Surgical oncology
Oesophageal (food pipe) cancer surgery
Removal of the affected part of the food pipe, with reconstruction — usually after chemotherapy or radiotherapy given first.
In plain language
What this operation is
The hallmark symptom of oesophageal cancer is difficulty swallowing, which typically begins with solid food and progresses over weeks to softer food and eventually liquids. Weight loss usually follows.
That progression is the reason it should never be put down to age or to "gas". Difficulty swallowing that is getting worse needs an endoscopy.
Surgery removes the affected segment and reconstructs the food pipe, usually by bringing the stomach up into the chest. For most patients chemotherapy or radiotherapy is given before the operation.
Who it is for
When this operation is advised
- Difficulty swallowing, particularly if it is progressing
- Food sticking, or regurgitating undigested food
- Unexplained weight loss with swallowing symptoms
- Cancer confirmed on endoscopy and biopsy
And when it is not. Surgery is not appropriate for every case. Where the disease has spread or the patient is not fit for a major operation, other treatments control symptoms and can relieve swallowing.
How it works
From assessment to follow-up
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01
First consultation
History, examination and review of every report and film you already have. Bring the actual films, not only the printed summaries.
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02
Diagnosis and staging
Biopsy confirms the diagnosis; imaging establishes how far the disease has gone. No treatment plan is made before this.
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03
The plan
Whether surgery is the right step, and in what order relative to chemotherapy or radiotherapy — agreed with you before anything is booked.
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04
Treatment and follow-up
The operation where appropriate, then the pathology report, and continuing follow-up.
Afterwards
What recovery involves
Recovery differs between patients. What follows is what usually happens — your own timeframe is given at discharge, based on the operation you actually had.
- This is major surgery with a longer hospital stay than most abdominal operations.
- Eating is reintroduced in careful stages under dietitian supervision.
- Smaller, more frequent meals and staying upright after eating are usually needed long term.
- Nutritional support is planned as part of treatment rather than added afterwards.
When to go to hospital instead
Complete inability to swallow even liquids, vomiting blood, or severe chest pain needs emergency care.
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Anything not covered here can be answered at the consultation.
01 I have trouble swallowing. How urgent is it?
Difficulty swallowing that is getting worse over weeks needs an endoscopy without delay. It is one of the few symptoms that should never be watched and waited on.
Symptoms02 Will I be able to eat normally afterwards?
You will be able to eat, but the pattern changes. Smaller more frequent meals, and staying upright after eating, are usually needed. Dietitian support is part of the plan.
Eating03 খাবার গিলতে কষ্ট হলে কী করব?
শক্ত খাবার গিলতে কষ্ট হওয়া এবং তা ধীরে ধীরে বাড়তে থাকা খাদ্যনালীর সমস্যার গুরুত্বপূর্ণ লক্ষণ। এটিকে বয়সের সমস্যা বা গ্যাস ভেবে ফেলে রাখবেন না — দ্রুত এন্ডোস্কোপি করানো দরকার।
লক্ষণNext step
Bring your reports to a consultation
Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.