Important questions are still open about psychological aspects in esophageal cancer (EC) and about the related psychological support. How to cope with the cancer diagnosis and poor prognosis: a psychological counselling may be a valid option to personalize the communication to patients with a poor prognosis. How to cope with long chemoradiotherapy: after neoadjuvant therapy, patients know that curative process is not completed, and they perceive the severity of the neoadjuvant side effects, considering themselves "fragile" and far from a healthy condition before the major surgery they are going to undergo. Therefore, this is a particularly crucial point when psychological support may be useful. How to cope with change of nutritional habits: esophagectomy for cancer strongly impairs nutritional function in the early postoperative period and feeding Jejunostomy impairs emotional function. How to cope with sleep disturbances: most cancer patients report disturbed sleep after cancer diagnosis and/or following cancer treatment. Psychological intervention aims to identify underlying concerns worsening sleep quality. How to cope with postoperative complications: the occurrence of such complications reduces patient's satisfaction and has a negative effect on doctor-patient relationship. How to cope with long-term functions impairment: EC patients need a plan for the future.
Keywords: Psychological support; esophageal cancer (EC); esophagectomy; quality of life.