cancer of the esophagus
mdodd61706-23-2003, 08:05 AMMy aunt thinks she has cancer of the esophagus. She has smoked for 40 years and still continues to this day. She is being checked by a specialist as soon as she can get an appt., but I was wondering if anyone had any information on this or was dealing with it themselves. any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Meganprojapoti08-04-2003, 12:46 AMOriginally posted by mdodd617:
My aunt thinks she has cancer of the esophagus. She has smoked for 40 years and still continues to this day. She is being checked by a specialist as soon as she can get an appt., but I was wondering if anyone had any information on this or was dealing with it themselves. any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Megan
The two main risk factors for cancer of the esophagus is smoking and drinking. You can also get esophageal cancer after having had acid reflux disease for many years and having your esophageal lining transformed in to something called "Barrett's esophagus".
Esophageal cancer is particularly important to find early because the esophagus doesn't have a "tissue sheath" around it, and cancers that start there spread really easily.
The surgery usually involves the removal of the entire esophagus leaving a small portion a the top, and sewing this together with the stop of the stomach. I have also heard of people have a piece of bowel put in the place of the esophagus.
There is sometimes also radiation and chemo given before/after the surgery.
Thanks!
Meganprojapoti08-04-2003, 12:46 AMOriginally posted by mdodd617:
My aunt thinks she has cancer of the esophagus. She has smoked for 40 years and still continues to this day. She is being checked by a specialist as soon as she can get an appt., but I was wondering if anyone had any information on this or was dealing with it themselves. any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Megan
The two main risk factors for cancer of the esophagus is smoking and drinking. You can also get esophageal cancer after having had acid reflux disease for many years and having your esophageal lining transformed in to something called "Barrett's esophagus".
Esophageal cancer is particularly important to find early because the esophagus doesn't have a "tissue sheath" around it, and cancers that start there spread really easily.
The surgery usually involves the removal of the entire esophagus leaving a small portion a the top, and sewing this together with the stop of the stomach. I have also heard of people have a piece of bowel put in the place of the esophagus.
There is sometimes also radiation and chemo given before/after the surgery.