I had to have 10 dilations, one a month for 10 months. The radiation shrunk my esophagus from the normal 18mm down to 6mm. I didn't notice it until a couple of months after I completed the radiation when I started to try and eat solid foods again. That's when I would choke because the food would get hung up in the upper esophagus. my gastrodoc dilated a few millimeters at a time so he wouldn't damage the esophagus. that's why it took ten times/months. my last dilation was in december '08. i can eat better now, but still have to take smaller bites than i did before the cancer. he said i may still have to have a dilation done at least once a year.