Low anterior resection syndrome: Introducing the LARS toolkit for patients and clinicians

Living with the consequences of rectal cancer treatment, with symptoms that can include bowel dysfunction, can be difficult. Patients need the tools to self‑manage these symptoms and they also need information and support to do so. Using information gained from patients and healthcare specialists it was possible to gain a deeper understanding of what patients want to know about low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). Although each individual will have differing symptoms, goals and treatment preferences, the two LARS toolkits, which are described in this article, can assist the nurse to improve quality of life. The patient toolkit was developed for people living with LARS, and designed to be used in conjunction with clinical discussion. The clinician toolkit aims to assist nurses in understanding assessment processes and interventions such as conservative management of LARS. It is important to live well after cancer treatment and nurses need to support people to do so.