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When you exercise, you gain more strength and flexibility. Your mood will improve, and you'll be able to think better.
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In elderly patients, symptoms of depression can be mistaken for symptoms of another medical problem, so it is important for clinicians to consider all physical problems and medications of elderly patients before making a diagnosis.
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Learn how to put together a caregiving plan, draw on useful services, and address legal, medical, and financial planning issues. Also, find advice on involving family members, handling daily tasks, and maintaining your well being.
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Aimed at older adults, this report provides practical advice on how to avoid common and often deadly accidents at home.
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Esophageal cancer is a malignancy that develops in tissues of the hollow, muscular canal (esophagus) along which food and liquid travel from the throat to the stomach. Esophageal cancer usually originates in the inner layers of the lining of the esophagus and grows outward.
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Esophageal cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor of the esophagus, the muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach.
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What Is Esophageal Cancer?To help you understand what is happening when you have cancer, it helps to understand how your body works normally.
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Esophageal cancer is a malignancy that develops in tissues of the hollow, muscular canal (esophagus) along which food and liquid travel from the throat to the stomach. Esophageal cancer usually originates in the inner layers of the lining of the esophagus and grows outward.
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How Does My Doctor Know I Have Esophageal Cancer?If you’re having symptoms that could be linked to esophageal cancer, your doctor will want to know why.
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I’ve Just Been Told I Have Esophageal CancerThere are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel like you’re in shock.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Esophageal CancerHere are some answers to frequently asked questions about esophageal cancer.Q: What is the esophagus?A:The esophagus is a muscular tube.
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What Can I Do if I'm At Risk for Esophageal Cancer?The first step to lowering your risk of esophageal cancer is to identify your risk factors.
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Am I At Risk for Esophageal Cancer? There is no way to know for sure if you’re going to get esophageal cancer.
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How Esophageal Cancer GrowsThe way a cancer grows or the path it takes if it spreads from the first tumor is itspathophysiology.When cancer spreads from the first site, it’s calledmetastasis.Tumors in the esophagus usually spread by way of thelymp...
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Detailed information on esophageal cancer, including symptoms, stages, types, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment
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Tell Your Healthcare Team How You Feel During Treatment for Esophageal CancerTreating your cancer to get the best results is important. But your quality of life also matters.
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Tips for Feeling Your Best During Treatment for Esophageal CancerThe treatments to destroy cancer cells can harm healthy cells at the same time, and that means treatment can cause side effects.Side effects affect each person differently. Some peop...
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Can I Survive Esophageal Cancer? What Is My Prognosis?
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What Are the Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer?In the early stages of esophageal cancer, when it is still only in the esophagus, it is usually asymptomatic, meaning it doesn’t cause symptoms.
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Goal of Surgery for Esophageal CancerSurgery is the most common treatment for esophageal cancer. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor and check to see if the cancer has spread.
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Goal of Radiation Therapy for Esophageal Cancer Radiation treatment is also calledradiotherapy.Its goal is to use high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill or shrink cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend it to reduce the size of a t...
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Goal of Chemotherapy for Esophageal CancerChemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs also harm healthy cells.
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Tests That Help Evaluate Esophageal CancerYour doctor took a biopsy from your esophagus to know that you have cancer. Your doctor may request more tests to learn more about your specific type of cancer and its location.
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Making the Decision to Have Radiation Treatment for Esophageal CancerYour doctor may suggest radiation treatment if any of these statements is true for you.There is no evidence that the cancer has spread.In this case, you may have only external ra...
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How to Prepare for Surgery for Esophageal CancerYou’ll meet with your surgeon ahead of time to talk about any concerns you may have.There are some things you and your doctor will do to get ready for surgery. You should eat a healthy diet and conti...
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Making the Decision to Have Surgery for Esophageal CancerSurgery is the most common treatment for esophageal cancer. It may be a good choice for you if any of these statements are true.You are healthy enough to withstand anesthesia and the surgery...
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Treatment Options for Recurrent Esophageal CancerSometimes esophageal cancer comes back after you’ve had treatment. In that case, the goal of treatment is to ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
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Making the Decision to Have Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for Esophageal CancerThis is a type of laser therapy. This is a fairly new treatment for esophageal cancer.
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Making the Decision to Have Chemotherapy for Esophageal CancerYour doctor may recommend chemotherapy if the cancer has spread. It is rarely used for early-stage esophageal cancer.
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What Can I Do to Improve How Well Treatment Works for Esophageal Cancer?If you already have esophageal cancer, taking the same steps that lower a person’s risks of getting the disease can help make your treatment more successful.Ask yourself what ...
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Can I Be Screened for Esophageal Cancer?Screening tests check for signs of cancer in people who don’t have any symptoms.
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What Happens During Chemotherapy for Esophageal CancerHow often you get chemotherapy treatments depends on the drug or drugs you take. The type of chemotherapy you get often depends on the size of your tumor and how fast it is spreading.You may ta...
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Types and Goals of Treatment for Esophageal CancerTreatment for cancer is either local or systemic.Local treatmentsremove, kill, or control the cancer cells in one spot. Surgery, radiation, photodynamic therapy, and electrocoagulation are local tr...
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What to Expect After Surgery for Esophageal CancerUsually, you’ll be in the hospital for about 7 days. You may have to stay away from work for a few weeks, especially if you are having other treatment after surgery.
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What Happens During Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for Esophageal CancerPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is a type of laser treatment. It is a 2-step process.Step 1: Injection of a Photosensitizing AgentYou go to the hospital or a clinic to have a nurse or ...
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Expert-reviewed information summary about tests used to detect or screen for esophageal cancer.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of esophageal cancer.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about factors that may influence the risk of developing esophageal cancer and about research aimed at the prevention of this disease.
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What Happens During Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy) for Esophageal CancerFor this type of radiation, your doctor uses one of these tools to insert radiation in or near the tumor.NeedlesWiresCatheters (small tubes)With one of these tools...
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What Happens During External Beam Radiation Treatment for Esophageal CancerThis type of radiation usually comes from a machine called alinear accelerator.Many times, the machine is linked to computers to precisely control the radiation. This helps...
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What Happens During Surgery for Esophageal CancerWhat happens during surgery depends on the type of surgery you are having. The type of surgery also affects where you have incisions.
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Questions to Ask About Treatment for Esophageal CancerAt first, the information you learn about treatment options may seem overwhelming. You may be able to ease the stress by allowing yourself the time to gather as much information as possible abo...
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Potential New Treatment for Esophageal Cancer: EGFR InhibitorsOne treatment for esophageal cancer that is being studied is a type oftargeted therapy.Targeted therapy uses drugs. They’re developed to target the specific molecules that cause cells t...
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Nutrition During Treatment for Esophageal CancerMany people with esophageal cancer have a hard time swallowing. Problems can result for these reasons.Narrowing of the esophagusThe tumorAs a side effect of treatmentSwallowing problems can make eati...
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Do What You Can to Ease Side Effects of Treatment for Esophageal CancerIt’s likely that you will have physical concerns since your cancer may cause symptoms and your treatment may cause side effects. In this section, you’ll learn more about how to...
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Get Support During Treatment for Esophageal CancerDealing with your feelings is often easier as you learn more about your disease and get support from others. Doctors, nurses, and other members of your healthcare team can answer your questions.
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What to Expect After Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy) Treatment for Esophageal CancerThese are some common side effects of internal radiation during the first week.Swelling or bruising in the area treatedPainDifficulty swallowing or eatingYour d...
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What to Expect After Photodynamic Therapy for Esophageal CancerAs soon as you are injected with the photosensitizing drugPhotofrin (porfimer sodium),you are at high risk for dangerous sunburn. So you need to protect your skin and eyes immediately ...
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What to Expect After External Radiation Therapy for Esophageal CancerRadiation affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. This means it can cause side effects.
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What to Expect After Chemotherapy for Esophageal CancerThe side effects of chemotherapy are different for everyone. They depend on these things.The type of drug you’re takingHow often you take itHow long your treatment lastsYour medical oncologist...
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Statistics for Esophageal CancerYou might be tempted to use statistics to try to figure out your chance of getting cancer or of being cured. Remember that this data shows what happens with large groups of people.
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Understanding Your Type of Esophageal CancerYour doctor will give you tests to help to find out exactly where the cancer is and what kind of cancer it is. Esophageal cancer starts in the cells of the inner lining.
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What Are the Treatment Statistics for People With Esophageal Cancer?The overall 5-year survival rate for people whose cancer responds to treatment is 17% of white patients and 12% of African-American patients.
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Midlife weight gain may put you at risk for serious health conditions, such as diabetes.
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Not everyone faces a crisis at age 40 or 50. But odds are you'll go through some kind of transition, as life challenges coincide with the realization that you're getting older.
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This report takes a view of the whole woman and helps her choose the most practical strategies for making her midlife transition.
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