The Oesophagus, sometimes known as the gullet, is part of the digestive system. We often call the digestive system the gastro-intestinal tract (GI tract). The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.
In the UK, around 9000 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year. There are two main types of oesophageal cancer:
- Squamous cell carcinoma - this develops in the thin, flat cells of the oesophageal lining (the mucosa)
- Adenocarcinoma – this develops from glandular cells in the Oesophagus and is often linked with Barrett’s oesophagus.
There are other, rarer types of oesophageal cancer. These include:
- Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine cancer
- Small cell cancer
- Soft tissue sarcomas, such as gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (GISTs).
Knowing the type of oesophageal cancer you have helps your cancer doctor plan your treatment. Cancer can develop anywhere in the oesophagus. Cancers in the upper or middle oesophagus are usually squamous cell cancer. Cancers in the lower oesophagus and including the place the oesophagus joins the stomach are usually adenocarcinomas.
To learn more click here to visit the macmillan website or click here to watch a short video.
