Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma – Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors

The oesophagus, also known as the food pipe is the tube that allows food to travel from the mouth to the stomach. The lower part of the oesophagus that connects to the stomach is called the gastroesophageal junction. The gastroesophageal junction has a ring of muscles which control the movement of food from the esophagus into the stomach, called the oesophageal sphincter. The gastroesophageal junction lies just below the diaphragm, beneath the lungs. Cancer that starts in the glandular cells of the gastroesophageal junction is known as gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Any cancer that starts in the glandular cells is termed as an adenocarcinoma. Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma is considered to be a type of oesophageal cancer. Oesophageal cancer is prevalent to an undesirable point in India, being the 4th common cause of cancer related deaths in India. This statistic is thought to be due to tobacco consumption and poor nutrition in certain regions of India. Symptoms Unfortunately, most oesophageal cancers, including gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, do not present any symptoms until they have grown large and spread to an advanced stage. When they do, they cause symptoms like: • Difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagiarn• Increased production of salivarn• Hoarsenessrn• Unintentional weight lossrn• Hoarsenessrn• Painful swallowing or heartburn like painrn• Nausea and vomitingrn• Chronic cough or hiccupsrn• Black stools from gastrointestinal bleedingrn• Anaemiarn• Bone pain Causes and Risk Factors The cause of gastrointestinal junction adenocarcinoma, like most cancers, is not fully understood. DNA from the oesophageal cancer cells show changes in genes, but what causes these genetic changes (mutations) is not fully understood. There are, however, certain risk factors which are known to increase the risk of oesophageal cancer. These include: • Being male. Males are four times more susceptible to oesophageal cancer than females. • Increasing age. 85% of patients are above 55. • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Barrett’s Oesophagus, which cause changes in the lining of the oesophagus. • Tobacco use (Chewing or smoking) • Alcohol usern• Obesityrn• Diet. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables decreases the risk, while eating processed meat increases the risk. • Achalasia, which is a disorder of movement of oesophagus. rnGastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma is usually diagnosed by a gastroenterologist, a specialist in gastroenterology. Treatment is usually done by a gastroenterological oncologist. There are excellent cancer hospitals in Patna, Bihar, where one can find the leading oncologist in Patna.Cancer treatment in Patna is now highly advanced, and at par with international standards, and certain of its hospitals are on the list of the best cancer hospitals in India.