Bowel Cancer – the role of Clinical Nurse Specialists and what signs and symptoms to look out for

Did you know 9 in 10 people survive bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage? Cardiff and Vale University Health Board are shining a light on a few members of the remarkable team that care for patients should they receive that life changing news and the signs and symptoms to look out for.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) Clare, Caroline and Angel, based at University Hospital of Wales, lead busy lives outside of the day job and have had varied career paths, but their shared knowledge, expertise and passion has brought them together to care and support patients who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

“We are the named key workers for patients within Cardiff and the Vale that are diagnosed with bowel cancer and provide a vital link between patients and the healthcare system. We’re able to provide them and their families with compassionate, evidence-based support and guidance throughout their cancer journey.

“Using the National Optimal Cancer Pathway for Suspected and Confirmed Colorectal Cancers (SCP Pathway), we coordinate the treatment and care of our patients from initial diagnosis and throughout their treatment and follow up.”

Clare, Caroline and Angel’s roles are crucial for patients in Cardiff and Vale who are going through quite possibly the most difficult period of their lives;

“CNS nurses like ourselves play a pivotal role in the Colorectal Cancer Multi -Disciplinary Team (MDT) by tracking the colorectal urgent suspected cancer (USC) referrals, supporting outpatient clinics, facilitating diagnoses and subsequent treatment plans with the aim of ensuring a seamless and timely pathway.

“We run and coordinate the Nurse-led colorectal cancer Surveillance programme within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. We have three clinics where we see post op patients, surveillance patients and early rectal cancer patients who are under close monitoring.

“As the point of contact for our patients and their loved ones, we understand that there may be questions may arise. We offer a helpline for patients and their loved ones which includes a messaging service, to contact us for help and advice about their cancer journey.”

The support doesn’t stop there. Clare, Caroline and Angel also look at the bigger picture and provide further support for their patient who are touched by bowel cancer;

“As cancer can impact on almost every aspect of a person’s life and not just their physical health, we work closely with Macmillan, Bowel Cancer UK, Tenovus and other similar charities and third sector organisations, and are able to sign-post our patients to a range of invaluable services for advice and support.

“Important as all the above things are, sometimes the most valuable things we provide is a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold.”

With patients at the centre of all that CNS’ do, Clare, Caroline and Angel say that it is a ‘privilege’ to do what they do best;

“Being nurses, we find ourselves in the privileged and sometimes unique position of being the members of the multidisciplinary team that patients and their families trust and confide in the most.

“Bowel Cancer is the 4th common cancer, and although we have a large volume of referrals, we ensure every patient is treated holistically. We put the patient at the centre of all that we do and develop a personal relationship with each one of our patients through one of the most overwhelming and stressful times of their life.”

According to Cancer Research UK, there are over 42,000 new cases of bowel cancer diagnoses each year, and 2,600 new cases are diagnosed in people under the age of 50. This only reinforces the importance of raising awareness for this type of cancer;

“Although people are in general now more comfortable talking about cancer, for many it is still a difficult subject, and with bowel cancer, some of the early signs and symptoms manifest themselves through bodily functions that most of us would prefer to keep private.

“Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage. However, the chances of beating it drops significantly as the disease develops.

“Research indicates that people from some ethnic, economic or cultural backgrounds can be less willing to seek advice and support and so raising awareness within these communities can be even more important.”

The earlier bowel cancer is spotted, the more treatable it is likely to be.

Symptoms may include:

·    Change in bowel habit (this may include going more often, with looser, runnier poos and sometimes abdominal pain)

·    Blood in the poo without other symptoms (pile/haemorrhoids)

·    Abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating

If you have one or more of the symptoms of bowel cancer which have persisted for more than three weeks, see your GP.

If you're aged 51 to 74 you will receive a test kit automatically every two years from the date of your last result.