The average life expectancy after surgery for esophageal cancer cannot be generalized. The five-year survival rate of patients with stage I esophageal cancer after surgery can be more than 90%, the five-year survival rate of stage II esophageal cancer is more than 50%, the five-year survival rate of stage III esophageal cancer after surgery is about 30%, and the five-year survival rate of stage IV esophageal cancer is often about 10%. Esophageal cancer is a kind of malignant tumor originated from the mucosal epithelium of the esophagus. Stage I esophageal cancer can be eradicated in time with good prognosis and the five-year survival rate can be more than 90%. Patients with stage II esophageal cancer can be treated with surgery such as resection of cancerous lesion, lymph node dissection and digestive tract reconstruction, and the five-year survival rate after surgery is above 50%. The five-year survival rate of stage III esophageal cancer is about 30% after surgical resection with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other comprehensive treatments, among which those whose lesions are located in the upper esophagus, whose lesions are more than 5cm in length, who have already invaded the esophageal muscularis propria, and whose cancer cells are poorly differentiated or accompanied by metastasis have a poor prognosis. Stage IV esophageal cancer often loses the chance of surgery, and only palliative surgery can be performed to relieve compression, help patients resume diet, improve symptoms, and improve quality of life, with a five-year survival rate of about 10%. If diagnosed with esophageal cancer, please follow the doctor’s instructions for treatment.