Esophageal cancer occurs in the tube connecting your throat to your stomach, known as the esophagus.
Contact our team to learn more about our esophageal procedures.
Esophageal cancer can form due to chronic irritation of the esophagus. Risk factors include:
Signs of esophageal cancer typically appear in the later stages. Symptoms include:
Your doctor may use any of the following procedures and tests to diagnose and stage esophageal cancer.
Your physician will recommend treatment based on your cancer type, location, and stage. Our team offers the following therapies.
Schedule an appointment with the Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge to learn more about our procedures.
Patients who have had an esophagectomy will have a hospital stay of about eight days. Once home, it can take eight or more weeks before they can return to more typical eating patterns and about 12 weeks before they can return to work.
An esophagectomy is a major surgery and requires significant recovery time. However, advancements in laparoscopic surgical techniques now allow for surgery with smaller incisions, often resulting in less blood loss and a shorter recovery time for the patient.
While you recover after esophagectomy, you will be on a modified diet that includes three stages:
Since this surgical procedure involves stretching the stomach into more of a tube shape from its typical pouch shape, small, frequent meals are recommended. Additionally, patients will have a feeding tube for the first couple of weeks after their procedure to help replace the nutrients a clear liquid diet tends to lack.
Yes, it is possible for esophageal cancer to come back after surgery. In one study of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomies, 23% of participants experienced a recurrence of their esophageal cancer. Therefore, it’s important to continue following up with your physician regularly.
If you experience trouble swallowing or chest pain any time after surgery (even years later), let your doctor know. While these aren’t always signs of recurring cancer, finding and treating the cause of these symptoms in a timely manner can protect your health.
