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Episode 380: Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Considerations for Nurses

Author
Oncology Nursing Society
Published
Fri 12 Sep 2025
Episode Link
https://onsvoice.libsyn.com/episode-380-colorectal-cancer-survivorship-considerations-for-nurses

 

“One powerful, overlooked aspect of colorectal cancer survivorship is the emotional and identity transformation that our survivors undergo—and really how little space is given in the clinical arena for that. No one really talks about this ‘invisible recovery.’ Facing mortality can lead to prolonged changes is values, relationships, and life goals. And these experiences aren’t captured in lab results or imaging scans, but they really shape how survivors live, love, and heal and continue with their lives,” ONS member Kris Mathey, DNP, APRN-CNP, AOCNP®, gastrointestinal medical oncology nurse practitioner at The James Cancer Hospital of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about colorectal cancer survivorship.

Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod

Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 

Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at courses.ons.org by September 12, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Learning outcome: Learner will report an increase is knowledge related to colorectal cancer survivorship nursing considerations.

Episode Notes 

To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities.

To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library.

To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email [email protected].

Highlights From This Episode

“As of the most recent data, more than 1.5 million people in the United States are living as colorectal cancer survivors. So this includes not only those who are currently undergoing active cancer treatment but also those who have completed treatment and ultimately are hopefully in remission. Just a reminder that colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States and it’s the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths.” TS 1:53

“Our colorectal cancer survivors may have significant barriers when receiving this comprehensive survivorship care, and these challenges can affect not only their physical recovery but their emotional well-being and, ultimately, their long-term health outcomes. We as oncology nurses do play a pivotal role in identifying and addressing these barriers. So these can include fragmented care. Who’s caring for these patients? That care coordination between the oncologist and the oncology team and then the primary care providers and team. Limited access—so our patients that may have geographic limited access or also financial- or insurance-related obstacles to follow-up services.” TS 9:10

“Our nurses can also facilitate the communication between specialists and primary care providers, so making sure that we’re sending records, keeping those lines of communications open. Also, nurses can provide that psychosocial support, so our screening for distress and also advocating and supporting for referral to counseling or support groups for a patient. Nurses can also act as navigators to guide these patients through complex care systems.” TS 11:21

“Some of the recommended changes—nutrition—enhancing and emphasizing fruits, vegetables, that colorful plate, with whole grains. Limit those red and processed meats, and reduce sugary drinks and alcohol. I know we will all have those patients who have read things or cancer myths about, ‘Oh, cancer feeds on sugar, so I shouldn’t drink anything or eat anything with sugar,’ and maybe addressing that, just really emphasizing the well-rounded meals.” TS 19:57

“When we think about [ourselves], ‘Well, I don’t have an implicit bias,’ but we may not think about what that is. Some common preconceived assumptions are that survivorship equals a cure. And this assumption may overlook that chronic symptoms or those late effects and emotional needs of long-term survivors. So knowing that when a patient is coming to us on surveillance, they may be cured; they may not have active cancer, but they’re still dealing with some of those chronic symptoms—and acknowledging that.” TS 30:37

“There’s an assumption that an ostomy equals poor quality of life, and this may stigmatize patients and discourage open conversations about adaptation and support. A couple weeks ago, I volunteered at the Pan Ohio Hope Ride, which is with the American Cancer Society, and several states have a ride that’s similar. And there was a patient riding, and I could tell over his jersey that he had an ostomy bag underneath that. And I just looked at him and I thought, ‘That’s amazing. You are still functioning, still living, still riding a bike throughout the entire state of Ohio with an ostomy.’ So he’s still having that good quality of life. That doesn’t stop him from living.” TS 31:39

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