Version July 2025
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What is esophageal cancer? —
This is when normal cells in the esophagus change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. The esophagus is the tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach (figure 1).
What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer? —
Early on, people might not notice any symptoms. They might find out that they have esophageal cancer after a test for another condition.
When people do have symptoms, they might have:
●Trouble swallowing, especially solid, dry foods – This gets worse over time.
●Weight loss
●Pain or a burning feeling in the chest
●Hoarse voice
All of these symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not cancer. But if you have these symptoms, tell your doctor or nurse.
Is there a test for esophageal cancer? —
Yes. If your doctor suspects that you have esophageal cancer, they will do 1 or more of the following tests:
●Upper endoscopy – The doctor puts a thin tube with a camera and light on the end (called an endoscope) into the mouth and down into the esophagus (figure 2). This lets them look at the lining of the esophagus.
●CT scan of the chest and upper belly – This creates pictures of the inside of the body.
●Biopsy – The doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the esophagus. They will probably do this during an upper endoscopy. Then, another doctor looks at the sample under a microscope to see if it has cancer. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have esophageal cancer.
What is cancer staging? —
This is a way in which doctors find out if a cancer has a spread past the layer of tissue where it began, and, if so, how far.
The right treatment for you depends a lot on the stage of your cancer and your other medical problems.
How is esophageal cancer treated? —
Most people have 1 or more of these treatments:
●Surgery – Esophageal cancer can be treated with surgery to remove the cancer. If your doctor needs to remove part of your esophagus during surgery, they will reconnect your esophagus and stomach so you can swallow food.
●Radiation therapy – This kills cancer cells.
●Chemotherapy – These are medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
●Immunotherapy – These are medicines that work with the body's infection-fighting system (the "immune system") to stop cancer growth.
●Targeted therapy – This includes medicines that block certain proteins in the body that help the cancer grow.
Esophageal cancer can sometimes be cured with treatment. This is most likely when the cancer is found at an early stage. If your cancer cannot be cured, your doctor might do other treatments to help improve your symptoms. These can include:
●Using a laser beam or electric current to kill the cancer cells
●Doing a procedure to widen or "prop open" the blocked part of the esophagus
What happens after treatment? —
You will be checked every so often to see if the cancer comes back. Regular follow-up tests usually include exams, blood tests, and imaging tests. Some people also have follow-up upper endoscopies.
Watch for the symptoms listed above. Having those symptoms could mean that the cancer has come back. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any symptoms.
What happens if the cancer comes back or spreads? —
You might have more radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. You might also have other treatments to help improve your symptoms.
What else should I do? —
Follow all your doctor's instructions about visits and tests. It's also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment.
Getting treated for esophageal cancer involves making many choices, such as what treatment to have.
Always let your doctors and nurses know how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask:
●What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?
●What are the downsides to this treatment?
●Are there other options besides this treatment?
●What happens if I do not have this treatment?
Patient education: Barrett's esophagus (The Basics)
Patient education: Achalasia (The Basics)
Patient education: Upper endoscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: External beam radiation therapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Hair loss from cancer treatment (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing loss of appetite and weight loss with cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing pain when you have cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Nausea and vomiting with cancer treatment (The Basics)
Patient education: Dumping syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: CA 19-9 test (The Basics)
Patient education: Barrett's esophagus (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Upper endoscopy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Achalasia (Beyond the Basics)
