Patients with symptomatic locally advanced or recurrent oesophagogastric cancer should be assessed for chemoradiation, radiotherapy alone or systemic chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated modality for treating dysphagia. Where radiotherapy is not appropriate, endoscopic placement of a stent should be considered.

Patients with inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic oesophagogastric/gastric cancer should be assessed for palliative chemotherapy. In some patients with gastric cancer, there may be a role for surgical palliation or endoscopic stent placement for distal gastric cancer.

Timeframes for starting treatment

Treatment should begin within two weeks of the MDM.