[QOL after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer]

We assessed the Quality of Life (QOL) of 116 patients with inoperable esophageal cancer who were mainly treated with radiotherapy between 1978 and 1993. Factors including dysphagia, weight loss, side effects of radiotherapy,P.S. and psychological status were assessed retrospectively. Dysphagia was assessed using a swallowing-function scoring system. Initial improvement in dysphagia occurred in 68% of the 71 assessable patients. Radiotherapy was also effective for the other symptoms, including swallowing pain, anterior chest pain and vomiting. Improvement rates were 73%, 60% and 82%, respectively. The major side effects were pain of the pharynx, general fatigue, epigastralgia and appetite loss. But most side effects resolved within 10 days after the end of radiotherapy. Improvement of dysphagia resulted in reduced weight loss of the patients. Average weight loss was about 3 kg/month before radiotherapy. This was reduced after radiotherapy to 0.78 kg/month in patients who had improvement of dysphagia and 1.69 kg/month for those without improvement. Improvement of dysphagia also affected favorably the psychological state of the patients. There were fewer cases of patient distrust of staff and less despair in those patients with improved dysphagia. Radiotherapy appears to contribute to better QOL in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer.