[Necessities, possibilities and difficulties of vocational rehabilitation in patients with early stomach carcinoma--experiences in 89 patients]

Abstract

Because of the favourable prognosis in patients with early stomach cancer even extensive vocational rehabilitation measures should be taken into consideration. Opposed to that is the fact that about 40% of these patients already exceed the age limit for employment and only 10% are younger than 45 years. The polymorbidity, too, is relatively high, 21% of our patients were not capable of employment already before the outbreak of their cancer disease. The postgastrectomy syndrome prevents 40% from resuming work within the first postoperative year and jeopardizes the working capacity even after that time, at least in patients with manual occupations.