National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Esophageal Cancer is the National Cancer Institute
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Esophageal Cancer
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. However, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include painful or difficult swallowing, weight loss and coughing up blood.
Risk factors for developing esophageal cancer include
- Smoking
- Heavy drinking
- Damage from acid reflux
Treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and laser therapy. You might also need nutritional support, since the cancer or treatment may make it hard to swallow.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
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Start Here
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What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Esophagus(National Cancer Institute)
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What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Esophagus
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Esophageal Cancer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Esophageal Cancer(Society of Thoracic Surgeons)
- What Is Cancer of the Esophagus?(American Cancer Society)
- Also available in Spanish
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Latest News
- Untreated Heartburn May Raise Risk for Esophageal Cancer, Study Says(07/25/2012, HealthDay)
- Pre-Surgery Therapy Improves Survival for Esophagus Cancer Patients(07/24/2012, American Cancer Society)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- How Is Cancer of the Esophagus Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
- Also available in Spanish
- How Is Cancer of the Esophagus Staged?(American Cancer Society)
- Understanding Esophageal Dilation(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
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Upper GI Endoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Treatment
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Esophageal Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophagus Cancer: Palliative Therapy(American Cancer Society)
- Esophagus Cancer: Treating by Stage(American Cancer Society)
- How Is Cancer of the Esophagus Treated?(American Cancer Society)
- Photodynamic Therapy(American Cancer Society)
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Esophageal Cancer (PDQ): Treatment
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Prevention/Screening
- Can Cancer of the Esophagus Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society)
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Esophageal Cancer (PDQ): Prevention(National Cancer Institute)
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Esophageal Cancer (PDQ): Screening(National Cancer Institute)
- What Are the Risk Factors for Cancer of the Esophagus?(American Cancer Society)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Disease Management
- What Happens After Treatment for Cancer of the Esophagus?(American Cancer Society)
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Related Issues
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Barrett's Esophagus(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Cancer of the Esophagus?(American Cancer Society)
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Barrett's Esophagus
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Esophagus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Throat Anatomy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Neoplasms
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Research
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Preoperative Chemotherapy, Radiation Improve Survival in Esophageal Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
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Snapshot of Esophageal Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
- PDF
- What's New in Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society)
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Preoperative Chemotherapy, Radiation Improve Survival in Esophageal Cancer
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute)
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms
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Directories
- ASGE: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
- Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
- Find an Otolaryngologist (ENT)(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
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Organizations That Offer Support Services(National Cancer Institute)
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Organizations
- American Cancer Society
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National Cancer Institute
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Statistics
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Cancer of the Esophagus(National Cancer Institute)
- What Are the Key Statistics about Cancer of the Esophagus?(American Cancer Society)
- Return to top
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Cancer of the Esophagus
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Patient Handouts
- After chemotherapy - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
- Coughing up blood
- Also available in Spanish
- Diet and eating after esophagectomy
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophageal cancer
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophagectomy - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophagectomy - minimally invasive
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophagectomy - open
- Also available in Spanish
- Swallowing problems
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA