Esophageal cancer

Alternative Names

Treatment

When esophageal cancer is only in the esophagus and has not spread elsewhere, surgery is the treatment of choice. The goal of surgery, in most cases, is to cure the patient. In some circumstances chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of the two will be used instead of surgery, or to make surgery easier to perform.

If the patient cannot tolerate surgery or the cancer has spread to other organs, chemotherapy or radiation may be used to help reduce symptoms. This is called palliative therapy. In such circumstances, however, the disease is usually not curable.

Other treatments that may be used to improve a patient's ability to swallow include endoscopic dilation of the esophagus (sometimes with placement of a stent), or photodynamic therapy. In photodynamic therapy, a special drug is injected into the tumor, which is then exposed to light. The light activates the medicine that attacks the tumor.

Support Groups

The stress of illness can often be eased by joining a support group of people who share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Esophageal cancer is a very difficult disease to treat, but it can be cured when it has not spread outside the esophagus. Cure rates are in the range of 25% for those who can have surgery.

Radiation therapy is used instead of surgery in some cases where the cancer has not spread outside the esophagus.

For patients whose cancer has spread, cure is generally not possible and treatment is directed toward relief of symptoms.

Possible Complications

• Difficulty swallowing
• Pneumonia
• Severe weight loss resulting from not eating enough
• Spread of the tumor to other areas of the body

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you have difficulty swallowing with no known cause and it does not get better, or if you have other symptoms of esophageal cancer.

References

Kleinberg LR, Forastier AA, Heitmiller RF. Cancer of the esophagus. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG, eds. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004; chapt 77.

Esophageal Cancer. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (Version 1.2008). Copyright 2008 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc.