Esophageal Cancer Surgery Treatment in India

David Sharma, a 58-year-old history professor,...

David Sharma, a 58-year-old history professor, had always been a healthy man until he began experiencing persistent heartburn and difficulty swallowing solid foods. Initially dismissing it as stress from a heavy semester, he eventually saw his GP when he started losing weight unintentionally. An endoscopy revealed a tumor in his lower esophagus. His oncologist, Dr. Mehta, recommended a minimally invasive esophagectomy, explaining that the cancer was localized and surgery offered the best chance for a cure. David was terrified of the surgery's complexity and the potential impact on his ability to speak and eat normally. The surgery was long but successful. Recovery in the hospital was grueling, involving a feeding tube and learning to swallow again with small sips of water. Six months post-op, with the support of speech therapy and a dedicated dietitian, David is back to teaching, though he eats smaller, more frequent meals. The emotional journey was a rollercoaster, from the shock of diagnosis and fear of the unknown to profound gratitude for his surgical team and a renewed appreciation for life's simple pleasures, like sharing a meal with his family.