The colorectal nurse specialists form part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to provide clinical care and expertise, information and support to patient’s and their families undergoing investigation and treatment for colon and rectal cancer, including anal cancer and advanced pelvic malignancy. It is the MDT who meet to discuss the best possible treatment for you.
The MDT consists of cancer specialists, including colorectal surgeons, radiologists, histopathologists, oncologists, and specialist nurses, who meet weekly to discuss and review cases of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Each team member plays a crucial role in providing support to both patients and their families throughout the cancer journey. During these meetings, scans are assessed, and personalized treatment options are proposed, ensuring that care is tailored to meet the unique needs of each patient.
The specialist nursing team are here to help you, your family and carers understand your treatment and are a key point of contact if you are concerned about any aspect of your care or treatment. You may have different concerns, questions and needs at different times during your treatment. You will be followed from your first contact as an outpatient, through investigation, surgical intervention and medical treatment, with the emphasis being on your emotional wellbeing.
How can the team help you?
- Advise you on a range of issues related to having colorectal cancer
- Provide appropriate written and verbal information about your condition, any investigation and treatment you may need as well as informing on wellbeing topics and practical matters
- Refer you to other healthcare professional and specialist services as required.
- Answer questions and discuss your concerns
- Follow you through your journey whilst being treated at the hospital and home
- Enable and support you to make choices and decision on your treatment
- Co-ordinate your follow up care and cancer surveillance following treatment
- Provide symptoms control advice
- Bowel management after colorectal cancer treatment and surgery
- Quickly identify emerging issues that might require medical attention, enabling care to be planned and emergency admissions avoided.
Key Staff
- Abeshin Acar - Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Claire Hannah – Clinical Nurse Specialist – Rapid Access Service
- Lauren McCrisken – Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nyasha Muza – Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Melfer Sapiandante – Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Athena Serofia – Clinical Nurse Specialist – Rapid Access Service
- Amelia Powell – Colorectal Support Nurse
- Kathryn Foskett – Advanced Pelvic Malignancy Clinical Nurse Specialist
Suspected Cancer Pathway
Patients with symptoms that could be caused by colorectal cancer will be referred by their GP to the two-week wait lower Gastro Intestinal suspected cancer service. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines have included specific recommendations on the symptoms and signs that warrant investigation.
This two-week wait (2ww) pathway is a nurse-led service where patients are triaged either for straight-to-test or for assessment in clinic by a trained clinical nurse specialist, and investigations are arranged accordingly on a fast-track pathway. Clinic appointments or investigations will be conducted within two weeks of the GP referral.
If bowel cancer malignancy is ruled out, patients will be discharged back to the care of their GP with a letter outlining their results within 28 days. This indicates the end of the pathway, and the responsibility for ongoing care will be transferred back to the GP. In certain cases, if there are incidental findings unrelated to bowel cancer, patients may be referred to other specialties for further management.
For patients diagnosed with bowel cancer based on the investigations, they will transition from the 28-day pathway to the 62-day pathway. Within this timeframe, treatment for bowel cancer should be provided to ensure adherence to the designated target dates and guidelines.
Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis
Following the MDT meeting, the specialist nursing team will arrange a face-to-face appointment with a colorectal surgeon to discuss your diagnosis, results and proposed treatment plans.
Colorectal cancer surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for both colon and rectal cancer, but the approach is personalized based on the cancer's stage and location. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may also be included in your treatment plan alongside surgery. Your overall health and personal preferences are important factors in the decision-making process as well.
Follow up & Surveillance
The decision for colorectal cancer surveillance is determined by the MDT once final histology is reviewed. After cancer surgery, follow-up is coordinated and led by the colorectal nurse specialists. Their role is to counsel patients, arrange surveillance investigations and run nurse-led clinic follow-up.
Two to three weeks following your hospital discharge, the team expect to communicate your post-operative histology via a telephone call, including any need for ongoing oncology treatment. The specialist nurses will also ensure you are recovering as expected at home and address any needs or concerns.
You will be seen in a nurse-led clinic, eight weeks post-surgery as a face-to-face review, where your post-operative histology will be discussed, surgical wound examined and your physical and emotional recovery assessed.
Ongoing cancer surveillance will be arranged, including CT and colonoscopy surveillance. You will be updated with these results as they are available by letter and or telephone.
The specialist nurses are available at the end of the telephone for any concerns about your diagnosis, treatment, recovery and/or enabling you to live well after treatment. There is a 24-hour voice mail service with working hours between 8am-4pm.
Nurse-led follow-up
Our nurse-led services provide:
- A telephone call two weeks following discharge home – recovery review and discuss post-operative histology
- Eight-week face-to-face clinic review
- CT at 1, 2, 3 years following surgery
- Colonoscopy at 1 and 4 years following surgery
- Open access to the specialist nurse telephone line.
In addition – those who have undergone more complex pelvic surgery follow-up and surveillances may be tailored further.
The specialist nursing team run a number of nurse led clinics, including:
- Cancer follow up
- Advanced pelvic malignancy follow up
- Rapid access – straight to test.
- Lynch Syndrome - main streaming & family history
- ED avoidance clinics
How do I get access to the service?
The colorectal nursing service is available to all those in the CUH catchment area and those who have been directly referred to the team out of area. The specialist nurses aim to provide an individualised pathway of care to enable you to continue to live well during and after your cancer treatment.