Early colorectal cancer: diagnosis, treatment and survivorship care

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2019 Apr:136:20-30. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.01.023. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Abstract

CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. With advances in treatment, colorectal cancer is being transformed from a deadly disease to an illness that is increasingly curable. With this transformation has come increased interest in the unique problems, risks, needs, and concerns of survivors who have completed treatment and are cancer-free. They often suffer late/long-term side effects of therapies that may compromise their QoL such as fatigue, sleep difficulty, fear of recurrence, anxiety, depression, negative body image, sensory neuropathy, gastrointestinal problems, urinary incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. In this review, we discuss what is known about early colorectal diagnosis, staging, treatments and their long-term effects on quality of life and survivorship care.

Keywords: Cancer survivors; Cured; Life-style; late/long term side effects.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cancer Survivors*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Continuity of Patient Care*
  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / therapy
  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Fatigue / therapy
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / psychology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Quality of Life
  • Survivorship