The esophagus is the tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach; when cancer forms in this muscular tube, it is called esophageal cancer. Treatment for this cancer depends on the stage and extent of the cancer and the individual's overall health.
Significance
In 2010 in the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that over 16,600 individuals will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer; that same year, nearly 14,500 people will die from the disease. Esophageal cancer is three to four times more likely in men than women, and the average lifetime risk for an American of developing the disease is one in 200.
Surgery
Surgery for esophageal cancer may be an option, depending on the stage of the cancer, and is often combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy. Removing part or all of the esophagus is called a partial esophagectomy or esophagectomy, respectively. According to the American Cancer Society, the amount of esophagus removed depends on the size and location of the tumor. Removal of nearby lymph nodes may also be warranted to examine whether the cancer has spread. Complications of surgery for esophageal cancer can include blood clots, lung complications like pneumonia, heart attack and infection.
Chemotherapy
According to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy is usually not a curative treatment by itself for esophageal cancer, and is typically combined with surgery or radiation therapy to be effective. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to help kill cancer cells; when given orally or intravenously, these drugs are able to travel throughout the body in the bloodstream and kill any cancer cells that may have migrated away from the original tumor site. Drug combinations used to treat esophageal cancer include cisplatin and 5-fluororouracil; epirubicin, cisplatin and 5-fluororouracil; and cisplatin and capecitabine.
Endoscopic Therapies
The Mayo Clinic lists several endoscopic therapies that help to preserve the esophagus and are minimally invasive. Radiofrequency ablation is one of these treatments, which involves using controlled amounts of radiofrequency energy to burn off layers of abnormal tissue on the esophagus while not affecting healthy tissue. Cryotherapy is another endoscopic treatment that uses liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide to freeze off cancer cells. The frozen cells fall off and healthy cells grow in their place.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, says the American Cancer Society. It may be given internally, called brachytherapy, or administered by a machine outside the body, called external-beam radiation. It may be given in conjunction with surgery to eradicate any leftover cancer cells, or it may be given palliatively, to ease symptoms. Side effects of radiation can include skin changes similar to a sunburn, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and mouth sores.
