Like your mother, most patients have stage III disease at the time of diagnosis. The two most common types of esophageal cancer are called squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The staging of this cancers is very important. Staging determines treatment options and predicts the prognosis of the patient. The TNM staging system is universally applied in the United States.
T stands for tumor size, N for regional lymph node involvement and M for distant metastasis.
A stage III cancer, implies a tumor that invades the outer lining of the esophagus or adjacent structures, and with regional lymph nodes that are also affected by the cancer. Combined treatment is frequently used. Because most cases of esophageal cancer are currently detected at an incurable stage, several palliative treatments have been described. Palliation means that even though the treatment will not change the prognosis, it will make the patient more comfortable and improve the quality of life. The most common symptom of advanced esophageal cancer is difficulty or inability to swallow due to the tumor obstructing the lumen of the esophagus.