kill cancer cells.

Radiotherapy for esophageal cancer may be required if the cancer is in the early stages.

It also helps to prevent the growth of cancer cells.

If the cancer of the esophagus has spread a lot, it can be very difficult to cure completely with these treatments. It’s not even possible.

In this case, the goal of treatment is to reduce cancer and its symptoms as much as possible and to help live longer.
The photodynamic therapy:

Low-power lasers with light-sensitive drugs are used in this therapy to kill cancer cells.

If not treated on time, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.

So even if any of the symptoms seem normal, the UK’s National Health Department has said to take action on the advice of a doctor.