Esophageal Cancer Sugery

Dear readers, My husband just finished his chemo and radiation this past week and will be going back to discuss surgery next week.  The Endoscopy after treatment shows improvement and he also had a CAT scan which we won't know results until next week.

Has anyone out there had this surgery or know of someone who has?  We understand there are two different surgeries, one they take out the whole esophagas and pull up the stomach and form some sort of esophagus, the other they take out half.  Dr. told us it's a 10-12 day stay in the hospital and a 2 to 3 month recovery.  Any info would be appreciated.  God Bless you all

 

On 3/15/2008 grannie2 wrote:

Dear readers, My husband just finished his chemo and radiation this past week and will be going back to discuss surgery next week.  The Endoscopy after treatment shows improvement and he also had a CAT scan which we won't know results until next week.

Has anyone out there had this surgery or know of someone who has?  We understand there are two different surgeries, one they take out the whole esophagas and pull up the stomach and form some sort of esophagus, the other they take out half.  Dr. told us it's a 10-12 day stay in the hospital and a 2 to 3 month recovery.  Any info would be appreciated.  God Bless you all

Grannie2,

I had the traditional Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy, the more invasive of the two most common surgeries, in July 2005, at the age of 54. I am doing well now.

Many of us on this site can share our experiences, as survivors or caregivers. What questions do you have?

Steve

There is a great site called Cathy's EC Cafe that has loads of patients (lots which have had surgery) and loads of caregivers and family members. Hope you find it helpful.

thoughts and prayer are with you all

catherine

I guess I have many questions as don't know much about either of the two surgeries.  Is the one you had the one where they take the entire esophagas and pull up the stomach?  How long did the surgery take?  How long were you in ICU?  and the hospital total?  How long before you felt like you were almost recovered?  Did you have problems such as the ones I have read about here?  The dumping and the leaking etc.?  My husband just finished his treatment and we will be going to talk to the surgeon this week.  I would like to have a list of coherant questions for her when we do meet.  Any info you could give would be helpful.  thank you so much.

On 3/15/2008 Cyclist wrote:

 

On 3/15/2008 grannie2 wrote:

Dear readers, My husband just finished his chemo and radiation this past week and will be going back to discuss surgery next week.  The Endoscopy after treatment shows improvement and he also had a CAT scan which we won't know results until next week.

Has anyone out there had this surgery or know of someone who has?  We understand there are two different surgeries, one they take out the whole esophagas and pull up the stomach and form some sort of esophagus, the other they take out half.  Dr. told us it's a 10-12 day stay in the hospital and a 2 to 3 month recovery.  Any info would be appreciated.  God Bless you all

Grannie2,

I had the traditional Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy, the more invasive of the two most common surgeries, in July 2005, at the age of 54. I am doing well now.

Many of us on this site can share our experiences, as survivors or caregivers. What questions do you have?

Steve

 

My father is 83 and was diagnosed with stage III EC Dec. 14.  On Feb. 14 dad underwent a Transhiatal Esophagectomy.  His tumor was at the base of the esophagus.  The cancer had not spread to lymph nodes or farther out.  Dad's surgery took 3 hours.  His esophagus was removed and his stomach was restructured and stretched to replace his old esophagus.  Dad was in SICU for 3 days and the hospital for 9days. Monday will be day 36 since his surgery.  Dad still has the feeding tube and requires 3 cans of nutrent nutrition supplement at night.  During the day dad is on a soft food diet. He eats breakfast, am snack, lunch, pm snack, dinner, after dinner snack.  The snacks are usually high calorie nutrition drinks with ice cream or peanut butter and crackers.  Dad has resumed a walking and exercise program.  Because of his age all of his doctors said that his best chance to live was to go through the surgery.  I think back as to why dad has done so well.  I come up with that even at 83 he was a very active person plus he did exercise (swimming).  He is one of those WWII gerneration veterans that is a tough individual, he has a strong will to live, he has a caring support group of family, great doctors that he really believes in and he had the best wishes, prayers and kind words of so many individuals on this site.  We wish you the best, you and your family are in our prayers.

Steve

Grannie2,

I'll try to answer the questions you posted. If you have more don't hesitate to ask.

Yes, the Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy that I had involved removing about 2/3 of my esophagus and about 1/3 of my stomach. The remaining stomach was then pulled up and attached to the remaining esophagus. (If you Google "Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy" and "Transhiatal esophagectomy" you'll see lots of info). I had incisions in my abdomen and also my left chest from just right of center in the front to almost all the way around the back. The surgery took 8 hours and I was in ICU one day. I was in the hospital for 18 days, partly because I couldn't swallow due to swelling at the junction. They even reopened my abdomen, after 8 days,  just to ensure that things were not twisted up. They were fine. I just needed more time.

I did have some dumping - not too much - but that stopped after about 3 months. I think part of that was because they also removed my gall bladder. I had to figure out what NOT to eat, namely sugar and some fats. Olive oil is OK. My recovery was a little faster than some. I was on my bicycle 30 days after the second surgery. I could do that easier than walking very far. I'd guess it was about 3 months before I was 80%. At this point I'm about 90% and my surgery was in July 2005. I don't expect to ever be 100%. Eating is somewhat of a challenge, though I can eat enough to maintain my weight and cycle lots of miles. I have some pain, which I believe is not common, that we haven't figured out yet. I just turned 57 years old.

Keep asking and keep us posted.

Good Luck and Keep Moving, 

 Steve

 

 

My father was was diagnosed in Sept 2007 with Stage 3 and thru is lymph node track in Sept.2007.  He had a tumor at the base of his esophagus and it spread a little deeper.  He had his 12 hour surgery in October.  His stomach was pulled up.  He was in the hospital for 7 days and came home with a feed tube that he would use at night.  He was not on the feeding tube long.  He had to learn what he could and couldn't eat.  He also had to learn to eat slowly and drink little sips - not gulp,  He amazed us all with his recovery from surgery.

He started 6 weeks of chemo (24 hours a day - pump) and radiation a short time later.  Thats when most of his change occured. At this point and time, he has started his 2nd round of chemo, and he is "hanging in there"  Its a tough sickness, and all we can do is pray.  

 

On 3/15/2008 grannie2 wrote:

Dear readers, My husband just finished his chemo and radiation this past week and will be going back to discuss surgery next week.  The Endoscopy after treatment shows improvement and he also had a CAT scan which we won't know results until next week.

Has anyone out there had this surgery or know of someone who has?  We understand there are two different surgeries, one they take out the whole esophagas and pull up the stomach and form some sort of esophagus, the other they take out half.  Dr. told us it's a 10-12 day stay in the hospital and a 2 to 3 month recovery.  Any info would be appreciated.  God Bless you all

 

Hi. I'm sorry to hear about the situation you are in but now is the time to do your investigative work. There are many different types of esophageal surgey that they perform but the best one is going to be the one that is specific to the stage cancer your husband has. The most important thing that you can do is research your surgeon and the facility where they will perform he surgery.You must ask how often they do the procedure and that is important because you want your husband to get the best care after surgery by nurses who are familiar with the procedure. The hospital should have a cardiothoracic icu. They are the staff that have the most experience with it. Good luck and God Bless.

My husband had the Ivor-Lewis operation done laproscopicaly at Dana Farber in Boston.  The surgeon had done quite a lot of them even though its just begining to be used for esophagectomies.  Its a lot easier on the patient and with less complications.  He had chemo and radiation and is now on erbitux as part of a study.  He had his operation in July/07 and right now looks and feels well.  His second 3mo. CT scan will be done in a few weeks. The first was clear.  It's been VERY scary and I'm still holding my breath and thanking God for the fine doctors and care he's gotten, the prayers of loved ones and his continuing improvement.  God Bless You,  Barbara

I wish I had seen this sooner.  I had 2/3 of my esophagus removed and 1/4 of my stomach.  My cancer was Stage 2-A (T-2) not through the wall.  My first surgery was to insert a J-tube feeding tube and chemo port.  I was in the hospital 5 days for that one.  3 months later, after chemo and radiation therapy I went in for the esophagectomy.  The operation lasted 10 hours. My surgeon was a woman also, very competent, and she went in through my neck, down my stomach (breast bone to mid-abdomen) and under right arm and up the back.  Needed to break a rib to insert a drainage tube.  For that I was in ICU for 3 days and the regular ward for another 21 days.  I was on feeding tube for 8 months total.  I was pretty miserable for 4 weeks after the surgery because I got an infection in my stitches on my abdomen.  All in all, a rough time, but all worth it in the end. 

Keep praying and I had another good piece of advice.  Think of one good thing each day. I was 58 at the time and will celebrate 63 this July.  Am happy it is all over and to be alive.  Last PET/CT scan and endoscopy all is well and I am in total remission.