Surgery - What to expect...

My husband was dx with Squamous cell cancer in May 2009, the tumor is in the middle third of the esophagus.  He has had chemo and radiation and is scheduled for surgery the second week of August. We have recevived info from the doctor and researched what to expect but he was hoping there was someone out there who has gone through this surgery and could explain what to expect....length of hospital stay, how you felt, recovery time, feeding tube, pain, etc.  Any information would be appreciated.

On 7/15/2009 Joanne54 wrote:

My husband was dx with Squamous cell cancer in May 2009, the tumor is in the middle third of the esophagus.  He has had chemo and radiation and is scheduled for surgery the second week of August. We have recevived info from the doctor and researched what to expect but he was hoping there was someone out there who has gone through this surgery and could explain what to expect....length of hospital stay, how you felt, recovery time, feeding tube, pain, etc.  Any information would be appreciated.

 

I was dx last July. In August I startrd 28 radiation treatments and 2 rounds of chemo. chemo was 5 days of cisplatin and 5fu  2 rounds. I did loose about 43 lbs during this time and was pretty sick but I got through it and so will your husband. My wife and friends were great support but God and the prayers of others really gave me hope that I could beat this. Surgery followed about 2 4 weeks after the last chem and radiation.  I won't lie the surgery was tough but again he will get through it, Pain wasn't a big issue foe me they gave me great meds for stomach and pain. Post surgery gaining weight was a problem but the feeding tube worked pretty well. I was 52 at the time and had been a lap swimmer prior so I was in good shape to begin. I am 7+ months post op and for the most part feel pretty good. I have my moments but glad to be here to take on the challenge. Tell your husband to keep the faith and hang in there, its definitly is worth the trip.  God bless and good luck.

On 7/15/2009 Joanne54 wrote:

My husband was dx with Squamous cell cancer in May 2009, the tumor is in the middle third of the esophagus.  He has had chemo and radiation and is scheduled for surgery the second week of August. We have recevived info from the doctor and researched what to expect but he was hoping there was someone out there who has gone through this surgery and could explain what to expect....length of hospital stay, how you felt, recovery time, feeding tube, pain, etc.  Any information would be appreciated.

 

I was dx April of 2008, started chemo for 9 weeks in May 08 completed in July 08 had Ivor Lewis surgery Aug 08. In total I lost 45lbs. It was rough going after the operation and everything I ate I throw up but I keep eating to keep up my strength. Yes this is a very rough surgery but it gets better each day. I was in ICU for 2 days than put in guarded care for 3 additional days as I had a few complications, then I was in a regular room for 9 days and then released from hospital. I did have a feeding tube, but it dislodged from the intestine so they removed it. I was put on liquids for one day, than a soft diet for 6 to 8 weeks and then slowly I reintroduced food into my diet. Something I ate one day, I got not the next, I kept a diary of my foods each day, as suggested by doingfine a member here and it really helped me to identify the foods that caused me havic. I was back to work part time a little under 3 months post surgery, and for the first five months I had a hard time keeping anything down, but it got better each day. I am now 11 months post op and feeling pretty good. I do have bouts of nausea and throwing up but all in all I am doing good and am glad to be here. So far all tests have been NED. Somethings your husband will have to get used to as his new digestive system settles in. I do not believe we will ever be 100%, but life is pretty good so far. He will have to eat smaller meals more often and chew well and eat slowly. Also like most of us he will need to sleep on an incline to avoid stomach contents or acids from coming up on him. If you have any questions or concerns, let us know and we will answer the best we can, there are alot of helpful people here. Please let us know how things go for your husband and yourself and remember everyone is different and progresses at their own rate.

Take Care and Be Positive

Evelyn

On 7/16/2009 luvliving wrote:

 

On 7/15/2009 Joanne54 wrote:

My husband was dx with Squamous cell cancer in May 2009, the tumor is in the middle third of the esophagus.  He has had chemo and radiation and is scheduled for surgery the second week of August. We have recevived info from the doctor and researched what to expect but he was hoping there was someone out there who has gone through this surgery and could explain what to expect....length of hospital stay, how you felt, recovery time, feeding tube, pain, etc.  Any information would be appreciated.

 

I was dx last July. In August I startrd 28 radiation treatments and 2 rounds of chemo. chemo was 5 days of cisplatin and 5fu  2 rounds. I did loose about 43 lbs during this time and was pretty sick but I got through it and so will your husband. My wife and friends were great support but God and the prayers of others really gave me hope that I could beat this. Surgery followed about 2 4 weeks after the last chem and radiation.  I won't lie the surgery was tough but again he will get through it, Pain wasn't a big issue foe me they gave me great meds for stomach and pain. Post surgery gaining weight was a problem but the feeding tube worked pretty well. I was 52 at the time and had been a lap swimmer prior so I was in good shape to begin. I am 7+ months post op and for the most part feel pretty good. I have my moments but glad to be here to take on the challenge. Tell your husband to keep the faith and hang in there, its definitly is worth the trip.  God bless and good luck.

Sorry in my response above I stated I was operated Aug. 8, it was actually Aug. 14, 2008. Sorry for the date error. When your husband is operated on it will be 1 year since mine. I wish him all the best and know everything will be just fine.

Take Care and Be Positive

Evelyn

Hi Joanne,

I was dx with T3/4 squamous cell carcinoma in March of 2008.  from April through to June i received advance chemo combined with radiation.  i tolerated the treatments well and actually gained weight during this time because of tumor shrinkage and i was able to eat again.  after treatment was complete, tests showed no live cancer cells.  i was told surgery was my option at this point, however highly recommended since i had a 45% chance of still having something microscopic which could not be detected without surgery.  it was a tough decision, but i decided to go through with it. 

i had the ivor lewis surgery done on September 2, 2008.  i was told prior to surgery i would be up and walking the next day...this was hard to believe but sure enough, they had me up and walking not long after leaving recovery.  they had me do 14 laps around the nurses station each day, which was equal to 1 mile...with each day, things got better and better.  5 days after surgery, my feeding tube was removed and i was put on a liquid diet.  on the 6th day, i was able to eat a mechanical diet which is regular food, finely chopped.  i left the hospital on september 9th with all tubes removed...all i had was pain meds.  i continued the pain meds for another 3 weeks, gradually weining myself off to only tylenol. 

the recovery period for such a surgery is very slow and there were many times where i did not feel i was getting better.  i would have to look back to the week before and think of what i was like then to realize 'yes, i am getting better'.  i went back to work fulltime on december 8th and have been going strong ever since.  there are days, where i am fatigued and feel nauseous from over eating, but i am cancer free and that is what really counts!

i wish your husband and you the very best of everything...

stay well and God bless.

-Stacey

On 7/20/2009 Stacey19 wrote:

Hi Joanne,

I was dx with T3/4 squamous cell carcinoma in March of 2008.  from April through to June i received advance chemo combined with radiation.  i tolerated the treatments well and actually gained weight during this time because of tumor shrinkage and i was able to eat again.  after treatment was complete, tests showed no live cancer cells.  i was told surgery was my option at this point, however highly recommended since i had a 45% chance of still having something microscopic which could not be detected without surgery.  it was a tough decision, but i decided to go through with it. 

i had the ivor lewis surgery done on September 2, 2008.  i was told prior to surgery i would be up and walking the next day...this was hard to believe but sure enough, they had me up and walking not long after leaving recovery.  they had me do 14 laps around the nurses station each day, which was equal to 1 mile...with each day, things got better and better.  5 days after surgery, my feeding tube was removed and i was put on a liquid diet.  on the 6th day, i was able to eat a mechanical diet which is regular food, finely chopped.  i left the hospital on september 9th with all tubes removed...all i had was pain meds.  i continued the pain meds for another 3 weeks, gradually weining myself off to only tylenol. 

the recovery period for such a surgery is very slow and there were many times where i did not feel i was getting better.  i would have to look back to the week before and think of what i was like then to realize 'yes, i am getting better'.  i went back to work fulltime on december 8th and have been going strong ever since.  there are days, where i am fatigued and feel nauseous from over eating, but i am cancer free and that is what really counts!

i wish your husband and you the very best of everything...

stay well and God bless.

-Stacey

Stacey,

  Thank you for the reply and encourging words, Jim appreciates the responses - it's kind of scary not knowing what to expect!  How long did your surgery take?

On 7/20/2009 Joanne54 wrote:

 

On 7/20/2009 Stacey19 wrote:

Hi Joanne,

I was dx with T3/4 squamous cell carcinoma in March of 2008.  from April through to June i received advance chemo combined with radiation.  i tolerated the treatments well and actually gained weight during this time because of tumor shrinkage and i was able to eat again.  after treatment was complete, tests showed no live cancer cells.  i was told surgery was my option at this point, however highly recommended since i had a 45% chance of still having something microscopic which could not be detected without surgery.  it was a tough decision, but i decided to go through with it. 

i had the ivor lewis surgery done on September 2, 2008.  i was told prior to surgery i would be up and walking the next day...this was hard to believe but sure enough, they had me up and walking not long after leaving recovery.  they had me do 14 laps around the nurses station each day, which was equal to 1 mile...with each day, things got better and better.  5 days after surgery, my feeding tube was removed and i was put on a liquid diet.  on the 6th day, i was able to eat a mechanical diet which is regular food, finely chopped.  i left the hospital on september 9th with all tubes removed...all i had was pain meds.  i continued the pain meds for another 3 weeks, gradually weining myself off to only tylenol. 

the recovery period for such a surgery is very slow and there were many times where i did not feel i was getting better.  i would have to look back to the week before and think of what i was like then to realize 'yes, i am getting better'.  i went back to work fulltime on december 8th and have been going strong ever since.  there are days, where i am fatigued and feel nauseous from over eating, but i am cancer free and that is what really counts!

i wish your husband and you the very best of everything...

stay well and God bless.

-Stacey

Stacey,

  Thank you for the reply and encourging words, Jim appreciates the responses - it's kind of scary not knowing what to expect!  How long did your surgery take?

No need for thanks, Joanne...i feel truly blessed to be here and to be able to help those who are going through the same as i did!  it is my pleasure to be here for you and your husband and anyone else out there.

my surgery took a total of 7 hours...the most crucial part of the surgery being mid point, where you have to be 'flipped' so they could go in through the back.  i was fortunate in so many ways...unfortunate to have gotten this desease, however, as rare as squamous is for someone like me, it is also more responsive to treatments...in addition, squamous, is usually found high up in the esophagus...in my case, it was found lower than usual, which allowed the surgeon to cut lower, with less risk involved.  there were 2 incisions made...one that starts right between my breasts and ends right above my belly button and the other is on my back, on my right shoulder blade. 

i did a lot of research in finding my dr. and am very glad i did....this is a very big surgery and it is not too common.  i found a surgeon who is highly regarded and performs these surgeries more than most dr.s in her field. from what i have read and learned, i found my recovery to be pretty smooth considering. 

hi there, i was dx with EC cancer T3N1M0 in march 2009. went through chemo/radiation for about 5 1/2 weeks. had my surgery on 7/7, got discharged on 7/15 and now back home. looking back i think it is important to find a doctor - who has done high volume surgery on your type of cancer, who has a low mortality rate & i think important who has low leakage from the anatomasis ( jointing the stomach to the esophagus )

my operation took about 6 1/2 hours. 2 hours in recovery, 16 hours in ICU and than 7 days in a normal ward. i was told to start walking the next day after operation and was amazed i could do it. walking is important as it wakes up all the internal organs and get them going again. because i have quite a few tubes coming out of my body, i took to walking on the spot whenever i have a chance.

i opt to have epidural and it really helps because i felt very little pain during the entire time after the surgery.

i had about 1/2 my stomach and 2/3 of my esophagus removed. my anatomasis is somewhere in my upper right chest. now that i am back home, the challenge is to eat small amount of food to get stomach used to. i have a J tube before i undergo chemo/radiation and now thinks it is a great asset to help in putting food/nutrition in the body. i lost about 3 lbs during the operation.

i must say that i feel i am one fortunate guy. even the surgeon commented that it was remarkable i was in his office discussing about my situation a little over a week after my operation. my surgeon is dr donald low from virginia mason medical center in seattle - i think he and his team is awesome.

andy