How you prepare

Your doctor and team will discuss concerns you may have about your surgery. If you have cancer, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy or radiation or both, followed by a period of recovery, before an esophagectomy. These decisions will be made based on the stage of your tumor, and staging must be complete prior to any discussion about treatment before surgery.

If you smoke, your doctor will ask you to quit and may recommend a cessation program to help you quit, as smoking greatly increases your risk of complications after surgery.

Food and medications

Talk to your doctor about:

• When you can take your regular medications and whether you can take them before your surgery. This is especially important if you are taking any blood thinners, as some of them need to be stopped a few days in advance of the planned surgery.
• When you should stop eating or drinking the night before the surgery. In some cases, taking additional nutritional shakes and changing to a liquid diet two to three days before surgery will help to empty an esophagus that has a tendency to fill with food and complicate removal of the esophagus.

Clothing and personal items

Your treatment team may recommend that you bring several items to the hospital including:

• A list of your medications
• Personal care items, such as a brush, eyeglasses or hearing aids
• Loosefitting, comfortable clothing or a robe
• A copy of your advance directive
• Items that may help you relax, such as portable music players with headphones or books

Other precautions

Talk to your doctor about:

• Any medications you have brought to the hospital and when you should take medications on the day of the procedure
• Allergies or reactions you have had to medications

Before being admitted to the hospital for your surgery, talk to your family about your hospital stay and discuss help you may need when you return home. Your doctor and treatment team may give you specific instructions to follow during your recovery when you return home.