Esophageal Cancer


Overview and Facts about Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is the presence of an abnormal tumor in the esophagus of the gastrointestinal tract. In 2018, esophageal cancer was responsible for around 2-3% of all cancer-related deaths in the United States. It affects both men and women. Nearly 0.5% of all individuals will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer in their lifetimes. There are two common forms of esophageal cancer: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. African-Americans are two times more likely than Caucasian-Americans to develop the squamous cell form of esophageal cancer.

The formation of esophageal tumors is primarily driven by genetic changes within the tissue cells of the esophagus, which is a tube above your stomach and below your throat. Your esophagus performs a key function in your digestive health because it is responsible for carrying solid food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach for further digestion. As the location of esophageal tumors may vary, individuals with esophageal cancer may experience problems in the transport of food from their throats to their stomachs.

Cancer cell

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