Esophageal Cancer Overview

ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Esophageal cancer is cancer that occurs in the esophagus - a long hollow tube that goes from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus carries food that you swallow your stomach to be digested.

Esophageal cancer usually begins in cells that line into the esophagus. Esophageal cancer can occur anywhere in the esophagus, but people in the United States, occurs most often at the base of the esophagus. More men than women fall ill with esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer is uncommon in the United States. In other parts of the world such as Asia and parts of Africa, cancer of the esophagus is much more common.