Cancer survivorship: long-term side-effects of anticancer treatments of gastrointestinal cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Surveillance of patients with a history of cancer is a frequent practice in oncology. However, it is often aimed at the early diagnosis of relapse and tends to underestimate the evaluation and care of factors impairing quality of life (QoL). Among these, long-term toxicities of anticancer treatments are one of the major threats to a complete physical and psychosocial recovery. We aimed to review the relevant literature on long-term side-effects of treatment in gastrointestinal cancers.

RECENT FINDINGS: We focused on esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver and colorectal cancers. A significant fraction of patients treated for these cancers suffer with some form of late toxicity from surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Prompt evaluation and management is of the utmost importance in reducing the impact of these symptoms on QoL.

SUMMARY: The knowledge of the reviewed data should encourage a multidisciplinary approach to surveillance and convince clinicians of the comprehensive role of survivorship care.