Unmet needs in survivorship: Increased anxiety post oesophago-gastric cancer surgery

Despite significant surgical advancements in the treatment of oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC), patients often experience a considerable decline in health-related quality of life postoperatively. Psychological factors, such as hypervigilance and symptom-specific anxiety, may contribute to this. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and trend of hypervigilance and symptom-specific anxiety in OGC survivors across treatment stages.

103 patients with either gastric or oesophageal cancer, treated with surgery (and/or neoadjuvant chemotherapy), completed a specialist measure of oesophageal hypersensitivity (Oesophageal Anxiety and Hypervigilance Scale) at five time-points: spanning from diagnostic clinics to 6 months post-hospital discharge.

The results indicate a trend of rising symptom-specific anxiety and hypervigilance scores over time post-hospital discharge. Total scores showed variations over time; elevated at diagnosis, decreasing between pre-operative assessment and 2-4 weeks post-hospital discharge, and rising again at between 3 and 6 months post-discharge, exceeding the average score at diagnosis. The patterns for the subscale scores for symptom-specific anxiety and hypervigilance followed a similar trend, though anxiety scores consistently exceeded hypervigilance scores at previous time-points.

In noting the presence and variations of symptom-specific anxiety and hypervigilance in patients with OGC, this study directs attention to the previously unexplored significant psychological distress. Although specific conclusions from the data are restricted due to the study's design, it indicates the importance of assessing and addressing these psychological factors for effective management of patients with OGC.