Esophageal cancer is a malignancy of the esophagus, the hollow tube that carries food to the stomach from the throat.

Risk factors for esophageal cancer include: tobacco or alcohol use, older age, being male, or being African American.

Symptoms common in esophageal cancer include:

• Acid reflux symptoms, such as heartburn
• Chest pain
• Pain while swallowing
• Weight loss

The most common treatment for this form of cancer is surgery -- the removal of a portion of the esophagus. This procedure is called an esophagectomy. Sometimes a plastic tube or a portion of the intestine is used to connect the remaining esophagus tissue to the stomach.

If the esophagus is blocked by cancer cells, the surgeon might insert a stent to keep the passage open in order to enable swallowing.

My dad died from esophogeal cancer. He was diagnosed in Feb 2007 and died July 2007. He was supposed to get surgery at the end of his chemo and radiation but it was too late then.
See also

Understanding cancer
Just diagnosed
Planning your treatment
Building a support network