Available Treatments for Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer, also known as the cancer of the esophagus, has taken its place among the top 10 causes of cancer-related death in the United States, government statistics reports, further adding how the malignancy may be the cause of fatality in more than 13,000 Americans annually. In addition to biological factors, health experts also attribute the disease to unhealthy habits, including alcohol drinking, that may cause chronic irritation to the esophagus. While there have been contradicting reports in the past, esophageal cancer may also be a potential complication from the oral long-term use of bisphosphonates such as Fosamax, according to a 2010 British study. However, this may not be the only woe that the blockbuster drug and pharmaceutical giant Merck and Co. are facing, as FDA continues its Fosamax investigation in conjunction with the burgeoning reports of its inadvertent effects. The esophagus is a delicate tube that serves as a conduit of food and liquid from the throat to the stomach, according to medical journals. As were any organ in the human body, the esophagus may also be susceptible to a certain kind of cancer when exposed to environmental risk factors. Whether or not it has been triggered by chronic irritation to the gullet, inherited genes, other medical conditions, or certain medications, its treatment may always depend on the progress and phase of the cancer. Endoscopic Therapies A 2009 analysis by the Mayo Clinic suggests how non-invasive, organ-sparing endoscopic therapy may be as effective as complex surgical esophagus removal in treating the early stages of esophageal cancer. Surgery Esophagectomy is reportedly the most frequently used surgical treatment for esophageal cancer, according to cancer experts. It is the process of removing a cancerous part or the entire esophagus, and rebuilding it from a segment of a patient's stomach, or large intestine. Radiation and Chemotherapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that involves high-energy particles that aim to destroy cancer cells or shrink tumors, cancer experts say. In patients with severe swallowing problems and in the advanced stages of the disease, radiation and chemotherapy may also be employed simultaneously. Epirubicin, cisplatin and fluorouracil are some of the most commonly used chemotherapy medications. Getting educated of the possible risk factors of a certain disease may be of great advantage to every individual, health experts say. In the case of osteoporotic patients who have been taking Fosamax or other bisphosphonates for more than five years, the risk of developing esophageal cancer may increase. The Fosamax Lawsuit Help Center may have relevant information as regard corresponding legal actions taken by many users who reportedly endured the inadvertent effects of the osteoporosis drug.

URL References: mayoclinic.com/health/esophageal-cancer/DS00500/DSECTION=risk-factors mayoclinic.org/news2009-rst/5397.html sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902191327.htm heartburn.about.com/od/acidrefluxcomplications/a/prevent_ecancer.htm nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007397.htm livestrong.com/article/116753-treatments-esophageal-cancer/