Oesophageal cancer
Oesophageal cancer is a type of cancer affecting the oesophagus (gullet) the long tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.
It mainly affects people in their 60s and 70s and is more common in men than women.
This page covers:
Oesophageal cancer doesn't usually cause any symptoms in the early stages when the tumour is small. It's only when it gets bigger that symptoms tend to develop.
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer can include:
and living with oesophageal cancer .
The outlook for oesophageal cancer varies depending on things such as how far it has spread, your age and your general health.
If it's detected while it's still quite small, it may be possible to get rid of it completely.
But as oesophageal cancer doesn't usually cause any symptoms until a late stage, ithas often spread quite far by the time it's diagnosed.
Cancer Research UK hasmore informationabout oesophageal cancer survival statistics .
Find out about oesophageal cancer, including what the symptoms are, why it occurs and what the main treatments are.
Find out about the main symptoms of oesophageal cancer and when to get medical advice.
Find out about the things that can increase your risk of oesophageal cancer, including GORD, alcohol, smoking, obesity and an unhealthy diet.
Find out how oesophageal is diagnosed, including which tests you may need to have.
Find out about the main treatments for oesophageal cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Find information and advice about living with oesophageal cancer, including how your diet may change and what financial support is available.
After discovering he had cancer of the oesophagus in 1998, keen marathon runner Clive Alexander had an oesophago-gastrectomy.