A cancer diagnosis of any kind may feel frightening and overwhelming. Norton Cancer Institute is here to help you through your cancer journey from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. Norton Cancer Institute offers the latest in esophageal cancer cryotherapy procedures that may extend longevity and improve quality of life for patients.

What Is Esophageal Cancer?

Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow abnormally and interfere with the body’s functions. The esophagus is the tube between your mouth and stomach. Esophageal cancer affects more than 22,000 people in the U.S. every year. It makes up 1% of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. and affects more men than women.

The Science Behind Spray Cryotherapy

Spray cryotherapy offers a precise method for treating esophageal cancer by using extreme cold — in the form of liquid nitrogen — to eliminate abnormal tissue. This approach differs significantly from heat-based treatments, because freezing preserves the underlying healthy tissue. As the frozen, damaged tissue naturally falls away, normal cells can regenerate in its place with minimal scarring.

You might recognize this technique from dermatology offices, where doctors commonly use liquid nitrogen to remove abnormal skin cells.

The Treatment Process

Using trūFreeze spray cryotherapy technology, damaged tissue is frozen and removed. The procedure takes place in an outpatient setting under the care of a gastroenterologist, a doctor whose expertise includes the stomach and esophagus. Here’s what happens:

1. Anesthesia administration: You’ll receive either deep sedation or general anesthesia to ensure comfort throughout the procedure.
2. Endoscopic access: A thin, flexible tube equipped with a camera and light source is carefully guided through your mouth into the esophagus.
3. Targeted application: Your physician inserts a specialized tube through the endoscope and delivers controlled sprays of liquid nitrogen to the identified abnormal tissue areas.
4. Freeze-thaw cycles: Each treatment site undergoes multiple cycles of freezing and thawing to ensure effective tissue destruction.

The duration varies, depending on the extent of tissue requiring treatment.

Preparing for Your Procedure

Your medical team will provide specific instructions before your procedure, but you generally can expect:

• Fasting requirements: You must have no food or beverages after midnight before your scheduled procedure.
• Transportation: Arrange for someone to drive you home afterward.
• Medication management: If you take blood thinners or aspirin, your doctor will advise whether to temporarily stop using these medications and will provide a specific timeline for resuming your normal medicines.

Recovery and Follow-up Care

Immediately After the Procedure

Following your treatment, you’ll be monitored until the anesthesia effects wear off. Some mild discomfort is normal during the initial recovery period.

Dietary Guidelines

For the first 24 hours, stick to soft foods while your esophageal tissue begins healing. This helps prevent irritation and promotes optimal recovery.

Ongoing Monitoring

Your physician will schedule a follow-up appointment within two to three months to assess your healing progress. Long-term management includes regular endoscopic examinations and tissue biopsies to monitor for any recurrence or new developments.

Norton Healthcare is one of the few hospital systems in the area providing this type of cryotherapy for esophageal cancer. 

Norton Healthcare Foundation

The technology for this procedure is funded through a grant from the Norton Healthcare Foundation. Learn how you can support innovation at Norton Healthcare. The Norton Healthcare Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the not-for-profit Norton Healthcare system’s adult services.