What You Need to Know about Esophageal Cancer

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a group of diseases with one thing in common: cells become abnormal, dividing too often and without any order.

When cells divide without control, they form too much tissue. The mass of extra tissue, called a tumor, can be benign or malignant.

• Benign tumors are not cancer. They do not spread to other parts of the body and are seldom a threat to life. Benign tumors can usually be removed by surgery, and they are not likely to return.
• Malignant tumors are cancer. They can invade and damage nearby healthy tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from the tumor and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. That is how cancer spreads and forms tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

Cancer of the esophagus is also called esophageal cancer. It can develop in any part of the esophagus. If the cancer spreads outside the esophagus, it usually shows up in nearby lymph nodes (sometimes called lymph glands). In many cases, the cancer also spreads to the windpipe, the large blood vessels in the chest, and other nearby organs. Esophageal cancer can also spread to the lungs, liver, stomach, and other parts of the body.

Cancer that spreads is the same disease and has the same name as the original (primary) cancer. When cancer of the esophagus spreads, it is called metastatic esophageal cancer.

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