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If you're having symptoms that could be linked to esophageal cancer, your doctor will want to know why. Your doctor is likely to ask you questions such as these.
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There are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel like you're in shock. You may not even want to believe what the doctor has told you. And there are probably so many questions you want to ask but think you can't because you don't know where to start.
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Your 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. This information helps you and your doctor decide on the treatment that is likely to be most effective. These tests can also help your doctor learn if cancer has spread beyond the esophagus. CT Scan and endoscopic ultrasound are the two most common tests.
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To learn more about your tumor and your health, your doctor will evaluate you. Your evaluation includes a history, a physical exam, and some tests. Results of your evaluation help your health care team plan the best treatment for you.
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Call your doctor if you have shortness of breath, a temperature above 101.0° F for more than 24 hours, or bleeding from your nose or throat. If you have chest pain or severe shortness of breath, call right away.
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Computed tomography (CT) is a test that combines x-rays and computer scans. The result is a detailed picture that can show problems with soft tissues (such as the lining of your sinuses), organs (such as your kidneys or lungs), and bones.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that lets your doctor see detailed pictures of the inside of your body. MRI combines the use of strong magnets and radio waves to form an MRI image.
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Upper GI endoscopy allows your doctor to look directly into the beginning of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) make up the upper GI tract.
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An x-ray uses a small amount of radiation to create images of your bones and internal organs. X-rays are most often used to detect bone or joint problems, or to check the heart and lungs (chest x-ray).
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The way a cancer grows or the path it takes if it spreads from the first tumor is its pathophysiology. When cancer spreads from the first site, it's called metastasis.
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Your 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. There are 2 main types of esophageal cancer, which are named for the type of cells that become cancerous.
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Your doctor recommends tests and does exams to help determine the stage of cancer. Stage is the word doctors use to describe the size of a cancerous tumor and where and how far it has spread. The first place cancer is found in the body is called the primary site or primary tumor. When a cancer spreads, it's said to have metastasized.
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A prognosis is a statement about the prospect of surviving and recovering from a disease. It may sound hard to ask, "Can I survive this?” But it's a question most people have when they learn they have esophageal cancer. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy answer.
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