Information

Oesophageal cancer is cancer of the gullet and gastric cancer is cancer of the stomach. Combined, they are medically known as oesophago-gastric (OG) cancer.

The oesophagus (more commonly known as the gullet or food pipe) is the long tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.

In Northern Ireland in 2016, a total of 226 people were diagnosed with oesophageal (gullet) cancer. In the same year, 214 people were newly diagnosed with gastric (stomach) cancer.

Symptoms which indicate there may be cancer in the oesophagus are often vague and fairly common symptoms and therefore can be overlooked. However, as with any other area of your body, any changes, however subtle, if persistent should not be ignored.

If you have any of the following symptoms you should see your local doctor and discuss them further.

• Swallowing difficulties or a sensation of food sticking in your chest
• Pain or discomfort as food passes down the oesophagus
• Persistent heartburn/acid reflux (persistent would be 2 to 3 weeks without passing off)
• Persistent cough or hoarseness
• Persistent hiccups
• Regurgitation of food on a regular basis
• Persistent nausea/retching/heaving
• Unexpected weight loss/unusual tiredness

How do you get a diagnosis?

Your GP may initially give you a medication to see if that can solve your symptoms. If after two to three weeks your symptoms have not gone away, he/she may refer you for an endoscopy. This is a camera which is passed down your oesophagus (with sedation if you prefer) where the endoscopist can have a look at the lining of the oesophagus and the stomach. They may take biopsies if they are unhappy about anything they see. This does not necessarily mean you have cancer; it may be that they have seen some ulceration or other changes in the normal linings.

Having test which could lead to a diagnosis of cancer is a frightening and often shocking experience. The waiting for test results and the fears generated whilst you are agonising over what could be wrong with you can be very wearing on both the patient and their loved ones.

What happens at DIAGNOSIS?

When the results of the tests are all finally done and assessed you will be called to see your consultant for the results. If the consultant tells you that you have cancer, you may hear nothing past that point in the consultation. We are often told that the rest of the appointment is a blur. It is a form of shock and quite understandable; that is why it is so important for you to take someone with you to important appointments. They will often hear things that you don’t. It is at this point that we like patients to hear about us. It is important to know that you are not alone and that we are there to support and help.