Esophageal and gastric cancers are aggressive diseases in which only one-third of patients present with possible resectable disease. Due to extensive treatment, esophageal and gastric cancer survivors face high risk of post-operative and long-term complications. The symptoms may negatively impact quality of life, and form a major health concern due to change in eating behavior, appetite loss and subsequently weight loss. Furthermore, patients report psychological distress with high levels of fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Patients request continuous heath care to support handling of symptoms, late effects and other care needs, and to support them redefine everyday life.

In Denmark, we see great variation in current follow-up practice between the treating centres, spanning from nurse-led follow-up to traditional, surgeon-led out-patient setting.

On this background, a Danish national cohort-study was initiated in 2020, inviting all surgically treated patients in all four Danish centres to participate. By the end of 2023, 337 patients had been included. Patient-reported and clinical data was collected baseline and every three month up to one year after surgery.

Analyses of the results are ongoing, and planned for publication in 2025.