Esophageal Cancer Treatment – External Beam Radiation Therapy
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External Beam Radiation for Esophageal Cancer
Radiation oncologists at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) often use External Beam Radiation Therapy for esophageal cancer treatment. This form of radiotherapy involves directing an external "beam" of radiation outside your body at the areas affected by esophageal cancer within your body.
External Beam Radiation Therapy may be used for treatment of cancer of the esophagus in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy. In addition to these traditional forms of cancer treatment, at CTCA we offer supportive therapies to help keep you strong and improve your quality of life during esophageal cancer treatment.
To deliver External Beam Radiation Therapy, a high-energy X-ray machine called a linear accelerator aims radiation at an esophageal cancer tumor. This esophageal cancer treatment lasts just a few minutes at a time, and is usually given five days a week, over the course of six to eight weeks.
Radiation therapy planning, delivery and treatment of esophageal cancer have changed dramatically due to significant advancements in computer hardware and software. At CTCA, we anticipate these advancements will continue to progress during the next decade. By leveraging recent advances in radiation therapy, our cancer doctors can more accurately target esophageal cancer tumors with higher doses of radiation, all the while minimizing damage to healthy esophageal tissue.
External Beam Radiation Therapy poses no risk of radioactivity to you or others with whom you have contact. You may continue normal activities with family and friends throughout your esophageal cancer treatment.
Advantages of External Beam Radiation Therapy include:
- It is an outpatient procedure that does not carry the standard risks or complications that may accompany major surgery, such as surgical bleeding, post-operative pain or risk of stroke, heart attack or blood clot.
- The procedure itself causes no pain.
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