Most side effects of radiation are temporary, but some less common side effects can be permanent. These side effects are often worse if chemotherapy is given at the same time as radiation. Skin changes in areas getting radiation, such as redness, blistering and peeling.Possible Side effects of external radiation therapy can include: If you are going to get radiation therapy, it’s important to ask your doctor beforehand about the possible side effects so you know what to expect. Other types of radiation, such as IMRT (a type of EBRT) as well as proton therapy, are being studied to treat esophageal cancer. The patient needs to stay in the hospital during this treatment, but it can usually be completed in only 1 or 2 sessions. In low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy, a lower dose of radiation is put near the tumor for longer periods (1 or 2 days) at a time.For high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, the doctor leaves the radioactive material near the tumor for a few minutes at a time, which may require several treatments.This technique cannot be used to treat a very large area, so it is better used as a way to relieve symptoms (and not to try to cure the cancer). This usually means fewer side effects than with external beam radiation. The radioactive source is removed a short time later.īrachytherapy is not used often to treat esophageal cancer, but might be helpful with more advanced esophageal cancers to shrink tumors so a patient can swallow more easily. The radiation travels only a short distance, so it reaches the tumor but has little effect on nearby normal tissues. Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) is a type of radiation where the doctor passes an endoscope (a long, flexible tube) down the throat to place radioactive material very close to the cancer. It can last anywhere from a few days to weeks. How often and how long the radiation treatments are delivered depends on the reason the radiation is being given and other factors. It is much like getting an x-ray, but the radiation is more intense. The radiation is focused on the cancer from a machine outside the body. There are 2 main types of radiation therapy used to treat esophageal cancer.Įxternal-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is the type of radiation therapy used most often for people with esophageal cancer. To ease the symptoms of advanced esophageal cancer such as pain, bleeding, or trouble swallowing.After surgery (and along with chemo when possible), to try to kill any cancer cells that may have been left behind but are too small to see.Before surgery (and along with chemo when possible), to try to shrink the cancer and make it easier to remove.This is often used for people who can’t have surgery due to poor health or for people who don’t want surgery. As part of the main treatment of esophageal cancer in some patients, typically along with chemo ( chemoradiation).When is radiation therapy used for esophagus cancer? Using these 2 treatments together is called chemoradiation. Chemotherapy can make radiation therapy more effective against some esophagus cancers. It is often combined with other types of treatment, such as chemotherapy (chemo) and/or surgery, to treat esophageal cancer. (2019).Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (such as x-rays) or particles to destroy cancer cells. Esophageal cancer treatment (PDQ®)–health professional version.You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Learn more about the types of radiation therapy here. However, it may be beneficial in relieving esophageal cancer symptoms, such as difficulties swallowing. They will then remove the radioactive source after a short period of time.ĭoctors do not use this procedure very often as it is not suitable for treating large areas of the body. Internal radiation therapyĭuring this procedure, a doctor will pass an endoscope down the person’s throat to reach the esophagus and place a radioactive agent next to the cancerous cells that require treatment. The length and frequency of the treatment can vary depending on the extent and type of cancer. The procedure is similar to an X-ray, but the radiation has a higher intensity. During this type of therapy, a machine focuses radiation on the part of the body that needs cancer treatment. This is the type of radiation that doctors often use to treat esophageal cancer. There are two main types of radiation therapy: external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy).
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