What Are the Possible Side Effects of Esophageal Cancer Surgery?
Like all surgical procedures, esophageal cancer surgery does not come without a certain amount of risk. However, if you’ve been told that you’ll need to have surgery for your esophageal cancer, try not to worry. Side effects and risk of complications vary from person to person depending on factors like each patient’s overall health and the specific procedure being performed, so your physician is probably the best person to give you information about your specific case.
Physical side effects of esophageal cancer surgery
Generally speaking, you can probably expect to have some physical side effects following your surgery. Not only is this because your body is healing from the trauma of surgery, but also because esophageal cancer surgery specifically changes the way that your body processes food. Some of the most common physical side effects of esophageal cancer surgery include:
- Pain after the operation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Trouble swallowing due to narrowing of the esophagus
- Heartburn
To minimize your risk of side effects and complications as much as possible, you should have your procedure done by a qualified, experienced surgeon at a reputable hospital – a level of expertise that can be found at Moffitt Cancer Center. As a high-volume cancer center, Moffitt receives a large number of patients with esophageal cancer each year, giving our physicians and surgeons virtually unparalleled experience, so you can relax as much as possible knowing you are in good hands. Our surgeons are also skilled at performing the latest surgical techniques, like minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries, which can help to reduce the side effects, complications and recovery time of esophageal cancer surgery. And, at Moffitt, we have a number of helpful supportive care specialists on staff to help you deal with the emotions and mental side effects that accompany undergoing cancer treatment, so you will be able to get all of the care you need under the same roof.
To schedule an appointment at Moffitt, call 1-888-663-3488 or complete a new patient registration form online. Referrals are not required.