Esophagectomy: What is life like Afterwards?

@ollusam thank you. I pray your husband continues to do well.

@leadingham1
It's definitely a difficult decision. For me, I was diagnosed Stage 3 actively trending to Stage 4. I was 66 and as a personal trainer, in great shape. Mayo strongly recommended the surgery as the best protocol for a cure. Each of us is different, but my recovery has been difficult. Despite that, I'd make the same decision again. Your Dad's going to have a different quality of life probably and it will take time to recover. It is a big change, but still very workable. I'd be happy to talk with you and share details if that would help. Too many details to cover in a post. Best wishes for you and your Dad.

@leadingham1 they removed part of his stomach and esophagus. Not the entire stomach and pulled the remaining stomach up. He is now 76 y/o will be 77 in May. He is doing remarkably well. Eats everything but in smaller portions.

@leadingham1 it was a Ivor-Lewis minimally invasive esophagectomy . Both the lower part of esophagus and part of stomach were removed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in NYC

My 73-year-old father was diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma on Jan 1st. He is currently completing initial chemoradiation (23 sessions/40 Gy). Aside from an enlarged prostate causing nocturia (frequent nighttime urination), he is otherwise healthy with no history of hypertension or diabetes.

We are weighing two paths: an esophagectomy in 4-6 weeks versus definitive chemoradiation (continuing to 50+ Gy). Given his age and current health profile, what is the typical recovery outlook for a patient like him (Age : 73), and is the surgical risk generally preferred over the definitive radiation path for squamous cell cases?

Thanks,

@leadingham1
I'm in the same boat - expect to remove lower (most?) of esophagus, GE junction, and the stomach in May. Terrified. I'm told I'll have a feeding tube for a month and not be able to even have water during most/all of that time. I'd love to learn more about what the experience from others of what that is like, including navigating the feeding tube.

@manish28, welcome. I'm tagging a few members like @bakerwd4 @dkoehne @jayb1123 @dave640 who may be able to share their experiences with surgery after chemoradiation.

At the moment, it sounds like your dad has options. Since your dad is just beginning chemoradiation, might you be able to see how he does in treatment before having to make a decision?

@manuelo
hello manuelo. my brother had his surgery feb 3, 2026. He was discharged feb. 10 , 2026 everything was going well until yesterday. His lung collapsed and there's an infection. he's in ICU now. he has a stent, feeding tube was put in and another tube draining his lung (i.e. infection fluids)... it seems now we're sitting here with the worst complications possible, and he didnt loose alot of his esophagus or stomach, it was stage 2 but now this has happened. your post gave me hope 🙏

@manish28
Hi, from being with my wife through chemo radiation followed by Esophagectomy, I could make a a few suggestions based strictly on her experience:
1. Oncologists seem to know how much chemo radiation a patient can withstand. Don’t push beyond that.
2. Get your J-tube early (don’t wait until surgery) so that you can use it, as needed, to maintain strength and weight during chemo radiation. Also because, in case there’s a complication with the J-tube, you’ll be able to get that sorted out before surgery and not during surgical recovery.
3. Don’t get the surgery unless you’re going to get it at a high-volume hospital for Esophagectomy, such as Mayo/Richester. Others will do the operation but don’t have enough experience with the surgery or with the recovery.
4. The last two weeks of radiation and, especially, the two weeks following completion of radiation will probably be your 4 hardest weeks. Much harder, probably, than the operation or recovery from the operation. - You may be able to avoid this worst part by getting your J-tube early.
5. Everything after the operation has been manageable. - Many people live actively and happily afterwards although with some adjustments.

Wishing you and your father well,
Dave

My wife and children were terrified when I went in for the surgery in April of 2023, so my three-year anniversary is approaching. My surgeon was up front with me that this is a difficult operation, and it does change your life. It also saves it. I was in ICU for 9 days I think, then two more in a focused room before release. If your dad can apply himself to the physical therapy which started Day 2 and get his legs working the post op care at home seems manageable. A recliner was my home for a month but I was able to shuffle to the bathroom on my own the first day home, shower on my own the third day, and as I recall within a week was taking slow laps around the driveway. Food, of course, was another journey. Staying on clear broth for a week, graduating to very soft scrambled eggs was heaven. Then learning my way around difficult foods like bread, eating small portions of protein several times a day instead of big meals. I went into surgery a tubby 230 lbs. and post-surgery my weight dropped as low as 145lbs. because of the (now) smaller stomach and eating restrictions. Now I'm about 165 lbs. and can eat most of my favorite meals. I've had 5 EGD dilations of my throat to stretch the scar tissue (and scope for reoccurrence of the cancer) but those are basically an outpatient procedure that improves swallowing. This month my oncologist put me on annual follow-ups! The largest change since the surgery for me has been developing blood sugar issues, dumping syndrome, and I now wear a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) in my arm and struggle with severe blood sugar drops if I don't pay attention to my diet. Frustrating but manageable. I had the surgery at age 67 and I'm now 70, walk at least 5 miles every day , ride a bike in the summer. The surgery did save my life. Happy to talk with you or your dad just like people did with me when I was anticipating the operation.