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Esophageal Cancer 1 Case Study #33 Esophageal Cancer Treated with Surgery and Radiation Adrienne Grogan Mariah Guthrie Miami University I. Understanding the Disease and Pathophysiology 1. Mr. Seyer has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. What does the term adenocarcinoma mean? Esophageal Cancer 2 Adenocarcinoma is cancer found in the secretory cells of the body. These type of cells secrete mucus, digestive juices, saliva, or other fluids into the body. Common adenocarcinoma cancers are found in the breast, prostate, esophagus, pancreas, lungs, and colon (NCL Dictionary of Cancer Terms). 2. What are two mon types of esophageal cancer? What are the risk factors for development of this malignancy? Does Mr. Seyer ’s medical record indicate that he has any of these risk factors? Two of the mon types of esophageal cancer include adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the mon of the two in the United States, and is typically found in lower part of the esophagus, close to the stomach. Common risk factors of Adenocarcinoma include obesity, acid reflux, and Barrett esophagus disease. Squamous cell carcinoma is more often found in upper parts of the esophagus, and risk factors for this type of cancer include drinking heavily or being a smoker. According to his medical record, Mr. Seyer has had heartburn for about a year, has smokes two packs a day, and drinks a moderate amount of alcohol, allof which are risk factors for esophageal cancer (Types of Esophageal Cancer). 3. Mr. Seyer ’s cancer was described as Stage IIB (T1, N1, M0). Explain this terminology used to describe staging for malignancies. Stage IIB of the esophagus is described as the cancer that has grown into layers below the epithelium and has been found in1or2of the nearest lymph nodes, but has not yet spread to lymph nodes far away to the esophagus (NCI). The TNM system is often used to stage esophageal cancer, based onhow far the primary tumor (T) has grown. The higher the