The goal of this study is to evaluate how treatment for esophageal cancer affects your quality of life. The findings of this study may help us understand how this disease and its treatment affect your lifestyle, diet, exercise, support system and overall quality of life. We hope this study will provide important information that can be used to develop programs to improve the quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer.

In order to determine the impact of esophageal cancer and its treatment on patients' quality of life over time, this study will prospectively follow a cohort of patients at specified intervals, evaluating their physical symptoms, physical and social functioning and overall quality of life. Medical and sociodemographic factors as well as health behaviors that might be predictive of adaptation will be tested. This is a preliminary investigation and it is hoped that we will be able to base future research questions on the results of this study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 or older
• Diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
• Anticipated to undergo surgical resection (Ivor Lewis, Trans Hiatal, McKeown procedure) of esophageal cancer. (Group 1 patients only)
• Underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer at least 18 months prior to consent, with no evidence of disease. (Group 2 patients only)
• Ability to speak, read and write English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to give informed consent.
• Patients anticipated to require a laryngectomy as part of their surgical resection.

This is a descriptive study comprising two cohorts of esophageal cancer patients. The first cohort will be followed prospectively and will include patients newly diagnosed with esophageal cancer prior to treatment. QOL assessments will be administered pre-surgery, at first post-operative visit, and at 6 and 12 months post surgery. The second cohort will be a cross sectional sample and include patients more than 18 months post treatment, without evidence of disease who will undergo one QOL assessment. This is a preliminary investigation and it is hoped that we will be able to base future research questions on our results of this study.