Treatments for Esophagus Cancer
Treatments for Esophagus Cancer
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Esophagus Cancer
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Esophagus Cancer: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Esophagus Cancer may include:
Esophagus Cancer: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Esophagus Cancer:
Esophagus Cancer: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Cancer Specialists:
- Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists:
- Digestive Health Specialists (Gastroenterology):
- more specialists...»
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Esophagus Cancer:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Esophagus Cancer include:
- Carboplatin
- Paraplatin
- Paraplatin-AQ
- Blastocarb
- Carbotec
- Cisplatin
- Platinol-AQ
- Blastolem
- Tecnoplatin
Latest treatments for Esophagus Cancer:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Esophagus Cancer:
Hospital statistics for Esophagus Cancer:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Esophagus Cancer:
- 0.29% (37,174) of hospital consultant episodes were for malignant neoplasm of oesophagus in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 84% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of oesophagus required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 70% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of oesophagus were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 30% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of oesophagus were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Esophagus Cancer
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Esophagus Cancer:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Esophagus Cancer,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Esophagus Cancer:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Esophagus Cancer:
Discussion of treatments for Esophagus Cancer:
Treatment for esophageal cancer depends on a number of
factors, including the size, location, and extent of the
tumor, and the general health of the patient. Patients are
often treated by a team of specialists, which may include a
gastroenterologist
(a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders
of the digestive system), surgeon (a doctor who specializes in
removing or repairing parts of the body),
medical
oncologist (a doctor who specializes in treating
cancer), and
radiation
oncologist (a doctor who specializes in using
radiation to treat cancer). Because cancer treatment may make
the mouth sensitive and at risk for infection, doctors often
advise patients with esophageal cancer to see a dentist for a
dental exam and treatment before cancer treatment begins.
Many different treatments and combinations of treatments
may be used to control the cancer and/or to improve the
patient's quality of life by reducing symptoms.
-
Surgery
is the most common treatment for esophageal cancer. Usually,
the surgeon removes the tumor along with all or a portion of
the esophagus, nearby lymph nodes, and other tissue in the
area. (An operation to remove the esophagus is called an
esophagectomy.) The surgeon connects the remaining healthy
part of the esophagus to the stomach so the patient is still
able to swallow. Sometimes, a plastic tube or part of the
intestine is used to make the connection. The surgeon may
also widen the opening between the stomach and the small
intestine to allow stomach contents to pass more easily into
the small intestine. Sometimes surgery is done after other
treatment is finished.
-
Radiation
therapy , also called radiotherapy, involves the
use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation
therapy affects cancer cells in the treated area only. The
radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external
radiation) or from radioactive materials placed in or near
the tumor (internal radiation). A plastic tube may be
inserted into the esophagus to keep it open during radiation
therapy. This procedure is called intraluminal intubation
and dilation. Radiation therapy may be used alone or
combined with chemotherapy as primary treatment instead of
surgery, especially if the size or location of the tumor
would make an operation difficult. Doctors may also combine
radiation therapy with chemotherapy to shrink the tumor
before surgery. Even if the tumor cannot be removed by
surgery or destroyed entirely by radiation therapy,
radiation therapy can often help relieve pain and make
swallowing easier.
-
Chemotherapy
is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. The
anticancer drugs used to treat esophageal cancer travel
throughout the body. Anticancer drugs used to treat
esophageal cancer are usually given by injection into a vein
(IV). Chemotherapy may be combined with radiation therapy as
primary treatment (instead of surgery) or to shrink the
tumor before surgery.
-
Laser
therapy is the use of high-intensity light to
destroy tumor cells. Laser therapy affects the cells only in
the treated area. The doctor may use laser therapy to
destroy cancerous tissue and relieve a blockage in the
esophagus when the cancer cannot be removed by surgery. The
relief of a blockage can help to reduce symptoms, especially
swallowing problems.
-
Photodynamic
therapy (PDT), a type of laser therapy, involves
the use of drugs that are absorbed by cancer cells; when
exposed to a special light, the drugs become active and
destroy the cancer cells. The doctor may use PDT to relieve
symptoms of esophageal cancer such as difficulty
swallowing.
(Source: excerpt from
What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Esophagus: NCI)
Buy Products Related to Treatments for Esophagus Cancer
Book Excerpts: Treatment of Esophagus Cancer
Treatments of Esophagus Cancer: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the treatments of Esophagus Cancer.
Laryngeal cancer:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Early lesions are treated with surgery or radiation; advanced lesions with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In early stages, laser surgery can excise precancerous lesions; in advanced stages it can help relieve obstruction caused by tumor growth. Surgical procedures vary with tumor size and can include cordectomy, partial or total laryngectomy, supraglottic laryngectomy, or total laryngectomy with laryngoplasty. The treatment goal is to eliminate the cancer and preserve speech. If speech preservation isn't possible, speech rehabilitation may include esophageal speech or prosthetic devices; surgical techniques to construct a new voice box are still experimental.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Esophageal cancer:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Multimodal therapy is usually indicated. Whenever possible, treatment includes resection to maintain a passageway for food. This may require such radical surgery as esophagogastrectomy with jejunal or colonic bypass grafts. Palliative surgery may include a feeding gastrostomy. Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil or cisplatin may be used. Insertion of prosthetic tubes to bridge the tumor alleviates dysphagia. Other treatments to improve the patient's ability to swallow include endoscopic dilation of the esophagus (sometimes with placement of a stent) and photodynamic therapy.
Treatment complications may be severe. Surgery may precipitate an anastomotic leak, a fistula, pneumonia, and empyema. Rarely, radiation may cause esophageal perforation, pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, or myelitis of the spinal cord. Prosthetic tubes may dislodge and perforate the mediastinum or erode the tumor.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Malignant spinal neoplasms:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Treatment of spinal cord tumors generally includes decompression or radiation. Laminectomy is indicated for primary tumors that produce spinal cord or cauda equina compression; it isn't usually indicated for metastatic tumors. If the tumor is slowly progressive or if it's treated before the cord degenerates from compression, symptoms are likely to disappear, and complete restoration of function is possible. In a patient with metastatic carcinoma or lymphoma who suddenly experiences complete transverse myelitis with spinal shock, functional improvement is unlikely, even with treatment, and his outlook is ominous. If the patient has incomplete paraplegia of rapid onset, emergency surgical decompression may save cord function. Steroid therapy with dexamethasone minimizes cord edema and temporarily relieves symptoms until surgery can be performed. Partial removal of intramedullary gliomas, followed by radiation, may alleviate symptoms for a short time. Metastatic extradural tumors can be controlled with radiation, analgesics and, in the case of hormone-mediated tumors (breast and prostate), appropriate hormone therapy. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may control radicular pain from spinal cord tumors and is a useful alternative to opioid analgesics. In TENS, an electrical charge is applied to the skin to stimulate large-diameter nerve fibers and thereby inhibit transmission of pain impulses through small-diameter nerve fibers. Chemotherapy generally hasn't proven effective against most spinal tumors, but may be recommended in some cases.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Esophageal diverticula:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum is usually palliative and includes a bland diet, thorough chewing, and drinking water after eating to flush out the sac. However, severe symptoms or a large diverticulum necessitates surgery to remove the sac or facilitate drainage. An esophagomyotomy may be necessary to prevent recurrence.
A midesophageal diverticulum seldom requires therapy except when esophagitis aggravates the risk of rupture, in which case treatment includes antacids and an antireflux regimen: keeping the head elevated, maintaining an upright position for 2 hours after eating, eating small meals, controlling chronic coughing, and avoiding constrictive clothing.
Epiphrenic diverticulum requires treatment of accompanying motor disorders. Achalasia is treated by repeated dilations of the esophagus; acute spasm is controlled by anticholinergic administration and diverticulum excision; and dysphagia or severe pain are relieved by surgical excision or suspending the diverticulum to promote drainage. Treatment may also include parenteral feeding to improve the patient’s nutritional status.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Laryngeal cancer:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Early lesions are treated with surgery or radiation; advanced lesions, with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Chemotherapeutic agents may include methotrexate, cisplatin, bleomycin, fluorouracil, and vincristine.
The treatment goal is to eliminate the cancer and preserve speech. If speech preservation is impossible, speech rehabilitation may include esophageal speech or prosthetic devices; surgical techniques to construct a new voice box are still experimental. Surgical procedures vary with tumor size and can include cordectomy, partial or total laryngectomy, supraglottic laryngectomy, or total laryngectomy with laryngoplasty.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Esophageal cancer:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Whenever possible, treatment includes resection to maintain a passageway for food. This may require such radical surgery as esophagogastrectomy with jejunal or colonic bypass grafts. Palliative surgery may include a feeding gastrostomy. Lash palliation decreases tumor size. Other therapies consist of radiation, chemotherapy with cisplatin, and the insertion of prosthetic tubes to bridge the tumor and alleviate dysphagia.
Treatment complications
Complications of treatment may be severe. Surgery may precipitate an anastomotic leak, a fistula, pneumonia, and empyema. Rarely, radiation may cause esophageal perforation, pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, or myelitis of the spinal cord. Prosthetic tubes may dislodge and perforate the mediastinum or erode the tumor.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Esophageal diverticula:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Treatment depends on the type of diverticulum. For example:
❑ A small, asymptomatic Zenker’s diverticulum may be observed. Treatment includes a bland diet, thorough chewing, and drinking water after eating to flush out the sac. Symptomatic patients may require surgery to remove the sac or to facilitate drainage. An esophagomyotomy to prevent recurrence is required in most cases.
❑ A midesophageal (traction) diverticulum seldom requires therapy except when esophagitis aggravates the risk of rupture. Then, treatment includes antacids and an antireflux regimen: keeping the head elevated, maintaining an upright position for 2 hours after eating, eating small meals, controlling chronic coughing, and avoiding constrictive clothing.
❑ Epiphrenic diverticulum requires treatment of accompanying motor disorders, such as achalasia, by repeated dilatations of the esophagus, of acute spasm by anticholinergic administration and diverticulum excision, and of dysphagia or severe pain by surgical excision; if there’s an associated hiatal hernia or incompetent lower esoph-ageal sphincter, an antireflux operation is performed. Calcium channel blockers may be used to relax smooth muscles, decrease esophageal pressure, and improve swallowing.
❑ Depending on the patient’s nutritional status, treatment may also include insertion of a nasogastric tube (passed carefully to prevent perforation) and tube feedings to prepare for the stress of surgery.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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