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← Return to Esophageal Cancer: Surgery Or Not?
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Esophageal Cancer: Surgery Or Not?
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Sep 5 3:11pm | Replies (133)Comment receiving replies
Hello Rick,
I'd be curious to know what your minimally invasive surgery was. The surgeon I consulted with was indicating, I believe, Ivor Lewis, which is billed as minimally invasive being it is robotic, but the procedure is all but that (in my opinion). A portion of the stomach is removed, the esophagus is resected almost in its entirety, and the remaining stomach is pulled up and attached to the remaining esophagus. The recovery is a 7 to 9 day stay in the hospital with a feeding tube and chest tube. Then home recovery can take up to six months or longer. Your surgery did not sound that complicated.
Tom
Replies to "Hello Rick, I'd be curious to know what your minimally invasive surgery was. The surgeon I..."
Hi Tom. I apologize for my delay in replying.
My surgery went very well! Ivory
lewis minimally invasive. Dt Shanda Blackmon St Lukes Baylor in Houstan Texas. I thought I would feel as though I was mailed by a bear, but not the case at all. There was -is discomfort at the small incisions. Its 1 month now post surgery. Ive been able to function normally. I have slept alot but that is improving and I am going back to work full time 09/05/2025.
I went into surgery having been diagnosed as T2B. After surgery it was found my tumor did not pass through the mucosal layer and no lymph nodes were involved. I had anear total response to chemo and radiation . I will be receiving immunotherapy to suppress anything still floating around..
Btw, my hospital stay was 8days, 7 was in ICU due to heart arrhythmia that developed after surgery
What is your situation? I pray all is as good as it can be!
Rick
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Hi Tom, Minimally invasive in this case refers only to the use of small incisions to enter (both) body cavities as opposed to larger open incisions. Once they’re in there there is nothing minimal about what is resected and rearranged. I’m 15 months post an Ivor Lewis procedure and, like others, feeling life is getting back pretty much to normal, albeit a new norm. I’m grateful to be alive to suffer the minor inconveniences resulting from the surgery. Best wishes to all. Geoff