Effectiveness of palliative measures in treatment of dysphagia of cancer of the oesophagus

• Main Author: Liu, Chang-Han
• Other Authors: Gwyther, Liz
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2015
• Subjects: Palliative Medicine
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11191

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-35). === Cancer of the oesophagus,one of the most common cancers amongst the black population in South Africa with "cure" in this condition often considered as a "fortunate accident" by many experts in the field of oncology due to its late presentation and common occurrence of metastasis at presentation. The palliative care team focused their attention on measures to solve the cardinal symptom of this disease, which in most cases was dysphagia. This was also the main determinant of quality of life for these patients. Therefore, the primary objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the palliative measures in improving the cardinal symptom of oesophageal carcinoma - dysphagia. Accurate staging in most, if not all of the cancers is paramount, as it determines which options and sequences of treatment are appropriate. Oesophageal carcinoma is no exception. For patients stage III/IV, surgical resection of the tumour was attempted if possible. For advanced stage oesophageal carcinoma, that is stage III/IV, surgical resection with curative intent was not performed. The cardinal symptom of oesophageal carcinoma was then treated mainly with palliative radiotherapy, dilatation of the oesophagus with flexible bougie and oesophageal intubations.