Esophageal Cancer Treatment Options

There are various kinds of esophageal cancer treatment options. Some treatment options are standard and are used presently and there are some treatment options which are provided to the patients in the form of clinical trials. Clinical trials are nothing but research studies meant for enhancing the present treatments or for getting new information for the patients suffering from esophageal cancer so that they can be treated in a better manner. If the clinical trials consisting of new treatment option that is found to be better than the treatment (standard) given to the patient then the new treatment option would take the place of the standard method. The patients should also think over of going through the clinical trials. All patients might not be eligible for clinical trials as some are only meant for patients who have not undergone or started any type of treatments. Since esophageal cancer patients find it hard to swallow food due to dysphagia they might require special type of nutritional requirements.

Surgery is of the common treatment options for esophageal cancer. It involves removing a part of esophagus using an operation known as esophagectomy. In esophagectomy, a small portion of esophagus is cut and removed as a result of this the remaining portion of the esophagus is connected with the stomach which is done by pulling it upwards making it easy for the patient to swallow the food. Some times a small intestine part or plastic tube might be used for connecting both. When the esophagus is blocked partially due to tumor, then stents might be inserted inside in order to facilitate swallowing of food.

Next common treatment option for esophageal cancer is radiation therapy where x-rays of high energy are directed on the cancerous cell so that they are killed and their growth is stopped. Two kind of radiation therapy are used, one is the external radiation and the other is the internal radiation therapy. The type of the radiation therapy used depends mainly of the stage and type of cancer that is getting treated.

Chemotherapy is a standard treatment option in esophageal cancer where drugs are passed through the esophagus to stop or kill the cancerous cells. Systemic chemotherapy is normally administered through muscles or veins or mouth where the drugs are passed into the bloodstream reaching the cancer cells all over the body of the patient. Regional chemotherapy involves placing the drugs in the spinal coloum, body cavity like abdomen or an organ so that the drug affects the cancerous cells present in that region.

Laser therapy uses laser beams for killing cancer cells while electrocoagulation uses the electric current for killing cancerous cells.

Natural Remedies:

There are certain natural remedies that offer a promising cure for esophageal cancer. Along with the natural remedies and a well-researched different diet pattern, a few simple adjustments to your lifestyle can make a huge difference to your efforts for prolonging the life for several years. You can increase your chances of surviving esophagus cancer now by trying these proven natural remedies discussed here