Can esophageal cancer be cured?

Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

Updated on May 23, 2025

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Whether esophageal cancer can be cured depends on the stage of the disease's progression, it matters whether the diagnosis is at an advanced or early stage of esophageal cancer.

If it is in the early stage, it can be identified through regular physical examination and screening. If diagnosed at an early stage, it is advisable to opt for surgical treatment followed by chemotherapy after surgery for the best therapeutic effect. If the condition is in a later stage, appropriate treatment should still be administered to prolong life.

Other Voices

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Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

46sec

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What should I do about esophageal cancer?

Currently, effective treatments for esophageal cancer include surgical treatment, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Integrated treatment with surgery as the main approach is the primary method for treating esophageal cancer. This may include preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgery, preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery, or direct surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. These are all major treatment methods for esophageal cancer. However, the choice of a personalized integrated treatment should be based on factors such as the stage of the disease, the location of the lesion, age, and physical condition.

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Written by Luo Peng

Thoracic Surgery

59sec

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Symptoms of esophageal cancer spread

The most typical symptom of esophageal cancer, especially in its advanced stages, is difficulty swallowing. As esophageal cancer progresses, patients may further experience difficulty swallowing semi-liquid food, eventually leading to difficulty swallowing even water and saliva. Additionally, as the cancer develops, it might compress the trachea, resulting in symptoms like sticky sputum and difficulty in expectorating. Consequently, due to difficulties in eating, progressive severe weight loss and fatigue often occur. Furthermore, some patients may also experience chest or back pain, and in some cases, an esophageal-tracheal fistula might occur, leading to severe respiratory difficulties and intense choking. Moreover, after advanced esophageal cancer has spread, it may also cause jaundice, ascites, and can metastasize to other parts of the body, potentially resulting in various symptoms.

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Written by Zhou Zi Hua

Oncology

58sec

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What are the early signs of esophageal cancer?

The early symptoms of esophageal cancer are often nonspecific and intermittent, thus many patients do not take them seriously and delay the condition. Clinically, common early symptoms of esophageal cancer include a choking sensation when swallowing food, which is more noticeable in patients who swallow dry food or other foods that are not well chewed in large bites. Additionally, there is discomfort or a feeling of fullness behind the sternum. Thirdly, there is a sensation of a foreign body in the esophagus, with about 20% of patients experiencing this sensation when swallowing, as well as dryness and a feeling of tightness in the throat. Furthermore, there is a slow passage and a sense of retention of food.

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Written by Wang Kun

Surgical Oncology

50sec

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How is esophageal cancer treated if it has not spread?

If esophageal cancer is clinically assessed as not having spread, surgical treatment is the first choice for patients. Since esophageal cancer surgery is a major operation, it is recommended that patients undergo surgery in a specialized hospital. Of course, for some older patients with poor cardiopulmonary function, if the pathology is squamous cell carcinoma, it is advisable to consider radiotherapy, because this tumor is relatively sensitive to radiation and often achieves better clinical outcomes. However, compared to surgical resection, the effects might be less favorable. For patients in generally good condition, surgery combined with radiation therapy can reduce the likelihood of postoperative recurrence and metastasis.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

35sec

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Can esophageal cancer be cured?

Whether esophageal cancer can be cured depends on the stage of the disease's progression, it matters whether the diagnosis is at an advanced or early stage of esophageal cancer. If it is in the early stage, it can be identified through regular physical examination and screening. If diagnosed at an early stage, it is advisable to opt for surgical treatment followed by chemotherapy after surgery for the best therapeutic effect. If the condition is in a later stage, appropriate treatment should still be administered to prolong life.