Chemotherapy Protocols for Esophageal Cancer

Approximately 16,000 new cases of esophageal cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, reports the American Cancer Society, and the prognosis after five years is often poor. Although rarely used alone for the treatment of this form of cancer, chemotherapy is a possible treatment for esophageal cancer with a combination of radiation and, in some cases, surgery.

Types of Drugs

• Chemotherapy drugs used to treat esophageal cancer include 5-fluorouracil, capecitibine, cisplatin and carboplatin, drugs that prevent cancer cells from replicating, eventually causing them to die. The most common treatment used for combination therapy with radiation is 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, according to the American Cancer Society.

Features

• Depending on the medication given, each treatment can last between 30 minutes or a few hours, reports National University Hospital. The number of treatments administered varies based upon the stage and type of esophageal cancer.

Variations

• For combination therapy with cisplatin and fluorouracil, treatment is sometimes given on an inpatient basis with medication being delivered continuously for four days, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This requires a one-month hospital stay.

Side Effects

• Possible side effects from chemotherapy for esophageal cancer include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores and low blood counts. Chemo lowers the immune response, making patients more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections and causing shortness of breath, fatigue and easy bleeding or bruising, according to the American Cancer Society.

Prognosis

• Even with chemotherapy treatment, only approximately 11 to 18 percent of patients survive for five years after the diagnosis of esophageal cancer, reports the American Cancer Society.