Understanding Esophageal Cancer Stages: Symptoms & Treatment

The esophagus, a hollow tube providing a means of transport for food and drink from from the throat to the stomach, is made up of many layers of tissues. When cancer develops in the esophagus, it will begin on the inside of these tissues, working its way out. The treatment for this disease depends on a number of factors; the most important being the stage the cancer is diagnosed in.

Stage One

• At this point, the cancer has formed and has begun to spread past the inner layer of tissue to the next layer in the wall of the esophagus.

Stage Two

• The cancer can spread in one of two ways; it can spread to the layers of the esophageal muscle or the outer wall of the esophagus. It can also spread to any of the first three layers of the esophagus and any lymph nodes that are near.

Stage Three

• At this stage, the cancer will usually spread to either the outer wall of the esophagus or to lymph nodes near the esophagus.

Stage Four

• In this stage, the cancer may again spread in one of two ways; first it can spread to both nearby and distant lymph nodes. It can also spread to distant lymph nodes and/or other organs of the body.

Recurrent

• This is cancer that comes back after treatment has been completed. It may return in the esophagus or in another part of the body.