Table 3.

Surgery and quality of life in gastric cancer

Type of surgical therapy	Quality of life summary
Resection for cure	DG leads to better QoL
	TG is superior to PG for proximal cancers
	For GEJ tumors, abdominal procedures are associated with better QoL
	Laparoscopy is likely associated with quicker attainment of post-operative QoL
	Goal is return to baseline QoL
Palliative resection	Non surgical (less invasive) procedures are desirable
	Surgical resection only in highly selected individuals - excellent performance status and life expectancy
	Goal is to improve QoL
Prophylactic gastrectomy	Total gastrectomy is essential
	Similar post-operative reduction in QoL as for confirmed malignancy
	Goal is return to pre-operative baseline
	Further studies required

DG: Distal gastrectomy; TG: Total gastrectomy; QoL: Quality of life; GEJ: Gastroesophageal junction.