My Dad is an esophageal cancer survivor. Since they removed much of his esophagus, he has nothing that keeps his stomach acids where they should be except gravity, so he has been unable to lay flat for almost 20 years now.. If he does, he aspirates and ends up with pneumonia. It's happened a few times, usually when he is in the hospital for other issues.
It's mind-boggling to think that others might survive the surgery like he did but could also return to a normal life.
“My Dad is an esophageal cancer survivor. Since they removed much of his esophagus,”
You understand that the esophagus is much more complex than the windpipe... The esophagus is a series of muscles that literally “pump” food into the stomach. The windpipe is just an air passage.
BTW, my brother had cancer of the esophagus. He’s doing ok for now though...