Eleonora's Journey with Adenocarcinoma, Esophagus Cancer

My husband had surgery for adenocarcinoma, stage 2a, caused by Barrets Esophagus. After 9 weeks of mostly oral chemotherapy with one infusion every 3 weeks, he had a 7 1/2 hour surgery which removed 7" of his esophagus and the uppoer part of his stomach, joining them and relocating his stomach to a higher position, now located somewhat between his heart and lungs. His right vocal chord was adversely impacted in that it vibrates but does not come together to join the left vocal chord in performing full vocal chord function. He has received temporary injections in his affected vocal chord to 'fluff it up' to do its job. His post surgical hospital stay was 11 days. He didn't begin eating through the mouth until 3 weeks after the surgery The recuperation has been phenomenally difficult, long, slow, and eating at first was not fun and not flavorful to him. He went into a deep clinical depression, something very uncharacteristic of him, and with the help of a very find psychopharmacologist, he pulled out of a dark place. There were several emergency visits to the hospital... mostly because his heart wasn't used to his stomach flopping onto it when he turned on his side, etc. Lots of new physical sensations existed in his thorasic area where he was operated upon and he's had to become habituated to even how different a burp feels. After 4 months and a week, he began taking on a momentum with regard to his recuperation which is no less than miraculous. His eating has doubled, he is taking a very small supplemental feeding from his J peg and he needs to nap less every day than during the first several months. Although he says eating is still somewhat of a chore, he is enjoying it more and he is eating at a faster rate. The book "100 Questions and Answers about Esophageal Cancer" 2nd edition, by Ginex, Pamela K, is an excellent resource. Expect a 7 month recuperation to feel pretty good and a year to a year and a half for full recovery.