[Kok! Health] Esophageal Cancer Discovered Late... Attention Needed for Metastasis and Recurrence

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Esophageal cancer cases are gradually increasing, but it is often detected late, resulting in a low 5-year relative survival rate among cancers. Additionally, even after complete remission, the recurrence rate is high, so careful post-treatment management to prevent metastasis and recurrence is essential.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on the 18th, the number of patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer increased by about 20%, from 9,632 in 2017 to 11,904 last year. On the other hand, the 5-year relative survival rate for esophageal cancer is 40.9%, which is low because it is often detected after significant metastasis has occurred.

This situation is known to be due to the absence of a membrane surrounding the esophagus, making it easy for esophageal cancer to metastasize to surrounding organs or lymph nodes, and it is often detected after considerable metastasis has taken place. Causes include alcohol consumption, smoking, aging, hot foods, and burnt foods, which are considered related to its occurrence.

Early esophageal cancer often shows no distinct symptoms and is frequently detected through health screenings. If symptoms such as difficulty swallowing food, weight loss, pain in the sternum area, or persistent coughing occur, there is a high possibility of esophageal cancer, so accurate testing is necessary. Diagnostic methods include esophagography, esophageal, ultrasound, and bronchoscopic endoscopy. Esophageal cancer can also be diagnosed through gastroscopy.

Treatment methods include surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Even if esophageal cancer is detected early, only 60% of patients are eligible for surgery. When surgical resection is not possible, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are administered, but there is a risk of a rapid decline in the patient’s immune system. Moreover, esophageal cancer has a high recurrence rate even after complete remission, so efforts must be made in post-treatment management to prevent metastasis and recurrence.

To enhance immunity weakened by surgery and treatment, the use of supplements can be helpful. Accordingly, 'Thymosin Alpha 1,' an immune enhancer, is often used as an adjuvant therapy during surgery and chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer patients. It is an immune-regulating peptide present in the thymus that activates various immune cells such as T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells, boosting immune function in states where immune responses are suppressed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.