If you or a loved one are facing an esophageal cancer diagnosis, you’re likely wondering, “Can cancer of the esophagus be cured?” We’re pleased to tell you that esophageal cancer can be treated, removed, and even go into remission, “cured” to the point where it’s no longer detected in the patient’s body.
Having said that, the ability to cure esophageal cancer patients depends on how far the disease has progressed. When caught in the early stages, this type of cancer can be physically removed through surgeries and other medical procedures. Late-stage cancers, on the other hand, must be treated systematically, typically through radiation and chemotherapy.
The ultimate goal of esophageal cancer treatment is to remove tumors from the patient’s body. This sometimes requires preoperative chemotherapy or preoperative radiation therapy to shrink tumors before they’re taken out. And in most cases, postoperative chemotherapy helps ensure cancer cells that couldn’t be surgically removed are also killed.
What Is Esophageal Cancer?
Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the tissues of the esophagus, the long, hollow tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.3 There are two primary types: squamous cell carcinoma, which occurs in the upper and middle portions of the esophagus, and adenocarcinoma, which usually develops in the lower part. Over time, cancer cells can grow and spread, making early detection and treatment critical to improving survival outcomes.
But the question remains, “Is esophageal cancer treatable?”
Types of Esophageal Cancer
So, what are the types of esophageal cancer? More than 98% of esophageal cancer diagnoses fall into one of two categories. The most common form of esophageal cancer is called adenocarcinoma, which begins in the lower esophagus and eventually replaces the existing cells with cancerous gland cells.
In a healthy body, food travels down the esophagus from the mouth to the stomach, where it’s then digested by bile and stomach acid. But for people suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the contents of the stomach often backwash into the lower esophagus.4
When acids continually irritate the lower esophagus, this can cause a condition called Barrett’s esophagus and other unwelcome changes, including the development of adenocarcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of esophageal cancer. It’s essentially a mutation of the squamous cells, which normally line the esophagus. The most common risk factors associated with this type of cancer are smoking and frequent, heavy drinking.
Stages of Esophageal Cancer
Esophageal cancers are categorized into five stages, which range from zero to four.
- Stage 0 (Carcinoma in situ): Abnormal cells are found only in the inner lining of the esophagus. This stage is often diagnosed during routine biopsies in patients with Barrett’s esophagus.
- Stage I: Cancer has formed and spread beneath the surface lining but has not reached deeper layers or lymph nodes.
- Stage II: The cancer has invaded the muscle layer of the esophagus or nearby lymph nodes but hasn’t spread further.
- Stage III: Cancer has spread to deeper layers or nearby tissues, including more regional lymph nodes.
- Stage IV: The cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes or other organs. At this point, it is considered advanced or metastatic.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Esophageal cancer treatment depends heavily on the stage of the disease, the type of cancer cells involved, and the overall health of the patient. In many cases, a combination of therapies is used to target the tumor, stop its spread, and improve long-term survival. Below are 2 examples of treatments used to treat esophageal cancer:
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): RFA uses electrical currents to heat and destroy cancerous cells in the esophagus’s lining. It is often paired with EMR and is especially effective in early adenocarcinoma or when treating Barrett’s esophagus with complications.
Immunotherapy: For stages II through IV, immunotherapy may be added after surgery or chemoradiation. These medications help the body’s immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, and they are also used in stage IV to manage disease progression.
Treating stage four esophageal cancer is very difficult to do surgically. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are generally the best treatment options. However, stage four treatment mainly focuses on treating the symptoms of Esophageal cancer and trying to control further spread for as long as possible.
Prognosis and Survival Rates
When asked, “Is esophageal cancer curable?” the answer often depends on how early the disease is diagnosed and how effectively it is treated. Like many cancers, esophageal cancer prognosis varies widely based on the stage at diagnosis, treatment approach, and overall health of the patient.
- Early-stage esophageal cancer (stage 0 or stage I) has the most favorable outlook. With endoscopic procedures or surgery, many patients experience long-term remission. For these stages, the 5-year survival rate can range from 40% to 60%, especially if the cancer has not spread beyond the esophagus.
- Stage II and stage III cancers, while more advanced, are often treated with a combination of chemoradiation, surgery, and immunotherapy. In these cases, survival rates tend to fall between 20% and 35%, but outcomes improve with effective tumor reduction and complete removal of cancer cells.
- Stage IV esophageal cancer has a much lower survival rate, with most studies reporting a 5-year survival of around 5%. At this stage, cancer cells have usually spread to distant lymph nodes or organs, making the disease difficult to cure. However, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy can help manage symptoms and extend survival.
Ultimately, the prognosis for esophageal cancer patients depends on a range of factors, including tumor type (ex: adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma), how far the cancer has spread, the patient’s age and medical history, and how well they respond to treatment.
Early diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan—especially one that includes combined therapies—can significantly improve both prognosis and quality of life.
Esophageal Cancer Treatment from Immunity Therapy Center
The five-year overall esophageal cancer survival rate can be as high as 50% when detected and treated in the earlier stages. A patient’s age, overall health, and many other factors contribute to the success of cancer treatments, and the compassionate team at Immunity Therapy Center can help you and your family determine the best course of action.
Get in touch with us to learn more about what Esophageal cancer is and how you get esophageal cancer.
Written By: Dr. David Alvarez
Dr. David Alvarez is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Xochicalco and Certified by the American Heart Association (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support).
Dr. Alvarez has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista as an Assistant Medical Director at the Immunity Therapy Center for over 6 years. He provides daily on site patient care and participates on the medical board on research and development of patient treatment plans and programs. Dr. Alvarez is a knowledgeable and compassionate Doctor committed to helping patients get to where they want to be health wise through a more holistic and comprehensive approach.
Sources:
- Cancer Org. Treating Esophageal Cancer by Stage. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/treating/by-stage.html
- Cancer Org. Immunotherapy for Esophageal Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/treating/immunotherapy.html
- National Cancer Institute. Esophageal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. https://www.cancer.gov/types/esophageal/patient/esophageal-treatment-pdq
- MSD Manual. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/digestive-disorders/esophageal-and-swallowing-disorders/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-gerd
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.