How prevalent is esophageal cancer?
What are the symptoms?
Can esophageal cancer be detected early?
What are the risk factors?
If any medical treatments are ordered by my doctor, will my insurance cover them?
Who is part of the treatment team?
How prevalent is esophageal cancer?
While esophageal cancer accounts for only 1% of all diagnosed cancers, the incidence of esophageal cancer is increasing.
What are the symptoms?
- Difficulty swallowing
- Throat pain
- Back pain between the shoulder blades
- Chronic cough
- Hoarseness
- Vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss.
Can esophageal cancer be detected early?
For patients with Barrett's esophagus and other high-risk conditions of the esophagus, doctors may recommend regular screenings to insure that the condition does not progress into a form of esophageal cancer.
What are the risk factors?
- Barrett's esophagus or dysplasia
- Long-term heavy alcohol usage
- Tobacco exposure
- Age over 60
- Gender (men are at greater risk than women)
If any medical treatments are ordered by my doctor, will my insurance cover them?
Depending on the type of coverage, most commercial insurance carriers will pay the major share of the cost. You should always consult your insurance company to determine proper coverage.
Who is part of the treatment team?
The team at Advocate Christ Medical Center is staffed by a specially trained team of gastroenterologist, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, genetics counselors and nurses, who are dedicated to caring for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. You will remain under the care of your primary care physician while you are treated by the specialists at Christ Medical Center. To ensure that your physician is kept up-to-date, our team will provide ongoing reports on the progress you have made.
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