title: Rehabilitation in esophageal cancer.
abstract: Cancer of the esophagus has an unfavorable prognosis with a five-year survival rate after radical surgery of less than 10%; early diagnosis is difficult. The appearance of symptoms, particulary dysphagia, is due to more than 2/3 tumor involvement of the esophageal circumference, already present in 2/3 of patients at diagnosis. Symptoms can be local and/or systemic; they can be physical, psychic, iatrogenic and evolutive. A careful rehabilitation program should follow these patients during the entire course of their disease The rehabilitation approach intends to define areas of intervention, short-term goals, possible achievements, role of health operators and overall verifications. Common problems of patients with esophageal cancer, are analyzed. A rehabilitation program including the patient care throughout the hospitalization period to improve his/her autonomy with respect to his/her social and familial activities, is illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chirurgia Ortopedica, Traumatologica e Riabilitazione, Cattedra di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione, Seconda Università di Napoli.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gimigliano
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertella
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gimigliano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iolascon
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life