What do you know about esophageal cancer?

What do you know about esophageal cancer?

By Chris Valentine, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, Colorado Springs LIVING WELL Magazine

Some cancers receive a lot of attention. Think about all of the pink ribbons you have seen related to breast cancer awareness. But there is one cancer that is common but we don’t hear much about – esophageal cancer. The esophagus is the hollow, muscular tube that moves food and liquid from the throat to the stomach. Esophageal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the esophagus.

According to the National Cancer Institute, it is estimated that there will be more than 17,000 new cases of esophageal cancer diagnosed this year and more than 15,000 people will die from esophageal cancer in the U.S. in 2012.

The goal is not to scare you but to make you aware. So how do you know if you are at risk for esophageal cancer? The major risk factors are:

  • smoking
  • drinking alcohol
  • obesity
  • having a history of acid reflux
  • Barrett’s Esophagus, or
  • having a family history of esophageal cancer

Dr. Austin Garza, gastroenterologist, said that the primary symptom that people report is difficulty swallowing. Some people may simply have a history of chronic heartburn. Patients generally see their primary care physician who refers them to a specialist for further testing and diagnosis.

Garza says that he and his partner, Dr. William Lunt, are asked to help diagnose and treat people right here in Colorado Springs who are suspected of having esophageal cancer. The good news is that these doctors have a unique tool that assists in the diagnosis and management of esophageal cancer to help achieve better outcomes – endoscopic ultrasound. As a matter of fact, they are the only ones in southern Colorado to utilize this technology.

“We use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope that has a built-in miniature ultrasound probe,” says Garza. “We pass the endoscope through the patient’s mouth into the esophagus. The ultrasound is used to create visual images of the digestive tract and the suspected cancer.”

“Endoscopic ultrasound allows us to accurately assess the cancer’s depth and whether it has spread,” says Garza. “In some patients, endoscopic ultrasound can be used to obtain a needle biopsy of a lump or lesion to help us determine the proper treatment.”

In addition to diagnosing cancers of the esophagus, endoscopic ultrasound is also used to treat lesions on the pancreas and in the diagnosis of colon cancer.

Once the cancer is confirmed, these doctors have a multidisciplinary team of cancer experts to work with to ensure the best possible outcome for their patients. The physicians from the Penrose Cancer Center and Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers work together with the GI doctors to treat people with esophageal cancer. Medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurse navigators and other cancer professionals are all part of the team who work closely to discuss and manage the treatment for each patient.

When Garza was asked about the one thing that would help to prevent esophageal cancer, his answer is simple, “Don’t smoke.” Not smoking helps in more ways than just reducing the risk of esophageal cancer. We’ve heard over and over that smoking is a serious risk factor in many cancers as well as other diseases such as heart disease.

“If a person has chronic heartburn symptoms, typically for more than three years, they should talk with their doctor,” said the doctor. “A gastroenterologist can help diagnose Barrett’s Esophagus, which is a recognized risk factor for esophageal cancer.”

There is not a specific test to screen for esophageal cancer, like, for example, a mammogram for breast cancer. When someone has the symptoms of chronic heartburn or difficulty swallowing, an upper endoscopy is typically part of the diagnostic testing. If you believe you have one or more of the risk factors for esophageal cancer or are experiencing difficulty swallowing, it is recommended that you talk to your primary care physician.

For more information on cancer treatment options, visit penrosecancercenter.org/.