- Cancer of the Esophagus - Smoking Facts About the Harmful Effects of Tobacco on the Esophagus
Cancer of the esophagus is one of the possible harmful effects of tobacco on the throat.
Cancers develop first in the deeper esophageal tissue and then as the tumour grows it comes through
to the surface of the tissue. This is why symptoms of esophagus cancer are not well defined and
may not be noticeable until the cancer is well advanced.
Chewing tobacco can also cause esophagus cancer.
When seen in young adults this type of cancer is almost always a result of the effects of tobacco use,
mostly chewing tobacco.
Cancer in the throat can appear in either the larynx or the esophagus. Both are called
throat cancer. Symptoms are also similar.
Your esophagus is the tube that runs from your throat to your stomach. It can range from 25 - 35 cm (10 - 14 inches) long. All food you eat and
all fluids you drink must go down the esophagus to get to the stomach. Even your saliva
goes into the esophagus on its way to the stomach.
The tissue lining the esophagus is susceptible to irritation from harmful substances.
Anything that causes chronic irritation of the esophagus places you at risk for a carcinoma.
This includes irritants such as alcohol, solvents, or poisons that are ingested. Even
your own stomach acid can be an irritant and cancer of the esophagus is more common in people with
chronic acid reflux.
Among the known irritants that predispose to esophagus cancer is tobacco.
Your esophageal tissue is not immune to the harmful effects of tobacco use and
both chewing tobacco and cigarette smoking are known risk factors.
Symptoms of esophagus cancer are mild at first and are often overlooked or dismissed as being unimportant.
It is not until the tumour is well developed and
partially blocks the esophagus that difficulty with swallowing occurs.
By this time the probability
that the cancer has spread is high, and that accounts for the low survival rate.
Tobacco and Smoking Facts about Cancer of the Esophagus
Although esophageal cancer is one of the less common types of cancer it is more common in
smokers than in non smokers.
People who chew tobacco increase their risk of
cancer of the tongue,
larynx and esophagus when compared to people who do not use tobacco products. (American Cancer Society)
While this type of throat cancer is one of the possible harmful effects of tobacco use (both in the form of
smoke and chewing tobacco) not all people who are diagnosed with the disease use tobacco products.
The purpose of the information provided here is to help you cooperate with your doctor and other
health practitioners. It is not intended to take the place of medical advice and you are encouraged to
discuss health concerns with your physician or a professional health care provider who is
familiar with you and your unique personal health context.
