According to a report of the World Health Organization, esophageal cancer is the most common cause of cancer in Bangladesh. It is said that about 14% of all patients suffer from esophageal cancer. Its main function is to carry food from the oral cavity to the stomach.
It can be cancer from inflammation or tumors inside the esophagus.
According to the World Health Organization's 2020 report, esophageal cancer was diagnosed in 21,745 people a year. Of these, about 14,000 men have been infected and just over 7,500 women have been infected.
Although men have had a higher risk of developing lung cancer in the past, esophageal cancer is now at its peak. On the other hand, among women, esophageal cancer is second only to breast cancer.
In addition, the death rate from this cancer is the highest - about 14%.
According to a 2017 survey by the World Cancer Research Fund, Bangladesh ranks fourth in Asia for esophageal cancer.
Considering the situation, experts have called for taking steps to prevent esophageal cancer from now on.
Symptoms, when to go to the doctor?
There are some possible symptoms of esophageal cancer, but since they are quite common, it is difficult for many to understand that it can be cancer.
Samiul Islam, a pathologist and former director of the National Cancer Institute, and the UK Department of Healthcare have been asked to address a number of issues.
In the early stages it will be difficult to swallow solid food. Later, it may be difficult to eat or swallow liquids.
Digestive problems such as: heartburn, frequent belching, sour water in the mouth, abdominal pain, etc. can be repeated. If the disease does not get better even after two weeks of taking normal treatment of these problems.
Weight loss will be followed by fatigue and constant tiredness.
Coughing for a long time. Shortness of breath at night. Pain in the middle of the throat and chest, especially when swallowing.
Nausea, fatigue, weakness. Shortness of breath while eating.
Persistent constipation or diarrhea.
Experts say that if these symptoms occur, consult a doctor. However, having these symptoms does not mean that someone has had esophageal cancer. These can be common symptoms. What causes esophageal cancer:
Dr Islam said there is a big link between esophageal cancer and people's eating habits and lifestyle. He mentioned some of the major causes behind this cancer.
Eating adulterated food with artificial colors and preservatives.
If you have a habit of drinking hot water all the time in all seasons.
Eat extra fast food, semi-cooked food, fried food in burnt oil.
Drinks, jordans, roses, cigarettes, bidis and extra wine.
Obesity
People 40 years of age or older are generally at risk of contracting the disease. However, the risk decreases after the age of 65.
Dr. Islam says that anyone can get esophageal cancer. The reason for this is not always clear.
Ways to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer
If you are overweight or obese, try to control it. Exercise regularly.
Allow the hot drink to cool slightly before drinking, so that it does not damage the esophagus.
Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, bidi, jorda, pan, gul etc.
Avoid outside fast food or unhealthy adulterated food and try to eat home made healthy food especially vegetables.
If there is polyp in the colon, get it treated.
Get a health check-up every year after the age of 45 on the advice of a doctor.
Diagnosis:
Doctors have asked for some health checks to make sure there is esophageal cancer. These are:
Endoscopy and biopsy:
Endoscopy to look for abnormalities in the esophageal wall gives a clear idea of what is the condition of the esophagus or stomach and where the problem is.
For this, a long, thin, flexible tube is taken inside the patient's mouth through a small camera to the esophagus and stomach and the inside condition is seen with the camera.
There should be no difficulty in this test. However, it may seem a bit uncomfortable. Many physicians use anesthetics or anesthetic sprays to numb the throat.
Again many can be put to sleep with general anesthesia.
If cancer is suspected, the specialist may collect a small sample of cells during the procedure. These cells are sent to a laboratory to test for the presence of cancer. This is called a biopsy.
Barium X-ray:
Many doctors may ask you to have an X-ray. The specialist does this X-ray of the patient with a drink.
Through this the doctors get a clear picture from the barium lining to the esophagus.
However, there are doubts as to how much X-ray will give a clear picture of the esophageal wall.
Depending on the condition of the patient, physicians may recommend CT scan of the chest, PET scan of the abdomen, gastroscopy, ultrasound scan, endoscopic ultrasonogram, etc.
After seeing the health examination report, the doctors decided to give the best treatment considering the health condition of the patient.
Treatment:
If you are told that you have esophageal cancer, it is important to take the necessary steps without worrying.
In this case, you may need further testing.
Basically, endoscopy is used to see the size of the cancer and how far it has spread. This may require laparoscopy.
Esophageal cancer is curable in most cases. However, the treatment is a bit complicated, experts said.
How to treat esophageal cancer will depend on where the esophageal cancer is, how much esophageal cancer, the size and type of esophageal cancer, the location of the cancer cell or tumor, what stage it is at, how far. It is spread, whether the patient's overall health condition and whether the patient is ready for major surgery. On.
There are two types of esophageal cancer.
Adeno carcinoma is found in the lower part of the esophagus near the stomach and abdomen.
On the other hand, squamous cell carcinoma usually occurs in the middle and upper part of the esophagus. This cancer is relatively easy to remove through surgery, said Dr.
Surgery
Surgery is the biggest solution to esophageal cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be given.
If esophageal cancer is in the early stages and does not spread too much, then some part of the cancer is surgically removed. The alternative esophagus is then attached.
If the stomach is not an alternative to the esophagus, organs of the digestive system are used. For this reason, first the operation was done on the abdomen and then on the chest.
Although this treatment is quite complex and time consuming, there is enough capacity to give this treatment in Bangladesh, said Dr.
However, he emphasized the importance of early detection of cancer. If the cancer has spread to other organs except the stomach, intestines or esophagus, the patient's life may be in danger.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in a patient's esophagus.
Taking chemotherapy before surgery reduces the risk of cancer. According to the UK Department of Health, chemotherapy after surgery can help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Physicians will determine if this chemotherapy will be taken later.
But if the patient is not ready for surgery, unable, then radiotherapy or chemotherapy is an attempt to control the cancer cells.
Many again activate the esophagus through stenting.
Radiotherapy
High-powered radiation is used to kill cancer cells.
Radiotherapy for esophageal cancer may be needed if the cancer is at an early stage.
It also helps prevent cancer cell growth.
If esophageal cancer spreads too much, it can be very difficult to completely cure it with this treatment. It may not be possible.
The goal of treatment is to minimize cancer and its symptoms as much as possible and help you to live longer.
Photodynamic therapy:
Low-energy lasers with mild sensitizing drugs are used in this therapy to kill cancer cells.
This cancer can spread to the stomach and other organs if not treated in time.
So even if any symptoms seem normal, the British National Health Department has asked to take action on the advice of a doctor.
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