Additional treatment options
Your esophageal cancer team may employ other treatment options based on the cancer type and stage, and your individualized treatment plan.
Some additional treatment options available to esophageal cancer patients at City of Hope include:
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is a medical specialty focusing on the digestive system. Once esophageal cancer has been diagnosed, some of the procedures that may be performed by our gastroenterologists include:
- Cryotherapy: This procedure uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy cancer cells, which may shrink the tumor and help improve swallowing.
- Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): During an EMR a thin tube (endoscope) is inserted down the throat and used to remove very early stage cancer.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): This procedure provides high-quality images of the esophagus and may aid in delivering treatment directly to a mass.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT): PDT is designed to kill cancerous cells using a photosensitizing drug.
Interventional radiology
Interventional radiology is a medical specialty in which trained physicians perform minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat various diseases. At City of Hope interventional radiologists use image-guided technology such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose and treat esophageal cancer.
Clinical trials
City of Hope offers clinical trials as part of our commitment to bringing our patients new and innovative cancer treatment options, especially for patient with advanced cancer or who may have run out of standard-of-care approaches. The research team at City of Hope carefully identifies and studies new and emerging treatment options that are supported by scientific and investigational research. Your care team will work with you to determine if you qualify for an existing trial and, if so, help you enroll.
