Esophageal Cancer

Home » Esophageal Cancer » Esophageal Cancer Treatment

Esophageal Cancer Treatment

Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and the overall health of the patient. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may be used alone or in combination to treat cancer of the esophagus. Chemotherapy and/or radiation often are used as adjuvant treatments (i.e., in addition to surgery) and may be used to reduce symptoms (called palliative treatment).

Surgery
Esophagectomy (removal of all or part of the esophagus) is the treatment of choice for esophageal cancer. This procedure also includes removal of nearby lymph nodes and surrounding tissue. Transhiatal esophagectomy is performed through incisions in the upper abdomen and the lower neck and standard transthoracic esophagectomy is performed through an incision between the ribs that opens one side of the chest. In some cases, the surgeon attaches the healthy remaining portion of the esophagus to the stomach (anastomosis), and in other cases, a section of the intestine is used.

Contraindications for surgery include metastatic disease, tumor invasion of nearby structures (e.g., trachea, bronchi, aorta, pericardium), and severe cardiovascular or pulmonary disease.

After surgery, most patients are discharged from the hospital within 14 days. Side effects of the procedure include pain and tenderness, which usually can be controlled with medication. Patients are instructed to use special breathing and coughing exercises to help keep their lungs clear. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within 2 months.

Complications may be severe and occur in about 40% of patients. They include the following:

• Anastomotic leakage
• Bleeding
• Cardiac complications (e.g., arrhythmia, heart attack)
• Infection at the incision site or throughout the body (sepsis)
• Nerve injury
• Pulmonary complications (e.g., chylothorax, pneumonia, pleural effusion)

Radiation Therapy
Radiation involves using high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. This treatment often is combined with chemotherapy to reduce dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) in patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer. It also may be used to shrink the tumor before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) or after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells (adjuvant therapy).

Radiation therapy is performed in a hospital or outpatient center. Each treatment lasts a few minutes and treatment is usually given 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Side effects include the following:

• Dental cavities
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dry, sore mouth and throat
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Reddening of the skin
• Swelling of the mouth and gums

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses a combination of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is a systemic treatment (i.e., affects cells throughout the body) and may be used in combination with radiation to relieve symptoms. It is not used as a primary treatment for esophageal cancer. Common side effects include the following:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Loss of appetite
• Mouth and lip sores
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin rash and itching

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Esophageal Cancer Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your cancer treatment. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our Esophageal Cancer Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted. National Cancer Survivors Day is June 7, 2009 Share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer. Read stories already submitted
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer