Questions For Your Doctors
What to ask your Radiation Oncologist

Radiation is the least effective part of the tri-modal assault. Where surgery is highly effective in eradicating EC in the earliest stages, and various chemotherapeutic protocols can have good results when the cancer has not progressed too far, radiation by itself seldom cures many people who receive it. That being said, the longest surviving member of the EC Group (more than 3 decades so far) had radiation as her only treatment. In any case the extra few percent might be just what you need to destroy that spot missed in surgery. Radiation has a role in curing EC that should not be ignored.

Radiation also has a major role in palliative medicine. It may not be able to destroy a large tumor in the esophagus, but it can often shrink the tumor enough to allow the EC-patient to swallow more normally and to eat.

1. Why is radiation being used at all after surgery? Aren't we essentially targeting the same area as surgery?
2. How does the X-ray or Gamma Ray machine work? Won't nearby tissues get blasted as well as the tumor?
3. How will radiation affect surgery? If used before, will radiation damage tissues that will be needed to resection the digestive track? If used after surgery will radiation harm the anastimosis [the rejoined stubs of the esophagus and the stomach]?
4. What are the preparatory steps before I begin radiation?
5. How are radiation and chemotherapy being coordinated if they are being used jointly in a protocol?
6. What side effects are likely to occur?
7. What if any serious but rare side effects should I watch for?
8. I have heard that some lotions (particularly those with strong SPF factors) can affect radiation? What should I avoid in these areas if anything?