Abstract IA13: Advocate Perspective: Improving outcomes for all colorectal cancer survivors

Abstract

Abstract Recent studies document striking differences in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival by race, stage at diagnosis, and state. These data demonstrate that more work is crucial to address persistent disparities in survival. Cancer survivors face many types of challenges following active treatment: physical, mental, emotional, financial, and psychosocial. CRC survivors share concerns similar to those of other cancer survivors but may also have CRC-specific concerns in survivorship due to medical interventions. Survivorship care plans (SCP) were identified as a possible way to ease the challenges experienced by cancer survivors, but results have been mixed. While some studies showed that CRC survivors appreciated a personalized SCP, many survivors needed additional detail about which providers were responsible for the varied components of their care. Importantly, diverse CRC survivors may be unaware of appropriate surveillance and follow-up recommendations. Survivors need to have the best information to support their health and well-being, and these information needs may change over time. However, there are multiple gaps in the literature, as most studies have focused on first-time CRC survivors or survivors with no additional cancers. Consequently, less is known about the experience of CRC survivors who develop new primary cancers, recurrent cancer, or metastatic cancer. Further, more information is needed about the experiences of CRC survivors who present with or are diagnosed post-treatment with additional chronic conditions. Finally, while some recent studies exist, further research could explicate the needs of survivors who have been traditionally under-represented in CRC survivorship research. Self-management is a component of achieving and maintaining health and well-being in survivorship but is not sufficient. Interventions are warranted to improve system coordination that address pervasive social determinants of health. Improving outcomes for CRC survivors will require coordinated effort at many levels, tailored to patient needs and community context. Public health organizations and their partners can play an important role in meeting the needs of diverse CRC survivors, as well as advancing the application of proven strategies in communities with the lowest CRC survival and greater deleterious outcomes post-diagnosis. Our goal remains ensuring that all men and women diagnosed with CRC experience the highest possible survival and quality of life in survivorship. Citation Format: Judith Lee Smith. Advocate Perspective: Improving outcomes for all colorectal cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA13.