The question of What Causes Esophageal Cancer is a frequently encountered issue. The esophagus starts from the throat and extends to the stomach. It helps send the food to the stomach to be digested.
Although there is no clear answer to the question of What Causes Esophageal Cancer, it is known that genetic and environmental factors can have an effect in cancer. Esophageal cancer usually begins in the cells lining the inside of the esophagus. In addition, men have a higher incidence of esophageal cancer than women.
What Causes Esophageal Cancer?
The question of what are the causes of esophageal cancer is one of the questions that the scientific world seeks to answer. The cancer develops as a result of mutations in the esophageal cells. As a result of these mutations, which occur due to environmental and genetic reasons, cells begin to grow uncontrollably and this results in cancer. Esophageal cancers can be basically examined under 3 catagories.
- Adenocarcinoma: A cancer of the esophagus that begins in the glands that secrete mucus into the esophagus. It usually occurs in the lower part of the esophagus.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: It is a type of cancer seen in the squamous cells lining the esophagus. It usually occurs in the upper and middle parts of the esophagus. It is the most common type of esophageal cancer worldwide.
- Other rare types of esophageal cancer: Lymphoma, choriocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, sarcoma and melanoma are less common types of esophageal cancer.
What Are the Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer?
Deaths from esophageal cancer rank 6th among cancer-related deaths worldwide. One of the main reasons for this is because it is a difficult type of cancer to diagnose at an early stage. Therefore, if you have symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, heartburn, uncontrolled weight loss, indigestion, hoarseness, do not neglect to consult your doctor.
Esophageal Cancer Risk Factors
It is thought that the constant irritation of the esophageal area increases the risk of cancer. Factors such as GER disease, obesity, smoking, consuming hot drinks that irritate the esophagus, and radiation therapy to the chest and upper abdomen are among the factors that increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
