Even if the tumor cannot be removed by surgery or destroyed entirely by radiation therapy, radiation therapy can still help relieve pain and make swallowing easier. Usually, patients receive external radiation therapy 5 days a week for several weeks. Most patients can stay at home and go to the hospital or clinic each day for this treatment. For implant radiation, patients must stay in the hospital for a short time. More information about radiation therapy can be found in the NCI booklet Radiation Therapy and You.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells.
The doctor may suggest one drug or a combination of drugs. Chemotherapy may be used alone or combined with radiation therapy to shrink a tumor before surgery or to destroy cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery. Chemotherapy may also be used if surgery is not possible and for patients whose cancer returns after surgery or radiation therapy. Most anticancer drugs for esophageal cancer are given by injection into a veinor muscle. Some may be taken by mouth.