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Quality of Life Among Esophageal Cancer Survivors: Medical and Psychosocial Support

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Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the relationship between medical and psychosocial interventions among esophageal cancer survivors and the subsequent effect these interventions have on their quality of life. While current treatment protocols have optimized survival rates, the disease is still associated with significantly impaired quality of life. This chapter will first describe current literature on esophageal cancer, its epidemiology, its demographics and quality of life measures focusing on esophageal cancer survivors. An overview of different therapeutic interventions currently used will be presented to improve an esophageal cancer patient’s quality of life. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This author wishes to acknowledge the ongoing support and assistance from Mary Diovisalvi, RN—Pivot Nurse in Upper GI Cancer—McGill University Hospital Center (MUHC), and Eleanor Eckert—Nutritionist in Upper GI Cancer—MUHC.

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Correspondence to Adriano Petrangelo .

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Petrangelo, A., Leimanis, M.L., Ferri, L., Fitzpatrick, T.R. (2016). Quality of Life Among Esophageal Cancer Survivors: Medical and Psychosocial Support. In: Fitzpatrick, T. (eds) Treating Vulnerable Populations of Cancer Survivors: A Biopsychosocial Approach. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32364-0_9

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