I had esophageal cancer and had the pull up surgery.  Now I am experiencing pain in my right breast only when I swallow. It is a sharp very intense pain as I am swallowing.  Sometimes at night, however, a stinging sensation becomes so intense and constant that  keeps me awake and the breast feels so hot I need to apply cool compresses.  What is this and what can I do to relieve the pain when swallowing?
Hi, Thanks for writing in. You might be experiencing pain during swallowing due to irritation if the operated site is in the upper part of chest and this can get irritating and disturbing in some people. Following esophageal surgery and gastric pull through please have soft diet for few months. Avoid taking foods that serve as gastric irritants. You might require contrast study to know if there are any leaks in the operated site and if any food contents are going in to the lungs. Once this is clarified that your surgery site is fine then it is not a serious concern. Taking small regular meals which is soft in consistency might help. A review CT scan and endoscopy might be required to assess any recurrent disease.