Specific treatment for esophageal cancer will be determined by your physician based on:
- Your age, overall health and medical history.
- Extent of the disease.
- Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies.
- Expectations for the course of this disease.
- Your opinion or preference.
Different types of treatment may be used to control esophageal cancer and to reduce symptoms. Treatment may include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy – the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancerous cells.
- Radiation therapy – the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. There are two ways to deliver radiation therapy, including the following:
- External radiation (external beam therapy) – a treatment that precisely sends high levels of radiation directly to the cancer cells.
- Internal radiation (brachytherapy, implant radiation) – radiation is given inside the body as close to the cancer as possible.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) – a type of laser treatment that involves injecting photosensitizing chemicals into the bloodstream.
Sometimes, several of these treatments may be combined for treating esophageal cancer.
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