CCS adapting to COVID-19 realities to support Canadians during and after the pandemic
If esophageal cancer spreads
Cancer cells can spread from the esophagus to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.
Understanding how a type of cancer usually grows and spreads helps your healthcare team plan your treatment and future care.
If esophageal cancer spreads, it can spread to the following:
- lymph nodes around the esophagus
- lymph nodes in the neck or upper chest
- lymph nodes in the lower chest or around the stomach
- lymph nodes in the abdomen
- windpipe (trachea)
- vocal cords
- main artery leading from the heart (aorta)
- pericardium
- stomach
- liver
- adrenal glands
- lung
- bone
- brain
pericardium
The double-layered sac that surrounds the heart. It protects the heart and produces a fluid that acts like a lubricant so the heart can move normally in the chest.
adrenal gland
A small gland on top of each kidney that produces a variety of hormones involved in different body functions, including metabolism (the chemical processes needed for cell function, growth and reproduction), heart rate, blood pressure and controlling blood sugar levels.
Making progress in the cancer fight
The 5-year cancer survival rate has increased from 25% in the 1940s to 60% today.
