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Cancers of the digestive tract

from Medical topics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2014

By
Sharon Manne
Edited by
Susan Ayers ,
Andrew Baum ,
Chris McManus ,
Stanton Newman ,
Kenneth Wallston ,
John Weinman  and
Robert West
Sharon Manne
Affiliation:
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Susan Ayers
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
Andrew Baum
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Chris McManus
Affiliation:
St Mary's Hospital Medical School
Stanton Newman
Affiliation:
University College and Middlesex School of Medicine
Kenneth Wallston
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
John Weinman
Affiliation:
United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's
Robert West
Affiliation:
St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
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Summary

Cancers of the digestive tract, which include cancer of the colon, rectum, pancreas, stomach and esophagus, are among the most common and deadly types of cancer. Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The disease surpasses both breast and prostate cancer in mortality and is second only to lung cancer in numbers of cancer deaths. Approximately 146 940 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in the United States 2004 and 56 730 people died from the disease. Although relatively uncommon, oesophageal, stomach and pancreatic cancer are among the most deadly cancers, as they are typically diagnosed at more advanced stages. For example, cancer of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The tendency of these cancers to be either asymptomatic at early stages or to present with vague symptoms at more advanced stages, as well as the lack of screening procedures for these cancers, contributes to diagnosis at a more advanced stage. This chapter will discuss the psychological impact of cancers of the digestive tract according to upper digestive tract (oesophagus and stomach) and lower digestive tract (colon, rectum, pancreas).

Cancer of the upper digestive tract

Many individuals diagnosed with cancers of the oesophagus or stomach have a poor prognosis because the cancer may have metastasized prior to diagnosis.

Type
Chapter
Information
Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine , pp. 581 - 584
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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