I had my esophagus removed completely. Has anyone else had this done?

Mine was removed a little over two years ago. First few months were a measured adjustment, then at least a year of learning what I could eat and how much/what I could drink. Now I'm able to enjoy almost all of my former favorite foods and even an occasional careful cocktail. Sleep in an adjustable bed or recliner but don't require as much elevation as formerly. Starting to put on a modest amount of weight again although still about ten pound light for my height/age. Walk a five mile loop every morning, ride my bike. It is definitely a journey that goes from baby steps to strides over time. I absolutely understand it is easy to get discouraged. I just kept my eyes on the horizon.

I had 80% of my esophagus removed in June 2024 for adenocarcinoma, T2N1M0. I am a little ahead of you as far as timing goes - I just hit the one-year mark a short while ago. I can tell you that I am still healing both mentally and physically, and I respect that we all heal differently. I enjoy almost all of the foods I used to eat, except for leafy salads. That said, my bowels have not figured all of this surgery out yet. I have had continual diarrhea since almost immediately after surgery, though I am starting to see a little improvement. Physically, this kind of surgery is one of the most complex and long surgeries a human can have.

Energy-wise, I have my good and bad days. Some days I can't manage a walk, often because I'm unsure how my bowels will act while I am out. I have also lost a scary amount of weight, and can't seem to put it back on. There could possibly be a point in my future when I will have to have tube feeding in addition to normal eating.

I am in Canada, and through my cancer center I can visit with a psychologist weekly if required. I have used their services a few times. Is there anything like that available with the hospital or cancer center you've been involved with? I found it extremely helpful when my dog died on the day I completed chemoradiation.

I think the biggest thing is that we have to be patient with our healing and where we are at. Some people say that we have to leave behind our previous life, and that it involves mourning that past life. To me, the best thing to do is to look forward - be as positive as possible and figure out what we can do well now, and concentrate on those things. We're still at a point where small gains are what we need to concentrate on.

Wishing you the very best.

10 years ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 Adenocarcinoma at junction of stomach and esophagus. 5 weeks Chemo, 25 proton beam radiation trips, 14 hour open, Ivor Lewis "Esophagectomy" surgery with 32" of stiches to remove 9" esophagus, and a portion of my stomach. Followed by a Wall outlet feeding machine & tube,,,breakfast, lunch and dinners for 16 months. 60+ endoscopies over 5 years to open my stricture from 4mm to 15mm in my throat, I was going to eat again, damnit. 28 trips into the hyperbaric chamber. Bowel blockages, aspiration pneumonia, plugged throat while eating, regurgitating when to much intake. Sleeping in elevated position, lost over 100 lbs, muscle. Ptsd, learning to eat with others, life style changes, traveling. Ect. ect.
NOTICE:
I'd fight through every step of the pain, fear, at times despair, and the all inclusive ugliness of what cancer is in order to "KeepSuckin'Air" another day. It's a hard fight, there's no getting around it. At times near impossible without help. So,
surround yourself with support and know you deserve to live another day, fight another battle, show everyone life's worth fighting for. You never know what tomorrow brings in medicine.
I wish all families in the fight, peace, love and well wishes.
10 year Dave

You are and amazing person thanks for the reminder. If you want to live fight for it use everything you got. Thanks again Scott

So true - surround yourself with support!!
For me - the best support is from the medical team in the hospital, Toronto, where I had the cancer treatment. They know what I went through and also what I am going through now and going forwards.
I have had my cancer treatment in 2006, and because of the late effects of radiation diagnosed in 2020 - I am back with my medical team - and they are just great!
I don't think much can be done to improve my situation - but it's comforting to know the support is there!!
Cheers !!

Although my post-chemo/radiation PET Scan showed no cancer cells remaining in the tumor at the base of my esophagus, the subsequent surgery to excise that area to allow food consumption revealed repeated instances of scattered cancer cells throughout my esophagus, resulting in its near-total removal and now a schedule for a second round of chemo/radiation to be followed by Immunotherapy. Meanwhile, my food intake experience has been without complication for a month as I moved from basic liquids to soft entrees like fish, casseroles and small portions of poultry--a bit of good news in an otherwise disappointing recovery experience.