Esophageal Cancer

What is Esophageal Cancer?

At times, cancer can develop on the esophagus. The esophagus is responsible for transporting food from the back of your throat to your stomach for digestion. At CHRISTUS Health, our board-certified physicians and medical team have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat esophageal cancer close to home.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Pain and pressure in chest
  • Heartburn and chest burn
  • Chronic coughing
  • Hoarseness

Risk Factors 

  • Smoking
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  • Obesity
  • Reflux of the bile 
  • Constantly drink hot liquids

Esophageal Cancer Diagnoses & Treatments

Four-Dimensional Computerized Technology Imaging

Four-dimensional Computerized Technology imaging precisely delineates the movement of esophageal cancers and normal tissues during the breathing cycle. This greatly improves the accuracy of treatment of lung cancer, while decreasing the toxicities of treatment.

Hexapod 6DoF Robotic Couch

The Elekta Hexapod™ device allows the radiation oncology to make fine adjustments to patient tilt prior to each radiation treatment. This allows us to correct for small day-to-day differences in positioning, further improving the precision of treatment.

Infusion Therapy

Infusion therapy is the administration of cancer medication either by injection or intravenous (IV) line. The most common types of infusion therapy for cancer are chemotherapy and biotherapy (or biological therapy). Click here to learn more.