Treatment for oesophageal cancer

There are things you can do to help you feel more in control of your physical and mental health when preparing for treatment. In the hospital, preparing for treatment is also called prehabilitation or prehab.

The treatment you have for oesophageal cancer depends on the stage of your cancer. You might have one or more treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted cancer drugs or radiotherapy. 

Surgery is the most common treatment if your cancer hasn't spread. Surgeons remove all or part of your oesophagus.

Chemotherapy uses anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer. You might have it before or after surgery for oesophageal cancer, or as your main treatment if your cancer is advanced.

Radiotherapy uses high energy waves similar to x-rays to destroy oesophageal cancer cells. 

Chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy is called chemoradiotherapy. You might have it on its own as your main treatment, or before surgery.

There are different targeted and immunotherapy drugs for oesophageal cancer. These include trastuzumab and nivolumab.

Swallowing can be difficult for some people with cancer in the oeosphagus. There are treatments that can make swallowing easier.

After treatment you usually have follow up appointments to check how you are and see whether you have any problems or worries.