Is an endoscopy necessary if a person who has esophageal cancer has been fine for 4 years?

My father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2003. The cancerous portion was removed with surgery right after diagnosis. He went through three chemical therapy immediately after the surgery (in 2003). He has been checked regularly (every 3 months during the first year and every 6 months after the first year). His voice started to become hoarse in August of 2006. He went through a month of radiation therapy from August to September (of 2006). His voice became normal starting from December. His CT test in December was fine. Recently his doctor suggested that he do an endoscopy since he hasn't done so after the surgery. My father is not very willing to do the test for two reasons:
1. he felt it is very painful during the procedure.
2 he was afraid of the endoscope might damage the esophagus somehow and do something bad.

Could anybody here give me any advice on whether an esophageal endoscopy is necessary for my father's situation and what else he should do at this stage?

Thanks

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I think that he should do the endoscopy, because there is always a chance that the tumor could grow back. {is he in remission?} I'm not sure that it could do any damage to his esophagus. Other than his regular cancer tests he should be fine after this. Hope this helps!

It is not necessary as long as he does not have any symptoms. In regards to the pain and damage it can all be prevented by expert gastroenterologist.

why take the chance...do it...it may be uncomfortable--I've had it done..but I was always anesthetized..so I felt nothing. I wouldn't just pretend that everything was okay...I'd want to know.

Of course the choice is your father's.

The procedure may find nothing, but it could also find a regrowth. If there is nothing to find great, but if a small cancer has started again and he chose not to take the test he won't know til it may be too late for treatment to be effective.

My only suggestion would be to get the opinion of a cancer specialist. You did not make it clear whether your dad's Dr. who advised the test is his gp, or his cancer Dr..

I would say that he should definitely have the endoscopy. A "normal" CT can't see the details that you can see with the endoscopy. My ex boyfriend had an endoscopy. From what I gather they are not painful since they sedate you during the procedure. Your father may have a sore throat for a few days afterwards but nothing serious. It would be really hard for the endoscope to damage your fathers esophagus.
Its annoying to have medical procedures done but they can improve health and quality of life.

An endoscopy done by any good gastroenterologist should not be painful at all. I had zero pain and could not even tell that I had a procedure done - just a short nap.

The hoarseness was a definite indication that the cancer had possibly returned. Your father needs to get over his fears (which are really based upon his own inner fears about of a recurrence of the cancer) and have the test done.

He needs to have an endoscopy done yearly for the rest of his life. With esophageal cancer, by the time the cancer showed up on a CT scan it would be too late for effective treatment. Regular endoscopys are the preventative procedure of choice if he wants to avoid a recurrence. The "something bad that could happen" is a cancer recurrence - not potential damage from an endoscopy.

Yes it's certainly necessary , you must perform upper GI endoscopy every 6 to 12 month for routine follow up . but if there is any alarming symptoms such as dysphagia , weight loss & odynophagia you must perfome it as soon as you can .

I've had them done 3 times. There has never been any pain for me. They use anesthesia, but yes, you are a little sore later, but nothing big. Plus, The endoscope doesn't damage the esophogus. Think about all the hard food that goes down the throat, like chips, peanuts, crackers. They are pretty rough, but your esophagus does just fine.