Oesophageal cancer

X-rays are taken of your oesophagus as you drink a white chalky liquid called barium. The liquid shows up any abnormal areas in your oesophagus. This test normally takes about 15 minutes and is not painful. Even though the liquid tastes chalky, it should not make you feel sick.

Read more about having a barium swallow.

A thin flexible tube with a camera and a light is put into your oesophagus so the doctor can check for unusual changes. 

Read more about [having an endoscopy].

A device like a microphone passed over the area to give a picture of the tissues inside your body. It can show any abnormal changes. 

Read more about liver ultrasound scans.

An ultrasound probe is passed through a tube into your body through your mouth. It can take ultrasound pictures from inside your oesophagus.

Read more about having an EUS.

This means taking a sample of the cells in the oesophagus and looking at them under a microscope. This is usually done during an endoscopy or EUS.

A type of X-ray that gives a detailed picture of the tissues inside your body.

Read more about CT scans.

A flexible tube with an ultrasound probe on the end is passed into oesophagus through your mouth. This lets your doctor to see the tissues inside your oesophagus and nearby areas. He or she can check the size and depth of the tumour and if nearby lymph glands are enlarged due to cancer or infection. A sample of the lymph glands can also be taken and checked for signs of cancer. 

Read more about having an EUS.

A radioactive injection that will show up any cancer spread to other parts of your body on a CT scan picture.

Read more about PET scans.

A scan that uses magnetic energy to build up a picture of the tissues inside your body. You might have this scan to let your doctor look at areas outside the oesophagus such as the liver. During the scan you will lie inside a tunnel-like machine.

Read more about MRI scans.

You may have this test if your doctor needs more information after other tests have been done. A laparoscopy is a small operation that is performed under general anaesthetic. A mini telescope is passed through a small cut in your abdomen (tummy) so that your doctor can see the organs close to your oesophagus and check the lining of your abdomen for cancer. 

Read more about having a laparoscopy.

The size of the tumour and how far it has grown into the lining of the oesophagus. Doctors put a number next to the T to describe the size and spread of the cancer.

N0 means there is no cancer in the nodes. If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (positive nodes) the N will have a number to describe how many lymph nodes are affected. NX means the doctors cannot tell if the nodes are affected.

The M may have a number next to it. This gives extra information about where the cancer has spread to.

• M0: The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.  
• M1: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.  

The cancer is at a very early stage. Cancer cells are found in the lining of your oesophagus but are completely within the lining. This stage is also known as carcinoma in situ. 

The cancer is at an early stage. The cancer cells are found only in the surface layers of the lining of your oesophagus. Or it may be found in only a small part of your oesophagus. There is no sign of it spreading anywhere. 

The cancer has spread to the muscle layer of your oesophagus or to nearby lymph nodes. But it has not spread to any other organs. If the cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is stage 2A. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is stage 2B. 

The cancer has spread beyond the wall of your oesophagus. It may also have spread to nearby lymph nodes and other tissues next to your oesophagus. But there are no signs of it spreading to other parts of your body.  

The cancer is advanced and has spread to your lymph nodes and other parts of your body. For example, your liver, lungs or stomach. Cancer in another part of your body is called secondary or metastatic oesophageal cancer.