If oesophageal cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, it may be possible to cure it with: surgery to remove the affected section of oesophagus chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy (chemoradiation), to kill the cancerous cells and shrink the tumour If oesophageal cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, a cure may not be achievable. But in these cases, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be used to help keep the cancer under control and relieve any symptoms you have.