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

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..