Esophageal cancer is cancer that starts in your esophagus. This is the tube that carries food and liquid from your throat to your stomach.
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Being told you have esophageal cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions. Know that you have people on your healthcare team who can help.
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After you're diagnosed with esophageal cancer, you'll likely have other tests. These tests help your healthcare providers learn more about your cancer.
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A chest X-ray is an imaging test that uses X-rays to look at the structures and organs in your chest. It can help your healthcare provider see how well your lungs and heart are working. Certain heart problems can cause changes in your lungs. Certain diseases can cause changes in the structure of the heart or lungs.
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There are many treatment choices for esophageal cancer. Learn which treatments may be a choice for you.
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Talking with healthcare providers about your cancer can be overwhelming. Here are some questions to ask during your appointments.
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Chemotherapy is part of the treatment for many people with esophageal cancer if they're healthy enough to get it.
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Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation from X-rays or particles to kill cancer cells. Radiation is often part of the treatment for esophageal cancer. Learn why your healthcare provider may advise this treatment.
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Laser therapy can be used to cut a very tiny area to remove very small cancers without damaging surrounding tissue. Lasers also are used to apply heat to tumors to shrink them. They are sometimes used with medicines that are activated by laser light to kill cancer cells.
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Surgery can sometimes be used to treat esophageal cancer. The type you have depends on where the cancer is, how much it's spread, your overall health, and other factors.
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Targeted therapy medicines attack specific proteins or cell functions that help cancer cells grow.
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You may have difficulty eating or lose your appetite during cancer treatment. Try eating small, frequent meals throughout the day. To improve your appetite, don't drink beverages with your meals.
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Cancer of the esophagus can narrow your esophagus, making it difficult or painful to swallow and take in the nutrition you need. You can get help from an important member of your treatment team: the nutrition specialist.
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Chemotherapy can damage your body’s ability to make red blood cells, so body tissues don't get enough oxygen. This is a condition called anemia. People who have anemia may feel very weak or tired, dizzy, faint, or short of breath, or may feel that their hearts are beating very fast.
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To reduce your risk for infection, avoid people who are sick with contagious illnesses, including colds, the flu, measles, or chickenpox.
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Detailed information on radiation therapy, one type of cancer treatment.
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Fatigue can come and go or stay constant for a while. Fatigue from chemotherapy tends to happen a few days after the treatment, peaks, and then gets better before the next treatment. Fatigue from radiation may not happen right away.
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The esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Esophageal cancer starts in cells that make up the inner lining layer of the esophagus. Learn more about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
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