Is heartburn caused by esophageal cancer a sign of cancer spread?
Diffusion refers to the spread of cancer cells. Heartburn caused by esophageal cancer may be due to the spread of cancer cells, or it may be caused by accompanying diseases such as reflux esophagitis, gastritis, esophageal ulcer, gastric ulcer, etc. First, it is not the spread of cancer cells:
If the sphincter at the lower end of the patient's esophagus is abnormal, resulting in a decrease in esophageal anti-reflux function, gastric acid can easily reflux into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation.
Due to the patient's long-term use of chemotherapy drugs, it may lead to gastric mucosa damage, and gastric acid stimulates the gastric mucosa, resulting in pain, burning, and other symptoms.
Patients with this disease have a relatively low immune function. If infected with bacteria, it can stimulate the esophageal mucosa to form ulcers. When eating spicy foods such as raw onions, peppers, garlic, etc., it can lead to heartburn symptoms.
If the patient has an ulcer surface in the stomach, when food is digested in the stomach, gastric acid will stimulate the ulcer surface, so there will be heartburn symptoms.
The spread of cancer cells may damage the esophageal mucosa. When gastric acid secretion is excessive, it is easy to invade the damaged area of the mucosa, leading to heartburn symptoms. Medications such as Potassium Bismuth Citrate Granules, Ranitidine Hydrochloride Capsules, and Sucralfate Chewable Tablets can be taken under the guidance of a doctor. If the patient's condition worsens, they should seek medical attention promptly to avoid delaying the condition.