Question 1

how do i know if my
dysphasia is from anxiety or esophageal cancer? i'm a 30 y/o f don't drink smoke or do drugs. i've been going through this 6months

Accepted Answer

Anxiety: From what you described the risk of esophageal cancer is low. It is not feasible to provide a meaningful opinion without taking additional history, physical examination and may be some tests. It would be prudent to see your doctor and discuss if you may be depressed. 
If you have gained weight recently, losing it would help.
Wish you good health! - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form. 
Practice safe sex, if you have sex.

Question 2

what causes esophagealcancer?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Classic squamous cell carcinoma is seen primarily in drinker-smokers are herpes simplex i (fever blister virus) is also implicated.  Recently there has been a great increase in adenocarcinoma, which may have something to do with reflux, but the reason for the increase remains mysterious.  I wish you luck if you or a loved one has either illness.

Question 3

can you cure esophageal cancer?

Accepted Answer

It depends: Esophageal cancer can be cured if it is caught early. The prognosis depends largely on the stage of disease.  Lower stage disease which is more localized is more easily cured.

Question 4

how is esophageal cancer treated?

Accepted Answer

Depends on stage: There are 4 stages of esophageal cancer (with a and b subtypes for some). For stage i and iia, the upfront therapy is surgery or esophagectomy. For stage iib or iii, treatment is chemoradiation followed by surgery, or definitive chemoradiation. For stage iv, the treatment is chemotherapy, + /- radiation.

Question 5

is esophageal cancer fast growing?

Accepted Answer

Probably: Depending on what you consider fast..Needs to be treated within very few weeks of diagnosis.

Question 6

how is esophageal cancer diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Endoscopy and biopsy: Currently, an endoscopy (looking down your esophagus with a scope) and then a biopsy are typically used to diagnose esophageal cacner.

Question 7

what are symptoms esophageal cancer?

Accepted Answer

Dysphagia.: Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing is the major symptom of esophageal cancer.  At the time of this symptom, patients may have weight loss, chest pain, pulmonary aspiration, hoarseness, and odynophagia or painful swallowing.

Question 8

how painful can esophageal cancer be?

Accepted Answer

Very: Esophageal cancer can be very painful, especially if it has already spread to other parts of the body like the bones.

Question 9

symptoms of esophageal cancer common?

Accepted Answer

Difficulty and/or: Pain on swallowing, leading to weight loss.  Commonly associated with tobacco and alcohol use, now prevalent in overweight individuals with reflux.

Question 10

how can you get an esophageal cancer?

Accepted Answer

Two types: Adenocarcinoma:  caused by acid reflux
squamous cell carcinoma: caused by alcohol, smoking, previous radiation, nitrosamines, achalasia, caustic ingestion, chaga's disease, previous head and neck cancer.

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A member asked:

How do i know if my dysphasia is from anxiety or esophageal cancer? i'm a 30 y/o f don't drink smoke or do drugs. i've been going through this 6months

A member asked:

What causes esophagealcancer?

A member asked:

Can you cure esophageal cancer?

A member asked:

How is esophageal cancer treated?

A member asked:

Is esophageal cancer fast growing?

A member asked:

How is esophageal cancer diagnosed?

A member asked:

What are symptoms esophageal cancer?

A member asked:

How painful can esophageal cancer be?

A member asked:

Symptoms of esophageal cancer common?

A member asked:

How can you get an esophageal cancer?

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