Treatment Surgery is the most common treatment for cancer of the esophagus. The surgeon removes the tumor along with a small amount of health tissue surrounding the tumor. The surgeon also may remove nearby lymph nodes to help prevent the spread of cancer. After surgery, it may be necessary to place a tube into the throat, to replace some of the missing esophagus and restore normal swallowing. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy also may be part of the treatment.
Laser therapy uses high-intensity light to destroy tumor cells.