Hello Yvonner and thank you for posting. I am sorry you are going through this with your husband, an incredibly stressful time for you both. 

It is important that you both feel you have all the information you need to make this decision about oesophageal surgery.

The anaesthetist and surgeon are there to assess the risk and give you a realistic idea of the expected outcome of the surgery. Usually, when a surgeon gives a percentage of people who do not survive the surgery, I would expect they mean the surgery itself so during the operation and the immediate aftercare.

Everyone is assessed for their performance status for treatment, if someone has previous health concerns these will affect what grade or percentage that someone is given. The stress test that your husband did as part of his preassessment gives information that will help the surgical team with the potential care and support that your husband needs during and after surgery. 

The statistics for cancer recurrence and survival once recovered from surgery would be different and they can depend on the health of the person and the type and stage at diagnosis. The doctor and the specialist nurse (CNS) involved in your husband's care will be able to talk through his risks of recurrence in relation to the risks of the surgery so that you both understand better. 

We do have statistics on survival from oesophageal cancer on our website if helpful to go through with the surgeon 

Take care and if you find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Sarah.

Hi Yvonner I came across your post as I was looking for an old thread that I used to post on. I thought it might help you to know that today is 3 years since my husband had his Oesophagectomy for junctional cancer. His journey was a long and complicated but fingers crossed he is doing so well. We have had holidays and today he was out painting fence panels!

The diagnosis is horrendous and like you we were given ‘the talk’. He did have several complications after the op which I won’t go into as everyone is an individual. Take heart that people do get through it. My recommendation is if your husband is able to put weight on it will really help him and also get as fit as possible. My husband was exercising and running up and down the stairs but it depends on how your husband is. 
Breathibg exercises help too and an instrument called a spirometer exercis the inside of your lungs to strengthen them. My husband also joined a nhs fitness group before the op. He was diagnosed in October 2020 started chemo end Jan 21 and had op in May 21 after several weeks in hospital he started FLOT again in August and finished his treatment end September 2021.

I wish you and your husband the very best and if I can help just ask

still keeping the faith

Milly