Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer can start anywhere in the long passageway that runs from the throat to the stomach. You may not experience any symptoms of early esophageal cancer, but, at later stages, you may find swallowing difficult or get a hoarse voice or cough that doesn’t go away or you may unintentionally lose weight.

A combination of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or heartburn) and a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus can increase your risk for esophageal cancer. In addition to difficulty swallowing and digesting food, esophageal cancer also can cause abnormal chest pain.

Comprehensive Esophageal Cancer Care Close to Home

If you or a loved one face a diagnosis of esophageal cancer, you’ll want to talk with the esophageal and thoracic cancer experts at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City.

In addition to treatment esophageal and gastric cancers, Stephenson Cancer Center specialists provide care for thoracic cancers such as:

• Chest wall tumors
• Diaphragmatic tumors
• Lung cancer
• Mediastinal tumors
• Metastatic cancer of the lungs, chest wall and mediastinum
• Pleural cancers

OU Health Services & Treatments for Esophageal Cancer

At Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center, you’ll work with a highly trained and experienced multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing evidence-based prevention, detection, treatment and research for esophageal cancer and a wide range of thoracic cancers.

As you and your care team work together to develop an individualized treatment plan tailored for your specific situation, you’ll receive a comprehensive evaluation, take advantage of advanced imaging for accurate diagnosis and meet for regular reviews. If you live with GERD, you’ll always receive screening for Barrett’s esophagus as part of your evaluation at Stephenson Cancer Center.

Personalized Esophageal Cancer Treatment

The best treatment for you depends on several factors, including the stage of the disease and the location of the tumor. Options may include specialized thoracic surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy or a combination of these methods.

Cancer Navigation Services

Throughout your journey at Stephenson Cancer Center, your care team includes a nurse navigator, a specially trained registered nurse (RN) who acts as your personal advocate and adds an extra layer of support. Learn more about Cancer Navigation Services.

Supportive Care Services

You also gain access to extensive Supportive Care services, such as genetic counseling, nutritional therapy, support groups, palliative and comfort care, cancer education workshops, and symptom and pain management. And you’ll find all your cancer-related services in a bright, welcoming, up-to-date facility close to home and designed for your comfort and convenience.

Your Thoracic Cancer Care Team

From your first contact with Stephenson Cancer Center, you become a vital part of our multidisciplinary team approach that brings you together with cancer specialists, such as medical oncologists, cancer surgeons, pathologists, radiologists and others, to ensure you receive the best care for your particular condition.