In some studies, all patients receive the new treatment. Through research, doctors learn new, more effective ways to treat cancer. The side effects of cancer treatment depend on the type of treatment and may be different for each person. Surgery for esophageal cancer may cause short-term pain and tenderness in the area of the operation, but this discomfort can be controlled with medicine. Patients are taught special breathing and coughing exercises to keep their lungs clear.
Radiation therapy affects normal as well as cancerous cells.
Side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the dose and the part of the body that is treated. Chemotherapy , like radiation therapy, affects depend largely on the specific drugs and the dose. Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, hair loss, skin rash and itching, mouth and lip sores, diarrhea, and fatigue. These side effects generally go away gradually during the recovery periods between treatments or after treatment is over. Laser therapy can cause short term pain where the treatment was given, but this discomfort can be controlled with medicine.