Can you cure esophageal cancer?

It depends: Esophageal cancer can be cured if it is caught early. The prognosis depends largely on the stage of disease. Lower stage disease which is more localized is more easily cured.

YES: Optimal results will be with a comprehensive multidisciplinary thoracic surgical oncology team. For best survival in fit patients, surgery for stage i and iia. In stages iib and iii, standard approach is chemoradiation followed by surgery. More advanced, i.e. Stage iv, chemotherapy +/- radiation and no surgery. http://goo.gl/6phtu.

Depends on stage: 5 year survival after surgery for stage i non small cell lung cancer (nsclc) is 80%. 5 year survival after treatment for stage IV is <5%. Patients should take advantage of participation in clinical trials through nci designated comprehensive cancer centers. http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/surgery/specialties/cardio/thoracicsurgery.html.