Survivorship Care: Colorectal Cancer Survivors
Key findings
The percentage of colorectal cancer survivors who had at least 1 colonoscopy within 18 months of initial surgery remained fairly consistent from 2012 to 2016, ranging from 73.2% to 75.6% for survivors from 2013 and 2015, respectively.
Why is this important to Ontarians?
- As many cancer treatments improve and survival rates increase, the number of people living beyond their cancer treatment will continue to grow.
- Following treatment, some patients experience late and long-term effects of treatment, cancer recurrence or new cancers.
- These events need to be addressed and appropriate care provided for all cancer survivors.
See Survivorship Care: Colorectal Cancer Survivors Methodology for technical information.
Results
- The majority of colorectal cancer survivors received a colonoscopy following their first surgery.
- The percentage of colorectal cancer survivors who had at least 1 colonoscopy within 18 months of initial surgery remained fairly consistent from 2012 to 2016, ranging from 73.2% to 75.6% for survivors from 2013 and 2015, respectively.
- In the most recent data available, 74.2% of colorectal cancer patients who became survivors in 2016 had received at least 1 colonoscopy within 18 months of initial surgery.
Opportunities
- According to Cancer Care Ontario guidelines, colorectal cancer survivors require additional surveillance tests beyond colonoscopy after initial surgery. The Transitions in Care Program is developing more robust indicators to ensure that colorectal cancer survivors are receiving follow-up care according to the clinical guidelines (visit Follow-up Care, Surveillance Protocols and Secondary Prevention Measures for Survivors of Colorectal Cancer).
For more information
- For more information on survivorship for colorectal cancer patients, download the Colorectal Cancer Follow-Up Pathway Map.
- For more information on survivorship care, visit Follow-Up Model of Care for Cancer Survivors: Recommendations for the Delivery of Follow-up Care for Cancer Survivors in Ontario.