Treatment for cancer of the oesophagus will depend on the type, location and stage of your cancer. It will also depend on your age, general health, and personal preferences.
The first aim of treatment is to completely eliminate (remove) the tumour and any other cancerous cells in your body. If this is not possible, your doctors will focus on preventing your tumour from getting any bigger and causing any further harm to your body.
In some cases, it is neither possible to eliminate the cancer, or slow down its progression. In this case, your treatment will aim to relieve your symptoms and to make you as comfortable as possible.
Discussing your treatment
Deciding on what treatment is best for you can be a difficult process. There is a lot to take in and consider. So it is important that you try and talk through your thoughts and decisions with a member of your family or friend.
You should also make sure that you have a thorough discussion with your GP and doctor. They will be able to inform you of all the pros and cons, as well as the side effects of all the different treatments which are available to you.
If at any stage you are unsure about, or do not understand the treatment options being explained to you - make sure you ask your GP or doctor to be more detailed.
Types of treatment
Cancer of the oesophagus can be treated in three main ways, which include:
- surgery,
- chemotherapy, and
- radiotherapy.
Some forms of oesophageal cancer will only require one form of treatment, where as others may require a combination, sometimes of all three.
Surgery
There are two main types of surgery which can be used to treat cancer of the oesophagus - oesophagectomy and oesophagogastrectomy. Approximately one in three people with cancer of the oesophagus will be eligible for surgery.
Oesophagectomy
This type of surgery is usually used for people who have oesophageal cancer in the early stages. This is where the cancer is only present in the oesophagus (and not the surrounding tissues or organs).
During this procedure, your surgeon will remove the section of your oesophagus which contains the tumour. The remaining section of your oesophagus is then reconnected to your stomach. If you stomach cannot be pulled up to meet your oesophagus, a small section of your large intestine may have to be used to make the connection.
Oesophagogastrectomy
An oesophagogastrectomy is very similar to an oesophagectomy, but is usually required for more advanced forms of cancer.
During this procedure, the cancerous section of oesophagus will be removed, as will the upper part of your stomach and surrounding lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small collections of lymphatic tissue which help keep the body's immune system working.
The remaining section of your oesophagus and your stomach may have to be reconnected using part of your large intestine.
To access your oesophagus, your surgeon will either need to make a cut in your abdomen and chest, or in your abdomen and neck.
Recovery from surgery
It will be a few days before you can eat or drink following your surgery. To begin with, fluids will be given to you through a drip, which is inserted into a vein in your arm. You may also be allowed the occasional sip of water. It is important that you do not eat or drink immediately following surgery to give your oesophagus time to recover.
Gradually you will be able to begin eating soft foods and liquids. However, this is only temporary and you will soon be able to before eat and drink as you did before the operation.
You may find that you lose weight following your surgery. This is normal, and you should start to regain the lost weight once you are able to eat solid foods.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses anti-cancer medicines to either kill the malignant (cancerous) cells in your body, or stop them multiplying. Chemotherapy medicines can either be injected, or given to you orally (by mouth).
Chemotherapy can also attack the normal, healthy cells in your body, which is why this form of treatment can potentially have many side-effects. The most common side-effects include:
- vomiting,
- hair loss,
- nausea,
- mouth sores, and
- fatigue.
These side effects are usually only temporary and you should find they improve once you have completed your treatment.
Chemotherapy treatment is often used alongside surgery and radiotherapy (see below) to help ensure that as much of the cancer is treated as possible.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a form of cancer therapy which uses high energy beams of radiation to help shrink your tumour and relieve your pain. Radiotherapy treatment for oesophageal cancer should make it easier for you to swallow, as the radiation often makes the tumour smaller, making it less obstructive.
Side effects of this types of treatment can include:
- fatigue,
- skin rashes,
- loss of appetite, and
- sores in your oesophagus.
These side effects are usually only temporary, and you should find they improve once you have completed your treatment.
As with chemotherapy, radiotherapy is often used alongside surgery, to help make the tumour easier to remove.
