The most important factor in planning treatment for oesophageal cancer is the stage of the disease. Your treatment will also depend on your age, nutritional needs, medical history and general health.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- Making treatment decisions
- What to do before treatment
- Endoscopic resection for oesophageal cancer
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Palliative treatment
Overview
Treatment options for oesophageal cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, either alone or in combination. Treatment will be tailored to your specific situation.
Your doctor will tell you how to prepare for surgery and other treatments. Preparation may include general health checks such as blood tests and scans to check how well your heart is working (called an echocardiogram). See below for tips on preparing for treatment.
What to do before treatment starts
Taking steps to improve your general health before treatment can help to ensure the best outcomes (called prehabilitation). You may also have some tests to check your general health, including blood tests and heart checks.
 | Improve diet and nutritionPeople with stomach cancer often lose a lot of weight and can become malnourished. Your doctor will usually refer you to a dietitian for advice on how to slow down the weight loss. |
 | Stop smokingIf you smoke or vape, aim to quit before starting treatment. People who keep smoking may not respond as well to treatment. See your doctor or call the Quitline on 13 7848 for advice and support. |
 | Begin or continue an exercise programExercise can help build your strength for recovery. Talk to your doctor, exercise physiologist or physiotherapist about an exercise plan. For more on this, call 13 11 20 or see Exercise and cancer. |
 | Avoid alcoholTalk to your doctor about your alcohol use. Alcohol can affect how the body works and increase the risk of complications after surgery (including bleeding and infections), and of the cancer returning. |
 | Talk to someoneYou may find it useful to talk to a counsellor or psychologist about how you are feeling. This can help you deal with any anxiety about diagnosis and treatment. Or call 13 11 20 to find out about Cancer Council’s support services. |
Endoscopic resection for oesophageal cancer
Very early-stage tumours in the lining of the oesophageal wall (mucosa) may be removed with an endoscope through endoscopic resection. For some people, an endoscopic resection may be the only treatment they need.
An endoscopic resection is often done as a day procedure but occasionally needs an overnight stay in hospital. Preparation and recovery are similar to an endoscopy, but there is a slightly higher risk of bleeding or getting a small tear or hole in the oesophagus (perforation).
→ READ MORE: Making treatment decisions
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Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Prof David I Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Kieran Cahill, Consumer; Jessica Jong, Clinical Dietitian, Upper GI and Hepatobiliary Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; John Leung, Consumer; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA; Dr Sarah Sutherland, Medical Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Paula Swannock, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, VIC; Rebecca Yeoh, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland.
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