The oesophagus (or gullet) is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The oesophagogastric (OG) junction is where the oesophagus joins the stomach.

Cancer of the oesophagogastric junction is usually a type of cancer known as adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas are cancers that develop in the glandular tissues of the body.

There are three types of cancer of the oesophagogastric junction:

• Type 1 - tumours are found in the lower end of the gullet and usually develop from an area where there has been a change in the appearance of the gullet. This change in appearance is sometimes called Barrett's oesophagus
• Type 2 - tumours of the upper part of the stomach that develop where the stomach and oesophagus meet.
• Type 3 - tumours of the stomach which have grown towards the gastro-oesophageal junction.

Sometimes, it is difficult to be sure if a cancer around the oesophagogastric junction has started in the gullet or stomach.

Tests that may be helpful include:

• x-rays
• scans
• endoscopy.

There are some important differences between the way different types of tumour may behave. Type 1 tumours can spread to lymph glands (nodes) in the chest or around the stomach but Type 2 and Type 3 cancers rarely spread to glands in the chest.

At the moment the treatment for all three types is very similar. Surgery, where possible, is the main treatment. Sometimes this is combined with chemotherapy. If surgery is not possible, treatments are usually aimed at trying to slow the cancer and relieve symptoms.