Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. It is a systemic treatment, meaning the drugs travel throughout the whole body. Chemotherapy for esophageal cancer is most often used in combination with radiation therapy (called chemoradiation). When used alone, chemotherapy is not an effective treatment for esophageal cancer or long-term survival. Generally, any positive effects from chemotherapy treatment alone are short-lived.
Chemotherapy for esophageal cancer may given before or after surgery.
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Chemotherapy for Esophageal Cancer