Esophagus Cancer :
The esophagus is the muscular, hollow tube that carries the food from the throat to the belly. Esophagus cancer develops when malignant cells appear in the tissues of this tube. Although it is a rare disease, esophagus cancer can be life-threatening. Risk factors for esophagus cancer include smoking, old age, and heavy use of alcohol. Unexplained weight loss and pain during swallowing are the most common symptoms of esophagus cancer. However, the disease also causes cough, hoarseness of the voice, lumps under the skin, and pain behind the breastbone. Many affected patients also report heartburn and indigestion. The disease is diagnosed using a variety of tests. Besides an X-ray, a doctor may recommend esophagoscopy, which involves the insertion of a thin tube through the mouth or nose to examine the esophagus. The tube may also be used to collect tissue samples, which can be further examined upon extraction.