Colorectal cancer

Your doctor can discuss specific symptom information with you. Tests to diagnose colorectal cancer may include:^2,4

• Blood tests – To check if there are any signs that you are losing blood in your stools, and to check for red blood cell count (low red cell count can be common in people with colorectal cancer).
• Faecal blood test – This test involves you taking a stool sample at home. The sample is examined for traces of blood which can be an indicator of a polyp, cancer, or other bowel condition. It does not diagnose cancer, but if blood is detected your doctor may recommend further testing.
• Colonoscopy – This test is regarded as being the most comprehensive test for colorectal cancer. It examines the length of the large bowel with a camera inserted into the anus under anaesthetic. Any unusual tissue may be removed for further examination.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy – Carried out in the same way as a colonoscopy, this test is used to examine the rectum and left side of the lower colon. Any unusual tissue may be removed for further examination.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan – Takes three-dimensional pictures of several organs at the same time, and can help doctors plan surgery, if required. It can also be used to see if the cancer has spread.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan – Produces detailed cross-sectional pictures of the body and can help to show the extent of any tumours.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan – Produces three-dimensional colour images that help show where any cancers are in the body.

Treatment for colorectal cancer will usually depend on what your treating team deicides is right for your case and may include:^2,5

• Surgery
  
• Targeted therapies
• Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is an approach to cancer therapy which involves the administration of medicine, usually orally or by injection, which is intended to kill cancer cells or minimise their growth and spread. Chemotherapy can be used in conjunction with other cancer treatments.
• Radiation therapy - Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to help shrink a tumour, and it may help make it easier to remove. It may also be used after surgery if the tumour was attached to an internal organ or lining of the abdomen, with the aim being to help destroy any cancer cells left behind.

Radiation helps to destroy lesions and tumours within your body.^2,5,7 Radiation therapy may be delivered independently or alongside treatment approaches such as surgery.^2,8 Your doctor will discuss your specific treatment plan with you.

Side effects of cancer treatment

With cancer treatment there is a possibility of side effects, and the type and severity of side effects will vary between individuals.^2,8 You should ask your doctor for detailed information about the side effects which you may experience with any treatment recommended for you.

Recommendations to help you stay well during treatment

Your treatment team will provide some more information on some of the lifestyle interventions to try during treatment. The following is a list to help you started:

• Get as much rest as possible⁹
• Aim for a wholefood, varied diet, and we also encourage you to think about eating foods that interest you rather than what you think you should eat⁹
• Appetite changes are common, and you may experience taste changes or nausea. Help manage this by eating small, frequent snacks and avoiding smells that make you nauseous⁹
• Drink lots of water⁹
• Reach out to support groups and others who have had cancer treatment⁹
• Record your side effects in a diary or journal⁹
• Speak to your doctor about incorporating some gentle exercise into your weekly routine⁹
• It is important to acknowledge when you are fatigued and rest when you need to⁹
• Ask for and accept help from family, friends and neighbours⁹
• Be open with employers about your treatment and discuss flexible working options if you need them.

A cancer diagnosis can be life changing.¹⁰ Even before your initial encounter with the GenesisCare team, you may experience a wave of emotions.¹⁰ It’s natural to feel disbelief, anxiety, sadness, anger and loneliness.¹⁰ We strive to help strengthen your confidence, settle your emotions, and to create care experiences that offer the best possible clinical outcomes.

Our care team aims to know your name and to get to know who you are as a person. Your nursing team and oncology team are here to support you before, during and after your cancer treatment. We are here to guide you and to help get the support you need which may include healthcare professionals such as psychologists, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, and dietitians.

If you have any enquiries about our centres or services, please contact your local centre team. View a list of our centres here.

Further colorectal cancer information, resources, and support services are available to help assist you during your cancer journey. These may include: