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Objective: To explore the effect and possible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on survival and quality of life (QOL) in patients with esophageal carcinoma after esophagectomy.Methods: Adopting prospective controlled method of study, the authors had 128 post-esophagectomy patients, hospitalized from February 2001 to February 2002, randomly divided into 3 groups: the TCM group,treated with TCM drugs alone; the chemotherapy group, with chemotherapy alone applied; and the synthetic group, treated with chemotherapy combined with Chinese medicine. Their survival rate and QOL were compared. Results: In the TCM group, the chemotherapy group and the synthetic group, the respective 3-year relapse and remote metastasis rate were 71.4 %, 76.7 %, 53.4 %, respectively (χ2 = 6.53, P＜0.05); the 1-year survival rate 42.9%, 46.5%, 72.1%; 2-year survival rate 28.6%, 27.9%, 55.8%, and 3-year survival rate 26. 2%, 23. 1%, 37. 2%, respectively. And the QOL improving rate was 69.0%, 37.2%,58.1%, respectively, all showing significant difference among them (χ2 = 6. 10, all P＜0.05). Moreover,immune function was increased in the TCM and the synthetic groups. Conclusion: Integrative Chinese and West medicinal treatment was the beneficial choice for post-operational patients with esophageal carcinoma. However, long time use of simple Chinese medicine was also advisable, especially for those in poverty.