Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to test the use of CPAP in patients with esophgaeal cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- does use of CPAP decrease exposure of normal lung to radiation?
- does use of CPAP decrease exposure of normal heart to radiation?
Participants will undergo simulation twice:
- with CPAP
- without CPAP
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of cancer, with a tumor (primary or secondary) in the esophagus including tumors in the esophagus-stomach junction.
- Age ≥ 18
- Planned RT treatment
- The level of functioning ≥ 60 on the Karnofsky scale
- Life expectancy ≥ two months
- All patients must understand the informed consent form document and sign it of their own free will before any test/procedure related to the study is performed.
- Able to undergo simulation and radiation with CPAP
- Candidate patients can be recruited to receive definitive, palliative or pre-operative radiation, with or without chemotherapy.
Exclusion Criteria:
A person who meets any of the following exclusion criteria will not be able to participate
in the study:
1. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
2. Significant comorbidity at the starting point that would prevent the use of CPAP
3. Hospitalized in an institution by virtue of an administrative order or a court order.
4. Special population
5. A history of a psychiatric problem that may impair the patient's ability to understand
the research requirements or respond to them, or to give his consent