Esophageal cancer is among the many types of cancer that is treatable but rarely curable. It occurs when cancer cells develop in the esophagus or the hollow tube that leads from one’s throat (pharynx) to one’s stomach. When you eat, the food goes to your stomach through the esophagus.
Cancer begins at the inner layer of the esophagus when cells develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. These changes make cells grow, forming a mass of tissue (tumor) that can later enlarge and spread throughout the other layers of the esophagus and other body parts.
According to Cleveland Clinic, esophageal cancer ranks among the 10 most common cancers in the world. In the United States, esophageal cancer accounts for 1% of cancers diagnosed and is the seventh most common cause of cancer death among men.