Oncology

Millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death .

Types of alimentary tract cancers : 

1. The esophagus is a muscular, hollow tube that carries food from the oropharynx (area behind mouth and soft palate) to the stomach. It consists of several layers. Esophageal cancer usually develops in the inner layer cells and grows outward. There are two major types of esophageal cancer. The first occurs in the cells found in the lining of the esophagus (squamous cells), and the cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma. It can develop anywhere along the entire length of the esophagus and represents approximately half of all reported esophageal cancers. The second type of cancer known to occur in the esophagus is an adenocarcinoma, which is cancer of the glandular cells that line the inside of organs. Adenocarcinoma occurs near the stomach entrance and may be associated with a condition known as Barrets esophagus. This is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus undergoes cellular changes as a result of chronic irritation and inflammation resulting from reflux of gastric juices. Esophageal adenocarcinomas cannot develop unless squamous cells have been transformed by the acid reflux of the stomach juices
2. The stomach is located in the upper abdomen under the ribs. It is the most expandable organ of the digestive system. Food reaches the stomach from the esophagus and is broken down by gastric juices secreted by the stomach. After leaving the stomach, partially broken down food passes into the small intestine and afterwards into the colon (first part of the large intestine). In cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the stomach and this cancer can develop anywhere in the organ. It may grow along the stomach wall into other organs such as the esophagus or small intestine. Or it may go through the stomach wall and invade the nearby lymph nodes or organs such as the liver, pancreas, and colon. And it may also spread to more distant organs, such as the lungs, the lymph nodes located above the collar bone, and the ovaries. The major type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma . 90% cure is possible if the cancer is found before spreading to other organs.
3. The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It plays a major role in digestion, in the transformation of food into energy and in filtering and storing blood. It is also responsible for processing nutrients and drugs, producing bile, controlling the level of glucose(sugar) in the blood, detoxifying blood, and regulating blood clotting. In cancer of liver cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the liver. Primary liver cancer is cancer that starts in the liver. As such, it is different from cancer that starts somewhere else and spreads to the liver. There are four main types of liver cancer: angiosarcoma, cholangeo carcinoma, which starts in the bile ducts and accounts for approximatelyandhepato cellular carcinoma.