Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these treatment may be consisted. The best chance of cure is with surgery. more than a 25 per cent chance of cure with surgery patients who are in good general condition and who have small tumours, have In fit patients with more advanced disease, then the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be used – this can produce cure rates of around 20 per cent.
For intensive treatment of this type unfortunately the majority of patients are not fit. In their case treatment will be aimed simply at relieving symptoms. This can sometimes be done most easily using a stent.
To help keep it open and allow the passage of fluid and food a stent is simply a kind of tube that is inserted inside the gullet. There are various kinds available, ranging from a simple plastic tube to a device made of metal mesh that expands once it has been put in place. At the same time as an endoscopy is carried out stents can be put in place as a simple procedure.
Radiotherapy can also be used to try and shrink the tumour and keep the gullet open for longer.
