Definition
Like pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer is also a rare but very virulent neoplasm: usually, cancer originates at the level of the cells that internally cover the esophagus (squamous cell carcinoma), but also adenocarcinoma ( esophagus cancer that originates in the glandular epithelium) is a rather widespread form.
Causes
Smoking and alcohol abuse are the two causal factors most often implicated in the onset of esophageal cancer, although a unique and precise cause has not yet been identified. Other possible risk factors include: fruit and vegetable deficient diet, hiatal hernia, Barret's esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease. It has been observed that also age and sex influence the appearance of esophageal cancer: in fact, the subjects most at risk of esophageal cancer are men over 60 years old.
Symptoms
As with the vast majority of cancers, esophageal cancer also rarely begins with clear and precise symptoms: for this reason, cancer tends to be diagnosed late. At an advanced stage, the neoplasm may instead lead to more marked symptoms: asthenia, difficulty / inability to swallow, weight loss, hoarseness, hiccups, coughs, vomiting.
Information on Esophagus Cancer - Drugs for the Treatment of Esophageal Cancer is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Esophagus Cancer - Drugs for Cancer Treatment.
drugs
The localized esophageal tumor (circumscribed) or in any case of regional extension must be treated surgically. It should be remembered, however, that it is not always possible to intervene with surgical treatments: this depends on the stage of progress of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, given that, as we have previously analyzed, oesophageal cancer begins with a rather nuanced symptomatology which, apparently, does not raise concerns.
Radiation therapy is sometimes used before subjecting the patient to surgical treatment: this practice is generally reserved for patients suffering from stage IIB and III esophagus cancer (locally advanced, non-metastatic cancer). In this case, radiation therapy is useful to reduce the extent of the tumor and to increase the possibility of good resurgence of surgery.
In some patients, however, surgical intervention is not feasible: hence chemotherapy - possibly associated with radiotherapy - is the treatment of choice.
For the pharmacological treatment of esophageal cancer, chemotherapy drugs are often used in combination; monotherapy, therefore, is not a very reliable option, given the danger of the disease. Generally, cisplatin is used in combination with fluorouracil, especially in combination with radiotherapy. Another therapeutic scheme associates paclitaxel or irinotecan to cisplatin: the problem, in the latter option, is represented by the serious side effects, sometimes so heavy as to cancel the therapeutic effects.
- Cisplatin (eg Cisplatin ACC, Platamine, Pronto Platamine): indicatively, the dose of intake of this drug varies from 60 to 270 mg per square meter of body surface (to be taken on day 1). Repeat the administration after 21 days. Cisplatin is associated with other anticancer drugs; the dose can be modified by the doctor based on the associated active principle and the degree of progression of the disease.
- Fluorouracil (eg Fluorouracil) in general, for the treatment of neoplasms, the drug is administered at the minimum dose of 6 mg / kg and at the maximum dose of 12 mg / kg (never exceed 400 mg of drug for malnourished subjects and 800 mg for normal weight subjects). The administration of the chemotherapy should be continued for 4 consecutive days and repeated at the 6th-8th-10th-12th day. Consult your doctor for any clarifications.
- Paclitaxel (eg Paxene, Abraxane): belonging to the class of taxanes, the drug is widely used in therapy for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer, but is also indicated for oesophageal cancer, especially in association with other drugs antineoplastics (cisplatin). The dosage must be established by the doctor. As an indication, the drug should be administered by intravenous infusion of 3-24 hours.
- Irinotecan (eg Irinotecan ACC, Campto) generally used as a substitute for paclitaxel, always in combination with cisplatin.
- Doxorubicin (eg. Adriblastina, Caelyx, Myocet): also used for the treatment of cancer in the metastatic stage. The indicative dosage, established precisely by the doctor, ranges from 20 to 50 mg / m2 to be taken every 4 weeks. Consult your doctor.
Other palliative care for esophageal cancer
In some patients, esophageal cancer evolves at such an aggressive and complex stage that surgery, as well as chemo-radiotherapy, would not bring any benefit to the terminally ill patient. In any case, to make the symptomatology less painful and bearable - especially the difficulty in swallowing (often resulting in a real impossibility to take solid and liquid food) - the doctor can choose some specific palliative care, useful to ensure at least a nutritional intake balanced. The various options include:
- laser therapy: the laser, aimed at the esophagus tumor, allows to reconstruct the passage for food to pass through (dilation of the esophageal lumen)
- the insertion of a plastic / silicone tube through the esophageal canal can simplify the transit of food
