Oesophageal cancer begins when abnormal cells develop in the innermost layer (mucosa) of the oesophagus. A tumour can start anywhere along the oesophagus.
Learn more about:
- Types of oesophageal cancer
- Rare types of oesophageal cancer
- Who gets oesophageal cancer?
- What causes oesophageal cancer?
- GORD and Barrett’s oesophagus
- The oesophagus and stomach
Types of oesophageal cancer
There are two main subtypes:
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma – This often starts near the gastro-oesophageal junction and is linked with Barrett’s oesophagus. Adenocarcinomas are the most common form of oesophageal cancer in Australia.
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma – This starts in the thin, flat cells of the mucosa, which are called squamous cells. It often begins in the middle and upper part of the oesophagus. In Australia, oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is less common than oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
If it is not found and treated early, oesophageal cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes or to other parts of the body, most commonly the liver and lungs. It can also grow through the oesophageal wall and into nearby organs.
Rare types of oesophageal cancer
Other types of tumours can start in the oesophagus. These include small cell carcinomas, lymphomas, neuroendocrine tumours and gastrointestinal stromal tumours.
These types of cancer aren’t discussed here and treatment may be different. For more information, call Cancer Council 13 11 20.
Some cancers start at the point where the stomach meets the oesophagus (called the gastro-oesophageal junction). Depending on the type of gastro-oesophageal cancer, it may be treated similarly to stomach cancer or oesophageal cancer.
Who gets oesophageal cancer?
In Australia, about 1740 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year. Men are much more likely than women to be diagnosed with this cancer
What causes oesophageal cancer?
The exact causes of oesophageal cancer are not known. Research shows that the factors listed below may increase your risk. Having one or more of these risk factors does not mean you will develop cancer. Many people have these risk factors and do not develop oesophageal cancer.
Known risk factors for oesophageal cancer include:
Adenocarcinoma
- carrying extra body weight (overweight or obese)
- medical conditions, including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and Barrett’s oesophagus
- smoking tobacco
- older age (being over 60)
Squamous cell carcinoma
- drinking alcohol
- smoking tobacco
- older age (being over 60)
- damage to the oesophagus from hot or corrosive liquids such as acid
GORD and Barrett’s oesophagus
Reflux is when stomach acid rises back into the oesophagus. Some people with reflux are diagnosed with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
Over a period of time, stomach acid can damage the lining of the oesophagus and cause inflammation or ulcers (oesophagitis).
This condition is called Barrett’s oesophagus. It only develops in about 1 in 10 people with GORD.
In some people, Barrett’s oesophagus can lead to the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, but this is rare.
If you have Barrett’s oesophagus, your doctor may recommend you have regular endoscopies. In this procedure, a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end is inserted down your throat so the doctor can look for early changes to the cells that may cause cancer.
The oesophagus
The oesophagus is part of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is part of the digestive system. The digestive system helps the body break down food and turn it into energy.
The oesophagus (food pipe) is a long, muscular tube. The top part of the stomach joins to the end of the oesophagus and the other end joins to the beginning of the small bowel.
What the oesophagus does
The oesophagus moves food, fluid and saliva from the mouth and throat to the stomach. A valve (sphincter) at the lower end of the oesophagus stops acid and food moving from the stomach back into the oesophagus.
The stomach stores food and breaks it down (digests it). Juices and muscle contractions in the stomach break down food into a thick fluid, which then moves into the small bowel. In the small bowel, nutrients from the broken-down food are absorbed into the bloodstream. The waste moves into the large bowel, where fluids are absorbed into the body and the leftover matter is turned into solid waste (known as faeces, stools or poo).
Layer of tissue | In the oesophageal wall |
| 1. mucosa |
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| 2. submucosa |
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| 3. muscle layer |
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| 4. outer layer |
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Anatomy of the oesophagus
→ READ MORE: Oesophageal cancer symptoms
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Prof David I Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Kieran Cahill, Consumer; Jessica Jong, Clinical Dietitian, Upper GI and Hepatobiliary Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; John Leung, Consumer; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA; Dr Sarah Sutherland, Medical Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Paula Swannock, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, VIC; Rebecca Yeoh, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland.
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