Esophageal Cancer Awareness 2026
Esophageal cancer, which is cancer of the long, muscular tube that moves food from your throat to your stomach, occurs when cancerous cells multiply and create tumors. There are two main types of esophageal cancer. The first is adenocarcinoma, which happens to be the most common type of esophageal cancer in the United States. It develops in tissue that makes mucus to help you swallow. It usually occurs in the lower part of the esophagus. The other type of esophageal cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type begins in the squamous cells that line your esophagus. It usually affects the upper and middle parts of the esophagus.
There are multiple symptoms of esophageal cancer. The first symptom you may notice is difficulty swallowing. Other symptoms include heartburn (especially new or worsening), unintentional weight loss, chest pain, chronic (persistent) cough, hoarseness, pain in your throat or back, behind your breastbone or between your shoulder blades, and vomiting or coughing up blood. It could take years for your symptoms to develop. This is due to the flexible and stretchy nature of the esophagus that allows for room for large bites of food. You may not notice a change in your body until the tumor grows large enough to block your esophagus and make it hard to swallow.
Healthcare providers have not pinpointed the exact cause of esophageal cancer, but there are multiple risk factors that increase your chance of developing the disease. Your age, sex, and race may increase your risk, as well as medical conditions and lifestyle factors. Some characteristics like your age may increase risk. Esophageal cancer mainly affects people aged 60 and older. Sex is also a factor, with males being more likely to develop the cancer. Race is also a contributing factor. People who are Black or Asian are more likely to have squamous cell esophageal cancer while people who are white typically have adenocarcinoma esophageal cancer.
There are multiple medical conditions that can increase your risk of developing esophageal cancer. Barrett’s esophagus and chronic acid reflux, as well as chronic heartburn increase your chance of developing the cancer. Certain inherited disorders, like achalasia also increase the risk of esophageal cancer. A history of head and neck cancer also increases risk. The final two medical conditions that increase your risk are human papillomavirus (HPV) and being obese or overweight. Lifestyle factors can also increase your risk. Long-term and/or heavy use of alcohol increases risk. Tobacco also increases risk, even including smokeless tobacco. Long-term exposure to certain substances can also increase your risk. Substances like solvents used in dry cleaning, mineral spirits, paint, varnishes, and asbestos.
People exposed to asbestos are at a greater risk of developing esophageal cancer. Asbestos is a mineral once used for its heat and fire-resistant properties. Many industries used asbestos including construction, the automotive industry, shipbuilding, manufacturing and manufacturing equipment, the iron and steel industries, chemical and oil refining, and power plants. When asbestos is disturbed, microscopic fibers can then be inhaled and ingested, becoming lodged in multiple types of tissue including the esophagus. Once the fibers become lodged in the esophagus, the body is unable to break them down or remove them, so they stay lodged in the tissue. Over time, the lodged fibers cause DNA changes in cells, leading to cancer.
There are multiple tests to determine if someone has esophageal cancer. Doctors may perform a barium swallow, where a liquid with barium is swallowed by the patient, allowing the esophagus to be seen via X-ray. Doctors may also use a CT scan to look for cancer in the chest and abdomen. Upper endoscopy can also be done to look at the inside of the esophagus. An endoscopic ultrasound may also be done during this test. Finally, doctors may use a biopsy, which removes a small piece of tissue to check for cancer. Cancer will then be staged using information including the tumor location and whether or not the tumor has spread outside the esophagus.
There are multiple ways that doctors can treat esophageal cancer. Doctors can perform an esophagectomy, where surgery is performed to remove some or most of your esophagus and surrounding tissue. It is a treatment for early-stage cancer. A multivisceral resection can also be performed, where doctors remove the tumor and the affected surrounding organs or structures to try to eliminate all visible signs of disease. An endoscopic submucosal dissection is also an option, where precancerous or cancerous polyps or very small tumors are removed. It is a very minimally invasive procedure. Endoscopic mucosal resection is also an option, where tumors in the mucous lining of your esophagus are removed. Doctors can also perform endoscopic laser therapy, which uses a laser to destroy cancerous tissue in the esophagus. This may be done if a tumor blocks the esophagus. Photodynamic therapy is also an option. This treatment uses lasers to activate medication. The medication then triggers chemical reactions that kill cancerous cells. It is used to treat early-stage cancer or to manage cancer symptoms.
Radiation therapy is also an option to shrink a tumor before surgery or to remove any remaining cancer cells after surgery. It can also be used to ease symptoms if cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy may also be used by oncologists alongside radiation before and after surgery. It is also used when cancer has spread to other parts of the body. It can help you live a better quality of life and can help you live longer. Targeted therapy is also an option. Some cancerous esophagus cells carry an unusually high number of certain proteins or genes, which help cancer cells grow. Treatments can be used that can target these proteins or genes to kill cancer cells. Finally, there is immunotherapy, which targets the immune system’s response to cancer cells. It can be used before or after surgery, or if your cancer has spread and surgery is not an option.
Were you exposed to asbestos and later diagnosed with esophageal cancer? Contact us today to see if you could be entitled to compensation. Call 412-471-3980 or fill out our contact form and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
