ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

A PET scan can show where tumour cells are growing, which helps your doctor determine the best course of treatment.

The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Cancers of the esophagus start from its inner layer and grow outward, originating in either from the squamous cells that routinely line the inner surface of the esophagus or glandular tissue that develops within the esophagus.

Approximately 1,350 new esophageal cancer cases will be diagnosed in Canada. Although survival rates have been improving, most people with esophageal cancer eventually die of this disease because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Experts predict that this year, there will be 1,100 deaths from esophageal cancer.

Diagnosis and Early Detection

Early cancers of the esophagus have no symptoms and there are no tests that can screen for esophageal cancer. In most cases, it is discovered because of symptoms -- and the presence of symptoms usually indicates that the cancer is at an advanced stage, when a cure will be unlikely.

Difficulty swallowing is the most common symptom, but patients usually don't notice this until the diameter of the esophagus has been narrowed substantially. The course of treatment and outlook for the patient's recovery depends, to a great extent, on the stage of the cancer.

The PET scan can accurately detect the cancer and see how far it may have spread. Call your physician or CareImaging PET Scan Clinic in Ontario for information about whether you might be a candidate for PET or to schedule a PET Scan.

Follow-up Treatment and Cancer Recurrence

The treatment for esophageal cancer like most cancer treatments may cause side effects, so your doctor will schedule you for routine follow-up visits to help manage those side effects and check for how effective the treatment is and whether or not the cancer is spreading. Your doctors may order follow up tests. This is also where PET can help.

PET is the most useful test that you can have when doctors are staging or re-staging your cancer because it is more accurate than CT or any other test.

Imaging with PET is also critical to looking for the return of the cancer. In many patients with esophageal cancers, a mass may remain after treatment. The mass itself may be on CT scan, but CT cannot determine if the tumour has been successfully treated or if residual cancer remains that must be treated.

PET can also image tumour response to therapy and detect recurrence in successfully treated lesions. After surgery and other treatments, PET is extremely important in monitoring whether the cancer cells have returned and if treatment should be re-started.

Find the support you need

If you've had cancer, there are programs offering information and support. The stress of any illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.

Support programs exist in a variety of formats, including counseling, support groups, and self-help programs. For those who cannot attend meetings, there are also on-line mechanisms that may allow a patient to "chat" with other people facing similar situations. These types of programs can provide a way for you to relate your experience firsthand with others and may provide treatment-related tips about drug side-effects that will be helpful to you.

More Information About Esophageal Cancer:

Canadian Cancer Society
Cancer Care Ontario