A new study reveals that esophageal cancer surgery patients face increasing risks of death from secondary cancers in other organs and respiratory diseases as time passes after their operations.
Samsung Medical Center announced on the 20th that a joint research team—comprising Professors Shin Dong-wook of Family Medicine, Cho Jong-ho and Yoon Dong-wook of Thoracic Surgery, and Professor Chung Jae-jun of Haeundae Paik Hospital's Cardiothoracic Surgery department—found that causes of death among esophageal cancer surgery patients change significantly over time.
![Survived esophageal cancer... but an unexpected cause took his life 5 years later [Healthy Time] - Seoul Economic Daily Culture News from South Korea](https://wimg.sedaily.com/news/cms/2026/03/20/news-p.v1.20260318.bc0d25878cc847baad988f919c1ba926_P1.jpg "Secondary Cancers, Respiratory Disease Emerge as Leading Killers of Long-Term Esophageal Cancer Survivors")
![Survived esophageal cancer... but an unexpected cause took his life 5 years later [Healthy Time] - Seoul Economic Daily Culture News from South Korea](https://wimg.sedaily.com/news/cms/2026/03/20/news-p.v1.20260318.e625a87512664c57bff8fbb9e4593dad_P1.png "Secondary Cancers, Respiratory Disease Emerge as Leading Killers of Long-Term Esophageal Cancer Survivors")
![Survived esophageal cancer... but an unexpected cause took his life 5 years later [Healthy Time] - Seoul Economic Daily Culture News from South Korea](https://wimg.sedaily.com/news/cms/2026/03/20/news-p.v1.20260223.d93b7743d4d840b98ebfc4a06b7cdc82_P1.jpg "Secondary Cancers, Respiratory Disease Emerge as Leading Killers of Long-Term Esophageal Cancer Survivors")