Long term disease-free survival in elderly patients following concurrent chemoradiotherapy for localized esophageal cancer

Abstract

experience a typical post-operative pattern of decreasing symptom distress over the 6-month period following thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cancer surgery regardless of presence or absence of adjuvant treatment. The findings also suggest that some older adults are at risk for increased symptom distress beginning in the post-operative period and extending through 6 months. Those at risk for increased symptom distress include individuals diagnosed with thoracic or digestive cancers. At 6 months after surgery, individuals aged 75 and over also may be at risk for greater symptom distress than their younger counterparts. Clinical implications include increasing the frequency of symptom assessment to anticipate and prevent complications for individuals 75 and over or individuals with thoracic or colorectal cancers. This abstract will be presented at 2012 Council for Advancement of Nursing Science State of the Science Meeting.