Esophagectomy: What is life like Afterwards?

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@huffcomm, dealing with cancer and its treatments without a support system is hard. I can imagine you are weighing you treatment options carefully and trying to learn their impact on your quality of life and you abilities and your preferences.

You may wish to inquire about an appointment with an oncology social worker. You can talk to them about your supports or lack of support and discuss community resources available to you throughout treatment and beyond. You can also talk about palliative care and home hospice services according to your preferences. Here's a bit more about the role a cancer social worker can play in coordinating care and supporting YOU.
- - How an Oncology Social Worker Can Help https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/how-an-oncology-social-worker-can-help/

@huffcomm, what treatment is being recommended for you? How are you doing?

Hi Southern 1961, My heart goes out to you, what a horrible recovery. As a single 73-year-old with no spouse, and no friends and family nearby I question whether this path (as opposed to hospice) is the right one for me. I guess you answered my question when you said " I would not have made it without my wife Linda o f 42 years now." I can't imagine living under those conditions. I'm not afraid of dying at all -- afraid of living like this with no income or support system to speak of. Any comments to that? Thank you and I honor your journey.

I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2013,I did radiation and chemo and had surgery ,the days after surgery I developed a bad cough my wife told me some time later ,I ended up with sepsis,I had to have a tracheotomy done and put in induced coma a few weeks,I was in the hospital for two and a half months,I've been back to work full time I still have a problem with shortness of breath and stomach discomfort when eating.its been long good fight all this and a lot of prayers.i would not have made it without my wife Linda o f 42 years now.

You are a true survivor! So thankful you are living your life and doing well. Your story is a true testament of survival! Do they know what made you slip into a coma ?
I’m 4 weeks out of the same surgery, I’m just so slow with recovery and still have a lot of pain I’m trying to stay positive. Each day I get a little better

I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2013,I did radiation and chemo and had surgery ,the days after surgery I developed a bad cough my wife told me some time later ,I ended up with sepsis,I had to have a tracheotomy done and put in induced coma a few weeks,I was in the hospital for two and a half months,I've been back to work full time I still have a problem with shortness of breath and stomach discomfort when eating.its been long good fight all this and a lot of prayers.i would not have made it without my wife Linda o f 42 years now.

You are a true survivor! So thankful you are living your life and doing well. Your story is a true testament of survival! Do they know what made you slip into a coma ?
I’m 4 weeks out of the same surgery, I’m just so slow with recovery and still have a lot of pain I’m trying to stay positive. Each day I get a little better

I'm surprised that stage 4 esophageal cancer is considered non-operatable & incurable. I was diagnosed with stage 4 EC just before Christmas 2019. I started chemo & radiation soon after at the new Leonard Cancer Institute here in So. California. Surgery was 10+ hours. Cancer had destroyed part of the esophagus and stomach was detached and moved up higher in my chest. Surgery went well from all reports till I slipped into a deep coma that lasted 2 months. At that point, doctor's held out no hope of my coming out of the coma and had my death certificate ready to sign but needed approval from my health advocate. Thankfully, she knew my health background and the serious issues I'd already overcome so she refused to authorize the death certificate. I came out of the coma about 2 weeks later. From there it was a series of 4 re-habs with J Tube, very little rehab at any of the facilities, and because the head of the bed was raised to keep gerd down, my neck is permanently unable to return to it's original position. It leans forward which throws off one's balance. I'm 4 yrs out from surgery and still need esophageal stretchings at the hospital from time to time. Very limited what I can eat. But despite all the issues, I survived & though it's not the life I was used to prior to this cancer, I am alive, just living life differently than I expected. I've found it rewarding to talk with a few people who have dealt this cancer as it seems no 2 people have had the exact same problems before & post surgery.