Support for the colorectal cancer patient before, during, and after treatment

Abstract It is well reported that many people living with cancer suffer with both physical and psychosocial consequences from either their cancer and /or its treatments. Providing the right support at the right time to enable colorectal cancer patients to lead what is an acceptable quality of life to them is vital. Side effects of treatments may cause not only short-term but long-term side effects, all of which may impact upon a patient’s quality of life and require them to undertake significant lifestyle changes. Understanding these consequences of treatment is important, especially when counselling a patient about the different treatment options. This allows patients to make informed decisions about their specific treatments and provides them with an opportunity to discuss more deeply with health professionals what is important to them. Once a patient has completed treatment and enters the recovery and surveillance phase, it is imperative to ensure that they are supported and provided with information that is specific to them, allowing them to return to as ‘normal’ a life as possible.