Esophageal Cancer

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Esophageal cancer is a cancer of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach. This tube is called the esophagus. The cause of esophageal cancer is not known. The most common signs and symptoms you may have are difficulty or pain when swallowing, and unplanned weight loss. Your caregiver may need to do tests to see your esophagus, such as a barium swallow and an endoscopy. You will usually be treated with medicine, radiation and surgery. Esophageal cancer that is found early is easier to treat than when it is found after the disease has progressed.
  
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• Treatments for esophageal cancer may cause other medical problems. You could start having problems swallowing and breathing. You could get an infection or bleed too much if the cancer is removed with surgery. After surgery, you may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs or brain. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. A blood clot in your brain can cause a stroke. These problems can be life-threatening.
  
  
• If the cancer is not treated, it can spread to other parts of your body. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your care or medicines.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Diet:

It is important that you get good nutrition when you have cancer. Eat a variety of healthy foods. Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. If you have trouble swallowing, you may be given foods that are soft or in liquid form. Ask your caregiver about any extra nutrition you may need, such as nutrition shakes or vitamins. Tell your caregiver if you have problems eating, or if you are getting sick to your stomach.

Drinking liquids:

Men 19 years old and older should drink about three Liters of liquid each day (about 13 eight-ounce cups). Women 19 years old and older should drink about two Liters of liquid each day (about 9 eight-ounce cups). It is especially important to drink enough liquids if you are vomiting (throwing up) from chemotherapy. Follow your caregiver's advice if you must change the amount of liquids you drink. For most people, healthy liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. If you are used to drinking liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee, these can also be counted in your daily liquid amount. Try to drink enough liquid each day, and not just when you feel thirsty. It may be helpful to drink liquids between your meals instead of with your meals.

Medicines:

Medicines may be given to help you cope with treatment side effects:

• Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and prevent vomiting.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

Tests:

You may need one or more of the following tests to help your caregivers plan your treatment:

• Biopsy: A small piece of the tumor or the whole tumor is removed and sent to the lab for tests.
  
  
• Computerized axial tomography scan: This test is also called a "CAT" scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your esophagus and other organs. Your caregivers look at the pictures to see if there is cancer and if it has spread. Before taking the pictures, you may be given dye through an IV in your vein. The dye helps the cancer show up better in the pictures. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to this dye. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any of these.
  
  
• Magnetic resonance imaging: This test is also called "MRI". Pictures are taken of your pelvis and abdomen (stomach). These pictures may show your caregiver if the cancer has spread.

Treatment options:

Your treatment may change over time. You may have one or more of the following treatments:

• Biologic therapy for cancer: Biologic therapy is medicine given to help your body fight growing cancer cells. It may also make cancer cells weaker and easier to kill. You may need this medicine more than once. You may feel like you have the flu during this therapy.
  
  
• Chemotherapy:
  
  
  • This medicine, often called chemo, is used to treat cancer. It works by killing tumor cells. Chemotherapy may also be used to shrink lymph nodes that have cancer in them. Once the tumor is smaller, you may need surgery to cut out the rest of the cancer.
    
    
  • Many different chemotherapy medicines are used to treat cancer. You may need blood tests often. These blood tests show how your body is doing and how much chemotherapy is needed. Chemotherapy can have many side effects. Caregivers will watch you closely and will work with you to decrease side effects. Chemotherapy can cure some cancers. Even if the chemotherapy does not cure your cancer, it may help you feel better or live longer.
  
  
• Radiation: Radiation shrinks tumors and kills cancer cells with x-rays or gamma rays. Radiation may be given after surgery to kill cancer cells that were not removed. It may also be given alone or with chemotherapy to treat cancer.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need surgery depending on the stage of your cancer. Part of your esophagus may be removed. You may also need to have some lymph nodes taken out. This may help stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Esophageal Cancer (Inpatient Care)