ESOPHAGEAL CANCER: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY AND FOLLOW UP OF SURGICAL PATIENTS

Abstract

Esophageal cancer is relatively uncommon but has a mortality rate very close o the incidence rate. In addition, it has been constantly related to the patient's life habits. When tracing an epidemiological profile of the patients affected with the disease, it is sought to evidence factors and risk groups located in the South of Minas Gerais and to test the items exposed in the literature. This was a descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study, carried out with 50 patients, through interviews and analysis of medical records, with a qualitative and intentional approach to the data, which were collected at the Samuel Libânio Hospital, located in Pouso Alegre and at the Bom Pastor Hospital, locate in the city of Varginha, both of them in the State of Minas Gerais. The epidemiological profile obtained was in the majority of male, 61 years old, white, with and income <1.5 MS, incomplete elementary school and farmers.  As in the literature, the incidence of esophageal cancer was higher in males,> 51 years, that consumes caffeine, hot drinks, alcohol and are smokers. However, the nitrous compounds present in the preserved foods had no expression in the cancer incidence, being interpreted as a less impacting factor in the studied region. Regarding green vegetables, the results were in agreement with what is evidenced in the literature, not presenting itself as a real protection factor. The majority of patients persisted with the use of the risk factors after being diagnosed and initiation of treatment, showing the inefficacy of the awareness and prevention means that already exist among patients undergoing treatment.