The care pathway of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers is complex. We retrospectively evaluated the patients' opinions of support and supportive care given by a specialist nurse who Led the care of such patients. A study-specific questionnaire addressed the support given by the specialist nurse and other professionals in the team before, during and after treatment. Virtually all 73 responders considered the support of the specialist nurse important (87-94%). This support seemed more appreciated than that of outpatient clinic (P = 0.00) and surgical ward staff (P = 0.01) during the diagnostic phase, and during the follow-up it became more important than that of all other team professionals. A second study-specific questionnaire assessed the supportive care. Of 49 patients, 71-94% completely agreed that the supportive care given by the specialist nurse was satisfactory, and 90-100% considered it important. Whereas 10% had difficulty in understanding physicians' information, none had such problems regarding information given by the nurse (P = 0.09). Review of documented contacts between the specialist nurse and 75 patients with oesophago-gastric cancer revealed that contacts were frequent during follow-up, and nutritional problems predominated. Thus, specialist nurses can be recommended as leaders of the care pathway of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.