Oesophageal Cancer
Around 9,000 cases of oesophageal cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK, affecting mostly those over the age of 60.
Contact UsWhat is Oesophageal Cancer
What is Oesophageal Cancer?
The oesophagus, or gullet, is a part of the digestive system, also known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is a muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. In the UK, approximately 9,000 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year. Oesophageal cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the oesophagus (food pipe) grow in an uncontrolled way.
We work together to combine the highest levels of consultant-led care and patient choice with the most advanced knowledge and understanding of the disease and its forms.
Learn More About Oesophageal Cancer
Understanding the type of oesophageal cancer is crucial for planning treatment. The two main types are:
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Develops in the thin, flat cells lining the oesophagus.
- Adenocarcinoma: Develops from glandular cells, often associated with Barrett’s oesophagus.
Cancers can develop in any part of the oesophagus. Squamous cell carcinomas typically occur in the upper or middle oesophagus, while adenocarcinomas are more common in the lower oesophagus, including the area where the oesophagus joins the stomach.
Other rarer types of oesophageal cancer include:
- Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine cancer
- Small cell cancer
- Soft tissue sarcomas, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs)
The tests and treatments for these rarer types differ from the more common forms of oesophageal cancer.
Symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer
The most common symptom of oesophageal cancer is difficulty swallowing, which may feel like food is sticking in your throat or chest. While this symptom can be caused by conditions other than cancer, it is important to consult your GP for tests or a referral to a specialist if necessary.
The exact causes of oesophageal cancer are not fully understood, but several risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing it:
Long-term acid reflux
Obesity
Gender
Age
Having a risk factor does not mean you will definitely get oesophageal cancer, conversely it is possible to develop oesophageal cancer without any risk factors.
Diagnosis of Oesophageal Cancer
Diagnosis typically begins with a visit to your GP, who will ask about your symptoms and conduct an examination. Blood tests may be done to check your overall health. If cancer is suspected, your GP will refer you to a hospital for an endoscopy. If cancer is suspected, you should be seen at the hospital within two weeks.
The primary diagnostic test for oesophageal cancer is an endoscopy, which examines the lining of the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small bowel). Endoscopies can also be used for treatment purposes.
If a biopsy from the endoscopy reveals cancer cells, you will see a specialist doctor, typically a surgeon specialising in oesophageal and gastrointestinal cancers, or a gastroenterologist who treats oesophageal, stomach, and digestive issues. A specialist nurse may also be involved. Further tests will be arranged to determine:
The extent of cancer in the oesophageal wall layers
Whether it has spread outside the oesophagus
These tests may include:
Blood tests
Chest X-ray
CT scan
PET-CT scan
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
Laparoscopy
Barium swallow
Treatments available at Clatterbridge Private Clinic
The treatment you have for oesophageal cancer depends on the size and location of the cancer, whether it has spread to other parts of the body and your general health. You may be offered a combination of treatments. Consultants at the Clatterbridge Private Clinic develop a tailored treatment plan for each patient best-suited to their needs. We have access to a wide range of treatment options, many of which are not routinely available on the NHS.
Surgery
Surgery may be an option if oesophageal cancer is found early and has not spread. The surgeon will remove part, or in rare cases, most of the oesophagus. You may also have other treatments alongside surgery to shrink the cancer or prevent it coming back.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer. It uses cytotoxic drugs to disrupt the cancer cell’s ability to grow and reproduce. You may be given chemotherapy before surgery to shrink the tumour, after surgery to help stop the cancer coming back, or with radiotherapy to treat early cancer. Patients at Clatterbridge Private Clinic are treated within our state-of-the-art outpatient chemotherapy suite and have access to the latest drug regimes, some of which may not be routinely available on the NHS.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be used after surgery to prevent cancer returning, before surgery to shrink the cancer, or as an alternative if surgery is not an option. It can be used on its own, but it is often given in combination with chemotherapy which is known as chemoradiation treatment. At Clatterbridge Private Clinic, we offer advanced radiotherapy techniques such as image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and three-dimensional radiation therapy (3D-CRT), and Papillon therapy which is specifically developed for treating radiotherapy cancers, all delivered by our expert radiographers.
