Esophageal Cancer

They include gastroenterologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists. They offer state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment within the confines of a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly experienced teams include:

• Access to doctors and surgeons who rank among the top cancer experts in the world.
• Diagnostic specialists in endoscopic ultrasound.
• Thoracic surgeons specializing in minimally invasive treatments.
• Expertise in esophageal stenting.
• Weekly review of patient cases by the full team of experts.
• Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
• Access to support services and programs for you and your caregivers.
• Availability of new treatment options through clinical trials in radiation and systemic therapy.

Request an Appointment

If you have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, we are ready to help you. Call us at (404) 778-0032. Winship experts are available to provide a second opinion.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.

The stage of your disease indicates how much it has spread through the layers of the wall of your esophagus and whether it has spread to other organs and lymph nodes. Early stage cancer is disease limited to the esophageal wall and the adjacent lymph nodes. Late stage cancer indicates spread to other organs like liver, lung or bone. Determining the stage of your cancer will affect your treatment plan. Your Winship care team may use one or more tests and procedures to determine the stage of your cancer including a blood test, biopsy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and imaging tests.

Endoscopic ultrasound is a procedure that determines the stage of esophageal cancer in a patient. This method uses a high frequency ultrasound transducer to provide detailed images of esophageal mass and its relationship with the five-layered structure of the esophageal wall.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery or radiation to maximize the treatment. In addition to standard chemotherapy, participating in a clinical trial may be an option in certain cases. Clinical trials provide patients access to new medications that are being developed to treat esophageal cancer.

Radiation therapy: Various forms of radiotherapy including proton therapy, radiofrequency ablation, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and esophageal brachytherapy may be used as treatment for esophageal cancer.

Targeted therapies: Winship’s most promising research in treating esophageal cancer is in personalized medicine and targeted therapies. In personalized medicine, researchers identify unique characteristics of tumors that make them vulnerable to known drugs so therapy can be tailored to an individual’s cancer. In targeted therapies, investigators look for new drugs that more selectively target cancer cells with fewer side effects.

Clinical Trials

In addition to standard therapy, participating in clinical trials may be an option in certain cases. Clinical trials provide patients access to new medications that are being developed to treat esophageal cancer. Consider talking with your doctor about participating in a clinical trial at Winship.

Supportive Oncology Care

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.