Long-term outcomes in young adult survivors of colorectal cancer

[SoConfused]

I thought this may be of interest to this board:

https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bits ... pdf#page34

[O Stoma Mia]

I thought this may be of interest to this board:
https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/18299/1/Forbes_Shawn_S_200911_MSc_thesis.pdf#page34

Thank you for posting this. This thesis underscores the importance of maintaining lifelong vigilance for health problems once we reach and surpass the 5-year survival milestone.

It is important for us to realize that the treatment program that we went through to rid us of cancer may have left our body with long-term side effects or disabilities that prevent us from effectively fighting off other diseases, as well as fighting off potential delayed CRC recurrences.

I read somewhere (but I can't remember where) that the two most frequent complaints post-chemo are (1) extreme fatigue, and (2) elevated anxiety levels. Both of these are due to enduring after effects of treatment. But there are other long-term effects, too, that may need to be addressed:

Late Effects of Cancer Treatment
https://www.livestrong.org/we-can-help/healthy-living-after-treatment/late-effects-of-cancer-treatment

Long-Term Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
https://www.cancer.net/survivorship/long-term-side-effects-cancer-treatment

The Effects of Chemotherapy on Your Body
https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/effects-on-body#1

Late and Long-Term Effects of Treatment
http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-journey/life-after-cancer/late-and-long-term-effects-of-treatment/?region=on

Most major cancer hospitals have survivorship programs in place to address such issues during the 5-year post-treatment surveillance period.

After your last round of chemo who will be in charge of your comprehensive 5-year survivorship plan? Your oncologist? Your surgeon? Your GP? Hopefully it wil be somebody who cares about your overall QOL over the next 5 years

Somebody needs to be in charge and needs to create a comprehensive Survivorship Care Plan (SCP) for you. Who will that be?

NOTE: The "SCP- Survivorship Care Plan" was featured in a special session in the 2018 Call-on-Congress meeting:

Treatment Summaries and Survivorship Care Plans (TS/SCPs): Symptom Management and Surveillance
Session Presenter:
Andi Dwyer, University of Colorado
Director of Health Promotion, Fight Colorectal Cancer

How are colorectal cancer survivors supposed to manage their medical care after treatment ends? It is recommended by several professional cancer organizations that at completion of treatment, patients receive a summary of what treatments they have had in addition to a detailed plan of ongoing care from their providers. Did you leave with a clear plan? The truth is, a majority of patients are leaving with more confusion than clarity as it relates to their follow up and management post treatment. In this unique breakout session Andi will facilitate a discussion about the importance of survivorship care planning.

Lively, interactive discussions will cover:
• What is a TS/SCP
• The recommended follow-up care for colorectal cancer survivors
• Responsibilities of different providers (oncologist, primary care, etc.)
• Where to go for resources

Ref: https://5xlhc2qz20k3jc6dy3g31xb4-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2018-ConC-Breakout-Sessions.pdf

Also, ASCO has a list of recommended questions to ask your doctor as you are transitioning from treatment to follow-up. Click on the Reference link at the very bottom to know more.
.

Questions to Ask the Doctor
To learn more about follow-up care for colorectal cancer, consider asking the following questions of your health care team:

What is my risk of recurrence?
What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
Who will be coordinating my follow-up care?
If I move or need to switch doctors, how do I make sure to continue my recommended follow-up care schedule?
How often will I need CEA testing? Where will it be done?
How often do I need a CT scan? Where will it be done?
How often do I need a colonoscopy? Who will do it and where will it be done?
How often do I need a rectosigmoidoscopy (rectal cancer only)?
What signs and symptoms should I watch for?
What type of follow-up care do I need beyond five years after treatment?
Where can I find more information about follow-up care?

Ref: https://www.journeyforward.org/follow-care-colorectal-cancer

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