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Esophagectomy: What is life like Afterwards?
Hello, my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in March. His tumor is very small and isolated, thankfully! He has been a champ and has finished chemo and radiation. His esophagectomy is scheduled in a couple of weeks. He and the rest of my family are starting to feel the fear and reality of this procedure. My dad's not a big talker but I know he is scared. I would love to connect with others to learn about what life has been like after this surgery so I can help support my dad. I am also hoping to get him involved with some support groups with others who have experienced the surgery. It would be so beneficial for him to connect with others who have been through what he is going through. Any insight on post-surgery recovery and life would be very appreciated!
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You may have missed my posts about post surgery coughing? I too had Esophagectomy surgery last December. Mine was at UCLA. I developed a dry, persistent cough that worsened as time went on, so four weeks post surgery my surgeon recommended re-admission to the hospital for a CT scan. The scan showed a lot of fluid surrounding my left lung. The inserted a drain in my left side (a fairly simple procedure, not requiring general anesthesia), and over the next two days more than a liter of fluid drained out. The cough was gone as soon as the fluid was gone, and I have had no recurrence. I would make sure your husband’s team looks at whether he has fluid in his chest cavity. Good luck to you both.
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1 ReactionHello.
I had an esophagectomy on July 24. Due to some complications, I was in ICU for 10 days. I was discharged on August 4. Here are some things I have experienced :
1. Had to sleep in a recliner for two weeks but finally got in my bed successfully after that. You will have to sleep in an elevated position in bed.
2. I have had far less pain than I imagined. Have managed that primarily with children’s Tylenol. Use Oxycodone sparingly.
3. Your dad will be sent home with a feeding tube. That is not as bad as I expected. He will be on the feeding tube for several weeks.
4. I started taking in food orally at about 10 days after surgery - a totally liquid diet. Then, I graduated to a soft and moist diet. I can now eat most foods but only in small portions - around 1/2 a cup. I have no appetite, but still have to eat. There will be a transition to six-seven meals a day. One has to determine when your meal is complete since you longer have a stomach and get full quickly.
5. Keep encouraging your dad in his recovery. Progress might be slow, but any progress is good. Celebrate daily!
Well, those are my initial thoughts. Hope they are helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions. I’m cheering for your father!
Bill D
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3 Reactions@drbilldobrenen2026 which surgery did you have. I had the Ivor Lewis open surgery and definitely had a different experience with pain and the length of healing time.
I was diagnosed stage 4 in November of 2019. After surgery and pathology it was downgraded to a stage 3 as the cancer wasn’t in any lymph node’s or in the section of the 7th rib they removed.