The oesophagus, or gullet, is the muscular tube that runs through the chest, carrying food from the back of the throat to the stomach.

Cancer of the oesophagus makes up about 1 in every 100 cancers and about 6,000 people in the UK will develop the condition each year. Smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol, especially spirits, increase the risk of getting oesophageal cancer.

The risk of getting cancer of the oesophagus increases with age. Less than one out of every 100 people with cancer of the gullet gets it before the age of 40. More than 85 out of every 100 people with oesophageal cancer are over 65.

Common symptoms of cancer of the oesophagus are difficulty in swallowing, heartburn, loss of weight and anaemia (low levels of red blood cells which cause constant tiredness). Because of this the Department of Health has given guidelines to family doctors (GPs) suggesting they should arrange an urgent appointment with a specialist in diseases of the digestive system (a gastroenterologist) for anyone who comes with one or more of the following symptoms:

• difficulty in swallowing, with food sticking in the throat, which has been going on for 3 weeks or more
• indigestion combined with either loss of weight, constant tiredness or regular vomiting
• your are over 55 and have frequent indigestion that first started less than a year ago
• swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) in the neck or above the collar bone
• you have become jaundiced, with your skin and the whites of your eyes developing a yellowish tinge
• you have had indigestion for three weeks or more and have one of the following things which are known to increase the risk of a digestive cancer:
• more than two of your close relatives (parents, brothers, sisters or children) have had a cancer of the oesophagus, stomach or pancreas)
• you have a condition called Barrett's oesophagus (which can cause heartburn and difficulty in swallowing)
• you have a special type of anaemia called pernicious anaemia
• you have had surgery for a peptic ulcer in the last 20 years.

All these symptoms can have many other causes apart from cancer but the important thing is that if you develop any of these problems you should see your GP who can discuss them with you and, if they think it is necessary, arrange an appointment with a specialist to be on the safe side.