Massey Sarah
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2011 Jun;15(3):327-9. doi: 10.1188/11.CJON.327-329.
Progressive dysphagia is the most common presenting symptom of esophageal cancer but also may occur as a side effect of treatment. Evaluation of patients' dysphagia includes determining its cause and assessing the severity. Several palliative options are available for dysphagia; the clinical situation, local expertise, and cost effectiveness help determine the appropriate treatment modality.