Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide

Risk Factors

• Smoking
• Alcohol intake
• Ingestion of corrosive substances
• Radiation
• Diet deficient in vitamins

Clinical Features

• Difficulty in swallowing
• Weight loss
• Weakness
• Anaemia
• Chest pain
• Cough and hoarseness of voice

Evaluation

• Endoscopy and biopsy
• Bronchoscopy in some patients
• CT scan of chest, abdomen or
• PET CT scan for whole body

Stage of Disease

• Very early stage – Cancer involves very superificial layers of esophagus and no lymph node spread
• Early stage – cancer involves more deep layers with minimal or no lymph node spread
• Advanced stage – cancer involves all layers of esophagus or invading near by organs with advanced disease in lymph nodes
• Very advanced stage – disease has spread to inner lining of abdomen (peritoneum), liver, lung,bones

Treatments

Surgery

• Very early stages – If feasible, endoscopic resection of cancer can be done.
• Early stages – Depending on the site of tumor a partial or total removal of esophagus along with all lymph nodes are done.
• Advanced stages – First chemotherapy and radiation therapy is given to shrink the disease(neoadjuvant), then surgery is planned.
• Very advanced stages – Only chemotherapy is given.

Chemotherapy

Except in very early stages stages, patients gets chemotherapy in all stages of esophagus cancer.

Radiotherapy

Radiation is given in only select cases.

In very early and early stages of lung cancer surgery is the best option. It involves partial or complete removal of the involved lung. In advanced cases, chemotherapy is given to shrink the disease and then surgery is done. In patients who are not fit for surgery with very small cancer, special radiation treatments are available.

Surgeries are performed by using open, laparoscpy and robotic techniques