An accurate assessment of health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with oesophageal or gastric cancer (OGC) is essential to inform clinical decisions by providing insights into patients' experiences of the impact of the disease and its treatments on physical, social and emotional health. Robust QoL questionnaires have been developed and validated in the past decade to measure the QoL of OGC patients. Baseline QoL variables are also prognostic for survival in patients with oesophageal cancer or metastatic gastric cancer. This article reviews the impact of surgery and reconstructive techniques, as well as of adjuvant and palliative treatments on the QoL of patients with OGC.
Copyright 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.