Colorectal cancer survivorship management

An estimated 96,830 new cases of colon cancer and 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer occurred in 2014, according to the most recent estimates from the American Cancer Society. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the number of survivors of all types of cancer increased from 9.8 million in 2001 to 11.7 million in 2007, and about 10 % of these were survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC). By the year 2030, the number of patients with CRC is estimated to increase by as much as 30 %. Given these overwhelming demographic changes, it is extremely important to improve our understanding of the essential health care needs and management issues of long-term CRC survivors. The term “cancer survivor” is now commonly used to describe a person from the time of cancer diagnosis through the remaining years of life. This chapter addresses CRC survivorship care and management issues, including risk evaluation, proper staging, available treatment options, surveillance recommendations, quality of life concerns, and prevention of recurrence.