What Is Esophageal Cancer?
9. Treatment
Like many other cancers, esophageal cancers are often treated through chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments can help to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumors. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs but also has a side effect of killing healthy cells. Radiation therapy uses radiation to target cancer cells. These treatments can sometimes be combined, often resulting in more severe side effects.
Surgery is often used to remove tumors, especially if cancer has not yet spread. In more severe cases, parts of the esophagus and stomach may be removed. The passage may be reconstructed using part of the large intestine. Targeted therapies can also use medications to destroy cell proteins that are aiding the cancer cells to replicate.
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