There are reasons for doing more treatments, even with clean post-op pathology. I have seen this before, but in stage 1 patients who went straight to surgery, where the tumor was a bit deeper into the esophageal layers than was thought going into surgery. There are studies in Asia (where most patients who are not stage 4) go straight to surgery, then they do adjuvant treatments... (they don't do any neoadjuvant treatments first).

Anyways... I still find it strange only 1 lymph node was removed during his esophagectomy... are you certain of this? And removing his gall bladder also seems odd... was this not discussed as an option prior to his surgery? Did he have gallstones? But I'm sure he'll do just fine without his gallbladder... as bile will continue to drip into his intestines straight from his liver.

But it is concerning he did not complete his neoadjuvant CROSS protocol treatments (if that is what he did)... due to side effects. I'll assume his chemo regimen is going to change now... to Folfox or something. And yes, now that he is post-op, it will be harder on him... they will have to watch him very closely.

All the best.

Gary