Major surgery is sometimes recommended to remove part of your oesophagus or stomach to cure your cancer. In most cases you will undergo chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy prior to your operation as we know that it will increase your chances of beating the cancer in the long term. The operation you undergo depends on where exactly your cancer is located. This may be either an oesophagectomy where part of your oesophagus and stomach are both removed, a total gastrectomy where your entire stomach is removed or a partial or distal gastrectomy where a portion of your stomach is removed.
Oesophagectomy
Oesophagectomy is the surgery performed to remove the oesophagus for cancer. It is major surgery involving operating in the chest (thoracic cavity) and belly (abdominal cavity) during the same operation. Firstly the lower part of the oesophagus and the upper part of the stomach are removed, and secondly the remaining stomach is brought up/stretched up into the chest and sewn in place of the removed section of oesophagus.
Although Dr Hamer usually performs this surgery key-hole, it is still major surgery with most patients spending 10-14 days in hospital recovering.
Gastrectomy
Gastrectomy is surgery to remove the whole, or part of the stomach, usually to remove a cancer. It is major surgery, depending on your personal circumstances may require key-hole or an open surgery, and usually requires a 5-10 day stay in hospital.
The small bowel is brought up to replace the removed stomach, and people find that after surgery they may need to eat 6 small meals a day rather than 3 larger meals.