Duke Cancer Institute medical oncologists have the experience to use both conventional treatments and, where appropriate, cutting-edge chemotherapy agents in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Chemotherapy involves administering drugs that kill cancer cells or stop cancer cells from growing.

Your doctor may use systemic therapy, which is administered to the whole body by pill or injection, or regional chemotherapy, which is administered to only a certain part of the body by placing it into the abdomen, or an organ such as the liver.

The type of chemotherapy administered depends on the stage and type of tumor.

For esophageal cancer, chemotherapy is most often used before or after surgery. It may also be combined with radiation. In cases of advanced esophageal cancer, chemotherapy may be used alone to help control disease and relieve symptoms.

In some cases chemotherapy may also be combined with radiation therapy as the primary treatment instead of surgery.

As a leading academic medical center, Duke benefits from the expertise of medical oncologists who focus specifically on gastrointestinal cancers, providing a unique perspective not found in most community hospitals.

A number of novel approaches are available through the Duke Cancer Institute’s robust clinical trials program, including several clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of novel chemotherapy agents for metastatic cancer.

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Learn how to make an appointment at the Duke Cancer Institute.