What Can I Do to Improve How Well Treatment Works for Esophageal Cancer?

If you already have esophageal cancer, taking the same steps that lower a person’s risks of getting the disease can help make your treatment more successful.

Ask yourself what you can do to improve your success of making these lifestyle changes. Ask your doctor or family members for help.

• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.

• Stop drinking alcohol.

• If you have frequent heartburn, talk with your doctor about having regular endoscopic screening to detect precancerous changes in the lining of your esophagus.

• Eat well-balanced meals with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits may be particularly protective.1

• Avoid or reduce obesity.

• If you have GERD, work with your doctor to control your symptoms.

Making these changes can be hard, but you don’t have to make them alone. Your doctor can suggest resources to help. Look for counselors or self-help groups in your area. Find other people who have been able to make these changes. Ask them for ideas about what worked for them. Meet with a dietitian to learn about healthier ways to eat.