Systematic screening for late sequelae after colorectal cancer-a feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Public Health

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors often experience late sequelae (LS) impacting quality of life.
• Systematic screening for LS is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.
• Current follow-up protocols may not adequately capture the prevalence and impact of LS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a novel systematic screening method for LS in CRC survivors.
• To assess patient response rates and preferences for electronic versus paper-based surveys.
• To identify the prevalence of LS and need for treatment among CRC survivors.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 1721 CRC patients from five Danish hospitals.
• Patients completed validated surveys on LS (bowel, urinary, sexual dysfunction, pain, quality of life) at 3, 12, 24, and 36 months post-surgery.
• Surveys were administered electronically or on paper, with an option for contact request.

Main Results:

• A total of 1386 patients (80.5% inclusion rate) participated, with 72.5% responding electronically.
• Electronic responders were significantly younger than paper responders (P < 0.001).
• 19.0% of colon cancer patients and 30.8% of rectal cancer patients requested contact; 8.4% and 16.2% respectively were referred for LS treatment.

Conclusions:

• The electronic screening method for LS following CRC treatment is feasible and achieves high response rates in the Danish population.
• Electronic patient-reported outcome measures facilitate efficient data collection.
• Rectal cancer patients demonstrated a higher need for intervention for LS compared to colon cancer patients.