Esophageal cancer tends to be aggressive and can spread to many distant parts of your body. It most commonly spreads to the liver, lymph nodes, and lungs.
Cancer that spreads to distant body parts is called metastatic cancer, and the action of spreading to distant areas is called metastasis.
Metastatic cancer tends to have an unfavorable outlook and is the primary cause of death in more than
About half of people with esophageal cancer already have distant metastasis when they receive a diagnosis. Metastatic esophageal cancer is very difficult to treat and has a 5-year relative survival rate of about
Read on to learn more about the common and rare locations of esophageal cancer metastasis.
Fast facts about esophageal cancer
- The
American Cancer Society estimates that, in 2023, about 21,560 people in the United States will receive a diagnosis of esophageal cancer and about 16,120 people will die from it. - Men have about a
1 in 125 lifetime chance of developing esophageal cancer, while women have a much lower chance at 1 in 417. - More than
85% of people who receive a diagnosis of esophageal cancer are over the age of 55. - About
20% of people with esophageal cancer are alive 5 years after diagnosis. - The 5-year relative survival rate for esophageal cancer is
47% when doctors diagnose it early, before it spreads to other tissues.
Esophageal cancer can spread to distant tissues before or after treatment. It tends to develop quickly. Spread to distant tissues is the major reason treatment may fail.
About half of people with esophageal cancer have metastasis at the time of diagnosis, and another third develop it after diagnosis. Metastasis most often occurs within 6 months of treatment.
In a
- liver: 56%
- distant lymph nodes: 53%
- lung: 50%
Other locations that the researchers reported in more than 10% of people included:
- peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity)
- adrenal glands
- bone
- pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs)
- heart
- kidneys
Of the 268 people with esophageal cancer in the study:
- 54.5% had metastasis in 3 or more locations
- 23.9% had metastasis in 2 locations
- 21.6% had metastasis in 1 location
Esophageal cancer metastasis can affect many parts of your body and may cause unexpected symptoms. A careful examination of your skin, eyes, and muscles, as well as a full-body
In a
| Number of people | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| skin | 21 | 13% |
| eye | 19 | 12% |
| muscle | 15 | 9% |
| heart | 12 | 7% |
| skull | 11 | 7% |
| jaw | 10 | 6% |
| kidneys | 10 | 6% |
| bones | 8 | 5% |
| breast | 7 | 4% |
| pancreas | 6 | 4% |
| thyroid | 6 | 4% |
| spleen | 6 | 4% |
| gastrointestinal tract | 5 | 3% |
| nose | 4 | 2% |
| subcutaneous (under skin) | 4 | 2% |
| lymph nodes | 4 | 2% |
| lips or gums | 3 | 2% |
| salivatory glands | 2 | 1% |
| pineal gland | 2 | 1% |
| penis | 2 | 1% |
| chest wall | 2 | 1% |
| tonsils | 1 | <1% |
| tongue | 1 | <1% |
| brain | 1 | <1% |
Metastatic esophageal cancer symptoms depend on where your cancer spreads to.
Symptoms of liver metastasis
If the cancer spread to your liver, it may cause symptoms such as:
- abdominal pain or swelling
- a general feeling of sickness
- lack of appetite
- unexplained weight loss
- yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)
- itchiness
Symptoms of lung metastasis
Spread to your lungs might cause:
- a persistent cough
- shortness of breath
- repeated respiratory infections
- coughing up blood
- a buildup of fluid around your lungs (pleural effusion)
Symptoms of lymph node metastasis
Spread to your lymph nodes can cause swelling and tenderness in those areas. If lymph nodes in your chest are affected, you might find it hard to swallow or have pain when swallowing.
The 5-year survival rate for esophageal cancer is now about
Based on data from 2012 to 2018, the
| Stage | 5-year relative survival rate |
|---|---|
| localized | 47% |
| regional | 26% |
| distant (metastasized) | 6% |
| all stages | 21% |
Once metastasis develops, half of people live less than 5 months. Treatment usually revolves around trying to reduce symptoms and prolong survival rather than trying to cure the cancer.
People who are younger or in better overall health tend to have a better outlook than older people or people with multiple additional health issues.
Esophageal cancer tends to be aggressive and often has a relatively unfavorable outlook. It can spread to many different parts of your body, including your liver, lymph nodes, and lungs. In about half of people with this cancer, the cancer has already spread to distant locations at the time of diagnosis.
Esophageal cancer can also spread to distant locations after treatment has started. Treatment for metastasized esophageal cancer usually aims to prolong life rather than to cure the cancer.
Researchers are continuing to examine newer treatment options for esophageal cancer that may help improve the outlook for people with this cancer in the future.