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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

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• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

The esophagus is a hollow tube that carries food and liquids from your throat to your stomach. Early esophageal cancer usually does not cause symptoms. Later, you may have symptoms such as:

• Painful or difficult swallowing
• Weight loss
• A hoarse voice or cough that doesn't go away

You're at greater risk for getting esophageal cancer if you smoke, drink heavily, or have acid reflux. Your risk also goes up as you age

Your doctor uses imaging tests and a biopsy to diagnose esophageal cancer. Treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. You might also need nutritional support, since the cancer or treatment may make it hard to swallow.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• General Information about Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging of Esophageal Cancer (American Cancer Society)
• Esophageal Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Stages of Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Upper GI Endoscopy (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Upper GI Series (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Esophageal Cancer Prevention (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Esophageal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
• Supportive Therapy for Esophageal Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Option Overview (Esophageal Cancer) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

• After Treatment for Esophageal Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Barrett's Esophagus (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Risks of Esophageal Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Cancer of the Esophagus (National Cancer Institute)
• Key Statistics for Esophageal Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Preoperative Chemotherapy, Radiation Improve Survival in Esophageal Cancer (Updated) (National Cancer Institute)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The immune signatures predict gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer response to first-line anti-PD-1...
• Article: Anti-PD-1 antibody (SCT-I10A) plus anti-EGFR antibody (SCT200) in patients with advanced...
• Article: Impact of first-line chemoimmunotherapy with or without radiotherapy on the prognosis...
• Esophageal Cancer -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society
• ASGE: Find a Doctor (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
• Cancer Support Groups (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Choosing a Cancer Doctor (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Find an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist) (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish

Children

• Childhood Esophageal Cancer Treatment (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Coughing up blood (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Diet and eating after esophagectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophagectomy - minimally invasive (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophagectomy - open (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish