Oesophageal cancer occurs when cells in the oesophagus become malignant. The oesophagus is a long (25-30) muscular passage connecting the pharynx and the stomach. Its main function is to provide a passageway for food to move from the mouth to the stomach. The most common forms of oesophageal cancer are squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell cancer occurs in the lining of the top part of the oesophagus. Adenocarcinoma develops in the gland cells where the oesophagus connects to the stomach. Small tumours can be removed with surgery, but large ones are usually impossible to operate since they tend to spread to other internal organs. Most common symptoms of oesophageal cancer include difficulty and pain while swallowing.

Most patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer are male and older than 60. Smoking and heavy drinking increase the risk of getting cancer of the oesophagus, especially when combined. Other risk factors include the irritation of tissue from Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Human Papilloma Virus, certain carcinogenic chemicals in food (such as nitrosamine), cases of other head and neck cancers, Plummer-Vinson syndrome, exposure to radiotherapy, celiac disease and being heavily overweight.

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