Esophageal cancer starts in the tissues that line the esophagus, the long muscular tube that moves food from your throat to your stomach. Early-stage esophageal cancer may not cause symptoms. When it does, they can include pain or trouble swallowing. Our goal is to treat the underlying tumor and relieve your symptoms. We use surgery, along with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy to extend life and improve quality of life for people with esophageal cancer.
We have a team of specialized doctors and nurses who focus on esophageal cancer. They work together to plan your treatment. They also give you care to help ease symptoms and side effects after surgery.
The surgeon removes the portion of your esophagus with the cancer and some surrounding tissue. They might take out lymph nodes around your esophagus if the cancer has spread to them. This is called lymphadenectomy. They might also remove part or all of your stomach. They might use a piece of your intestines or a portion of your chest (thoracic) wall to replace the part of your esophagus that they take out. This is called a gastrectomy or thoracic esophagectomy.
Sometimes, our doctors can cure esophageal cancer with surgery alone. This is especially true if the esophageal cancer is in its early stages and has not spread beyond the lining of your esophagus.
To find out if your esophageal cancer is likely to spread, your doctor will order several tests. These can include a computed tomography scan, or CT, that shows the structure of your esophagus and any tumors in it. Your healthcare provider will also ask for a sample of your esophagus tissue to look for cancer cells. This is done with a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope.
Your healthcare provider will need to know how far your esophageal cancer has spread, or metastasized, before they can plan the best way to treat it. They can find out this information by using a special type of scan called positron emission tomography with computed tomography, or PET-CT. These tests can help find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of your body, such as your liver or bones.
When a person with esophageal cancer has advanced or later-stage disease, surgical treatment can’t cure the cancer. However, we can help you live longer and keep your symptoms under control. We might suggest a palliative procedure like placing an esophageal stent to keep the esophagus open or another form of endoscopic surgery. These procedures can help you swallow and eat better.
You can get a lot of support from your family and friends as you go through esophageal cancer treatment. We can also provide emotional and spiritual support, as well as help with your daily activities. Our support services are free of charge. You can also join a support group to talk with other people with the same condition and share your feelings. These groups meet at our hospitals, in the community, or over the phone.
