In its late stage, it is "impossible to swallow anything". You should know these things to prevent esophageal cancer.

1. What is esophageal cancer?

Esophageal cancer is a type of malignant tumor that occurs in the epithelial cells of the esophageal mucosa. Based on its different histological origins, it can be divided into squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and carcinosarcoma. Esophageal cancer shares common characteristics with most malignant tumors: cell apoptosis is not controlled by the body, cancer cells grow in an invasive manner, and cancer cells can invade lymphatic and blood vessels, causing lymphatic and blood metastasis.

2. The tissue structure of esophageal cancer:

The basic structure of esophageal cancer tissue is mainly composed of two parts: parenchyma and stroma.

The main substance is actually the cancer cell, which is the main component and special component. The tissue structure of cancer is different due to different histopathology. The stroma is the other part outside the cancer cell, which is the scaffold of the cancer cell, providing nutrition and excretion and its metabolic products for the cancer cell.

It mainly includes fibrous connective tissue, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The parenchyma of each cancer has its own characteristics, but the stroma structure is basically the same. The parenchyma and stroma constitute the unity of the tumor. The parenchyma determines the type and nature of the tumor, but the tumor changes and connects with the body through the stroma.

3.What are the growth characteristics of esophageal cancer?

Esophageal cancer has its own characteristics in the process of growth, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Invasive growth. Cancer cells infiltrate into surrounding tissues along interstitial spaces and lymphatic vessels, making it difficult to distinguish between cancerous tissues and surrounding tissues, making it easy for cancer cells to invade surrounding tissues and organs.

2. Tumors grow rapidly and cannot stop on their own. Cancer cells divide rapidly and uncontrollably, causing the tumor to increase in size rapidly and causing a series of corresponding clinical symptoms.

3. Damage to surrounding tissues and organs and metastasis. As the tumor grows, cancer cells fall off from the primary site or invade lymphatic and blood vessels, causing cancer cells to spread and metastasize to the lymph and blood, forming metastatic cancer.

4. Recurrence is easy. Even if a tumor disappears after surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc., a tumor of the same pathological type may grow again at the site of the primary tumor and its surrounding area after a period of time. This is one of the reasons why malignant tumors are difficult to cure.

author

Zhao Xijiang

Male, born in Rushan City, Shandong Province, Zhao Xijiang graduated from the Medical Department of Shandong Medical University in 1983. He is currently the deputy director of the Esophageal Tumor Department of Tianjin Cancer Hospital, chief physician, professor, and master's tutor. From May 1988 to July 1991, he studied and worked at the Southern Cancer Center (Centre Paul Lamarque) in France, mainly engaged in basic and surgical clinical work of tumors, and obtained the qualification certificate of associate professor from Montpellier Medical School. In 1994, he was selected as the first batch of cross-century discipline leaders in Tianjin. He is an adjunct professor of Nankai University School of Medicine, a member of the Esophageal Cancer Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, a member of the Chinese Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Cancer Prevention and Treatment. He has been engaged in clinical work in thoracic tumor surgery for 30 years, and is proficient in surgical operations and comprehensive treatments of esophageal cancer, cardia cancer, lung cancer, mediastinal tumors and chest wall tumors. He has comprehensive knowledge, rich experience, superb skills, and profound attainments. He pays attention to the combination of clinical and scientific research, and has trained 11 graduate students. We have completed a number of studies, including "Study on the relationship between the expression of E-adhesin and β-linked proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and prognosis", "Study on multi-factor activation of TIL in lung cancer metastatic lymph nodes and anti-tumor efficacy", "Improvement of thoracotomy incision - lung resection through a small arc-shaped incision under the armpit", etc. We have introduced new technologies to fill three gaps in Tianjin's medical and health care.

This article is excerpted from the popular science series of books of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, "How Much Do You Know About Cancer - Esophageal Cancer", which selects the most frequently asked questions by outpatients and inpatients, and provides vivid, concise, accurate and authoritative answers, so that every patient can "have this book in hand and ask for nothing else".