The Effects of Esophageal Cancer on the Esophagus Essay

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a type of cancer that develops slowly over many years. Most frequently, stomach cancer starts in the lining of the stomach otherwise knows as the mucosa, and then develops into the other layers of the stomach. There are many ways in which stomach cancer spreads. In some cases it invades near by organs or it can also travel through the bloodstream to for cancer in other organs. There are many statistics and organizations of support for stomach cancer, as well as, symptoms, risk factors, screening and diagnosis’ and, treatments. Like all cancers, stomach cancer is a deathly disease and one of the major leading causes of cancer deaths in countries other than the U.S.

As you can see, it is a tubelike structure made of muscle and lined with mucous membrane. The pharynx functions as part of the respiratory and digestive system because it is located behind the nasal cavities and the mouth. It is the structure that we refer to as the throat. It is about twelve and a half centimeters long and consists of three parts; the nasopharynx, oropharynx and the laryngopharynx. (Anatomy.tv, n.d.) The esophagus branches off of the pharynx which carries food to the stomach. Swallowing takes place in the pharynx partly as a reflex and partly under voluntary control. The tongue and soft palate pushes food into the pharynx, which closes off the trachea. The food then enters the esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube extending from the pharynx to the stomach. . (Mohan, 2010). It is about 25 centimeters long. The production of mucus by glands in the mucosal lining as you can see lubricates the tube to permit easier passage of food moving toward the stomach. (Thibodeau & Patton, 2008). Food is pushed through the esophagus and into the stomach by a series of contractions called peristalsis. The lower esophageal sphincter is just before the opening to the stomach. It opens to let food pass into the stomach and closes to keep it there. (Mohan, 2010).

Esophagus is located through the mouth. You go down the throat and into the stomach. I can remember this by tracing the path in the photo.

Esophageal carcinoma, the eighth most common cancer in the world, includes squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (Sun, Lin, Chen, Liang, &Hsieh, 2015; American Cancer Society, 2015). Squamous cell carcinoma is simply damaged esophageal cells; however, adenocarcinoma occurs when glandular cells replace squamous cells in the esophagus (American Cancer Society, 2015). While squamous cell carcinoma was once the most common form of esophageal carcinoma in the United States, adenocarcinoma has taken its place with speculation placed towards the increase of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (Baldwin, 2015). These two manifestations of cancer account for approximately 90% of diagnosed esophageal cancers, while the remaining 10% of esophageal

Treatment for esophageal cancer focuses on removing the cancer through surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation also may be used.

GERD is known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. It is best defined as a back flow of gastric or duodenal contents or both into the esophagus and past the lower esophageal sphincter. It can cause acute epigastric pain (heartburn). The pathophysiology of GERD is multifactorial, involving transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and other lower esophageal sphincter pressure abnormalities. As a result, reflux of acid, bile, pepsin and pancreatic enzymes occur, leading to esophageal mucosal injury (Gastroesophageal Reflux disease, long-term care, 2017). The degree of mucosal injury is based on the amount and concentration of refluxed gastric acid, proteolytic enzymes and bile acids. Due to the lower esophageal sphincter being dysfunctional, the esophageal motility is slowed, leading to decreased clearance of acidic material.

Nerve problems. These prevent signals from being sent to the muscles of your esophagus to contract and move

As we get older, it gets harder for the valve to close tightly due to a weakened diaphragm. So this allows acid and partially digested food to splash back into the esophagus. As such, continues occurrence of reflux would result to the gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Gastro for the gastric system, and esophageal for the esophagus.3 The hole can also increase in size leading to the formation of a hiatus.1 When this happens, part of the stomach bulges through the hole leading to the hiatal hernia which

Barrett’s oesophagus rarely resolves completely, although the columnar-lined segment may shrink modestly in patients with acid suppressing treatment. Most cases stay constant, neither progressing or regressing, although complications may arise - including progression to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (BMJ

Images were obtained for the oropharynx, the whole length of the esophagus including the proximal and distal ends, and the gastroesophageal junction ( GEJ ) for any present pathology, with single and double contrast studies for mucosal relief. The images were taken while the patients were in the supine position. For upper GI endoscopy, a complete preparation was done for the patients including nothing per oral ( NPO ) for at least four hours before the start of the examination, under local anesthesia. The complications and risks of the procedure were also explained to the patients prior the exam. The patients were positioned on their left side, and to prevent them from biting on the endoscope, a mouth guard was placed between the teeth. The endoscope was moved over the tongue into the oropharynx under vision, the endoscope was guided into the esophagus with fast and gentle manipulation, noting any pathology while the endoscope was gradually advanced down the esophagus. If necessary, a biopsy was taken immediately. The result of the study was ten of the patients ( 83.34% ) were diagnosed with videofluoroscopy, and five patients ( 41% ) were diagnosed with upper GI endoscopy, however; eight of the examined patients, no problems were found on both videofluoroscopy, or upper GI endoscopy. The results showed That in comparison with the upper GI endoscopy, videofluoroscopy can accurately diagnose a large number of positive causes of dysphagia. Also, videofluoroscopy was readily done, and it did not require a previous work up of the

Barret’s Esophagus is a serious complication of GERD, in which stands for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. With Barret’s esophagus normal tissue lining the esophagus; the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach changes to tissue that resembles the lining of the intestine, this process is called intestinal metaplasia ("Barret's esophagus: Symptoms," 2005). Patients who are diagnosed with Barret’s esophagus are at an increase risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is cancer of the esophagus and can be fatal.

This paper will examine the cancer diagnosis and staging process, complications, and side effects of treatments. Methods that can be utilized to assist in lessening the physiological and psychological effects of cancer and treatments will also be explored.

Choice “B” is not the best answer. Metastatic cancer to the esophagus is a rare occurrence. Malignant gastrinomas have not been documented to spread to the esophagus.

Liver cancer usually does not have any symptoms in its early stages and can be difficult to detect. Nevertheless, liver cancer can be detected by imaging tests. Some of the tests used to diagnose liver cancer are Ultrasound, Computed tomography (CT scan), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan), Biopsy and Laparoscopy. Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to generate a picture of the body and is used to show any abnormal growths in the liver. The CT scan is an x-ray test that produces detailed images of the body. This test can be very useful in precisely identifying liver tumors. The MRI also creates detailed images, but uses radio waves and

In a way, the esophagus is kind of like a stretchy and muscular highway that is about 10 inches long but rather than transporting people from destination to destination it transports food from the back of your throat and into your stomach. Besides your esophagus, also located at the back of your throat is what is known as your windpipe, which is connected to your lungs and allows air to enter and leave your body. When you swallow a small bit of bolus, a special