Quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer

Gail E Darling

doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2013.07.011

Quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer

Thorac Surg Clin. 2013 Nov;23(4):569-75. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2013.07.011.

Author

Gail E Darling¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth Street, 9N-955, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada. Electronic address: gail.darling@uhn.ca.

PMID: 24199706
DOI: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2013.07.011

Abstract

Evaluation of health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome measure for patients with esophageal cancer. The patient's perception of HRQOL is the outcome of interest rather than that of the health care professional, family or caregiver. HRQOL is not simply a list of symptoms, as patients may report good HRQOL despite experiencing symptoms of their disease or its treatment. HRQOL is similar after surgery alone or chemoradiation followed by surgery although recovery is more rapid after minimally invasive or transhiatal esophagectomy. Longterm survivors report HRQOL similar to the normal population for long term survivors.

Keywords: Dysphagia; EORTC QLQ-30; Esophageal cancer; Esophagectomy; FACT-E; Health-related quality of life; OES-18; Palliation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Chemoradiotherapy
Esophageal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Esophageal Neoplasms* / psychology
Esophageal Neoplasms* / therapy
Esophagectomy
Humans
Palliative Care
Quality of Life*
Survivors