Also known as radiotherapy, this is the main treatment for oesophageal cancer that cannot be
removed by surgery and has not spread to other parts of the body. Radiation in low doses is also often used to shrink cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
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How it is given
Radiation therapy uses a controlled dose of radiation, such as focused x-ray beams, to kill or
damage cancer cells. The radiation is targeted at the cancer, and treatment is carefully planned to
do as little harm as possible to healthy body tissue near the cancer.
Radiation therapy may be given alone or combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiation). Chemoradiation is sometimes the only treatment needed or it may be used before surgery.
For more on this, see our general section on Radiation therapy.
Side effects of radiation therapy
The lining of the oesophagus can become sore and inflamed (oesophagitis). This can make swallowing and eating difficult. In rare cases, you may need a temporary feeding tube to help you get enough nutrition. Other possible side effects include fatigue, skin redness, loss of appetite and weight loss. Most side effects improve within about 4 weeks of treatment finishing.
Very rarely, radiation therapy can cause long-term side effects. Scar tissue can develop in the oesophagus, making it narrower (oesophageal stricture). Stretching the walls of the oesophagus (dilatation) – done during an endoscopy – can make it easier to swallow food and drink. Radiation therapy can also cause irritation and swelling (inflammation) in the lungs, which can make you short of breath.
My diagnosis of oesophageal cancer came as a complete shock. I had chemotherapy and radiation therapy to shrink the tumour, and then went home to recover for six weeks before surgery.
John
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→ READ MORE: Immunotherapy for oesophageal cancer
Video: What is radiation therapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about radiation therapy (Open Settings 
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Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Prof David 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; Dr Natalie Collier, Radiation Oncologist, Wollongong Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, A/Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Natalie Lalor, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; Chris Menzies, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Tammy Milne, Consumer; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA.
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