About 4 in 100,000 people develop esophageal cancer each year. It can be found in men and women of all ages, but it is more common in people over 50. The most common types are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
Almost all stage 0 and most stages 1 and 2 esophageal cancers can be removed surgically. But if the cancer has spread, it can be more difficult to treat. The tumor can spread to the lungs, stomach, trachea (windpipe), or aorta (large blood vessel that comes from the heart). Cancer that has spread also makes it harder to control symptoms such as pain when swallowing and difficulty eating.
Most people with advanced esophageal cancer will need chemotherapy to help keep the cancer under control and reduce symptoms. But treatment is different for everyone, and your doctor will decide the best combination of drugs for you. You may want to talk with other patients and their doctors about how they were treated. MyPART can connect you with experts near you who are experienced treating esophageal cancer.
Before starting treatment, your doctor will need to know the size and location of the esophageal cancer. He or she will use imaging scans such as a Barium Swallow, CT, PET, and ultrasound to see the tumor and nearby tissues. He or she will also order a procedure called a esophagoscopy, bronchoscopy, or thoracoscopy to get more detailed information about the cancer and its location. These procedures use long, thin, tube-like tools with a light and lens to look inside the throat.
Other tests can be done to find out if the cancer has spread. A sample of cells from the tumor is taken during a biopsy. These samples are studied under a microscope by an expert pathologist to diagnose the type of cancer and help determine what kind of treatment you might need.
Most doctors recommend combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy for people with locally advanced esophageal cancer. This combination of treatments has been shown to improve survival.
Another way to help you live longer is to take part in a clinical trial that tests an experimental treatment. These trials can test new combinations of standard treatments, new drugs, or lower doses of existing drugs. Talk with your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.
For some people with esophageal cancer that has spread, palliative care can help relieve symptoms such as pain and difficulty eating. You may also benefit from other supportive care such as dietary and lifestyle changes, nipple support, or acupuncture.
