Esophageal Cancer Support Group

Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes. Esophageal tumors usually lead to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), pain and other symptoms, and is diagnosed with biopsy. Small and localized tumors are treated with surgery, and advanced tumors are treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combinations.

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alwaysafraid61 03/09/2011

Just a few questions for all of you that have already gone through the surgery. My husband was given the ok today 2 start on clear liquids which he was ecstatic about! yea something with some flavor, he was only eating a little jello & broth but you would have thought he was eating a feast!
Anyways my question is when he does start eating regular food again are there any particular foods that should be avoided because I've been reading alot about that "dumping syndrome" that happens with this type of surgery & I gotta say it makes me alittle nervous. The things I've read said you should avoid foods high in sugar & fatty foods, does that sound right? & have any of you experienced this dumping problem? whatever info or suggestions any of you have on diet I would appreciate it.
Thanks...kim

Brenda2008 03/10/2011

I was given a diet when I left the hospital that I think is given to people who have gastric by-pass surgery. Guess that was the closest thing they had to what suggestions they had for me after my type surgery.

The main thing I was told was take small, slow bites. I think in the hospital they did the clear diet one day - the full liquid diet the next day - a soft diet the next - and then regular food. It took me a while to learn what and how much to eat. When I had too much, I felt very weak and felt like the food wanted to come up, but I ate just a little and more often. I really didn't want the food coming back up, so I would just rest and try to remember what and how much I ate and track what (and how much) I ate that made me feel ok.

I can eat anything. I never had the issues with sugar or greasy foods, but I don't really crave things like Skyline or Gold Star anymore. Perhaps I just know they may be too spicy for me.

I'd have him eat a little something and see how that sits with him and quantity. If he's like me he probably won't have a big appetite or the food may not taste as yummy as before chemo, but the good taste should all come back in time :-)

I'm so glad he's getting to start eating again :-)

cindyhils 03/12/2011

Hello, I was not allowed to eat or drink for almost 2 months but when i could it was any soft foods, i used the blender and made a lot of fruit smoothies. I do remember that sugar and high fat foods did make me feel sick for about 30 minutes if i ate it on an empty stomach or too much. If i had some protein in my stomach of cottage cheese, peanut butter toast, etc, i could then eat something with sugar and be ok.
I still have on occasion a feeling of nausea or weakness and fast heartbeat, after eating too much of some things. but mostly, 15 months since surgery i can eat almost anything just not as much. I have never once since surgery actually thrown up. dont know why, i feel like i could but i rest for about 15-30 minutes and i am ready to go again.
I dont eat meat at all and that is my own preference. I was never a big meat eater but since surgery i have read that red meat eaters have a higher risk of cancer. So i just decided not to eat it.
Mostly you just have to watch how much you eat. I went from being full after a half a piece of toast to eating 3 slices of pizza last night for supper, had no problems with that. Other then i have now started to put on weight very easily!
Good Luck, Cindy

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