- 163,000+ Australians are now living with or beyond bowel cancer.
- Access to a nurse specialist identified by more than 8 in 10 bowel cancer patients as an important resource to improve their care coordination.
Tuesday, 10 March, Sydney: Committed to providing excellence in person-centred supportive care, Bowel Cancer Australia today launched its Bowel Cancer Care with Confidence CPD Series which reflects the latest evidence and optimal care for people living with bowel cancer.
Co-developed with clinical experts including Specialist Bowel Care Nurses, Counsellors, Exercise Physiologists and Clinical Nutritionists and those with lived experience, the CPD Series spans the care continuum from prevention, diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and end of life care.
The Bowel Cancer Care with Confidence CPD Series comprise six interactive, self-paced learning modules totalling 20 CPD hours, providing comprehensive, evidence-based learning to enhance knowledge, confidence, and clinical competence in bowel cancer care.
The CPD Series is for Registered Nurses working with surgical, oncology and general practice settings who provide care for patients diagnosed with bowel cancer, as well as nurses seeking to expand their oncology knowledge and scope of practice. Allied Health professionals will also be able to benefit from the CPD Series.
“The physical and mental challenges of living with bowel cancer are significant and ongoing, and the complementary services such as nursing, exercise physiology and psychological support have made a huge improvement to my quality of life,” said bowel cancer advocate, Jon Reidy.
“Bowel Cancer Australia's supportive care guidance has complemented the rest of my care team perfectly and made such a material difference. It’s been like an upgrade from economy to business class in my cancer journey, making is significantly easier to bear,” he added.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most diagnosed and second deadliest cancer in Australia, yet people
diagnosed with bowel cancer don’t receive the same level of support as those with other common
cancers.
This is despite access to a nurse specialist by phone or in-person was identified by more than 8 in 10 (83%) bowel cancer patients as an important resource to improve their care coordination.[i]
“The pathway of a bowel cancer patient is often stressful and challenging, resulting in feelings of
Isolation, fear and anxiety. It is common for patients to see four to six different health professionals. Care coordination from a specialist nurse underpins the importance of the Nursing CPD Series to ensure optimal care throughout the continuum,” Manager of Bowel Care Services, Lisa Nicholson said.
“Nurses and allied healthcare professionals play a central role in assisting patients with personalised and tailored support to enable them to live well. Bowel Cancer Australia is committed to delivering impactful resources that make a real and meaningful difference,” she added.
Cancer nurses have a positive impact on patient outcomes, including but not limited to[ii]:
- Improved experience of care through the provision of emotional and psychological support.
- Improved knowledge and understanding through support for informational and educational needs.
- Improved management of cancer and cancer treatment related symptoms, such as fatigue, constipation, nausea and vomiting, and early recognition of emotional distress, anxiety, depression and mood.
With over 163,000 Australians currently living with or beyond bowel cancer there is a need for a dedicated, highly skilled workforce of specialist bowel care nurses to coordinate their care. This CPD Series will provide nurses with an update to date framework to strengthen their professional development and deliver the best possible care to those living with or beyond bowel cancer.
Upon completion participants of the Bowel Cancer Care with Confidence CPD Series will be able to:
- Discuss the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and risk factors associated with bowel cancer.
- Outline national screening and diagnostic pathways.
- Describe the multidisciplinary treatment options and care pathways for colon, rectal, and anal cancers.
- Utilise appropriate assessment tools to identify and respond to the supportive care needs of people with bowel cancer and their loved ones.
- Evaluate and implement evidence-based interventions to manage physical symptoms, treatment side effects, and psychosocial needs.
- Demonstrate understanding of the principles of care across the continuum including survivorship, palliative and end of life care.
- Reflect on personal and professional practice to enhance confidence, competence, and compassionate communication in bowel cancer care.
The training highlights the pivotal role specialist bowel care nurses and supportive care teams play in delivering patient-centered care across the bowel cancer continuum and will deepen their knowledge, build practical skills and strengthen inclusive care to ultimately deliver quality patient outcomes.
Bowel Cancer Care with Confidence CPD series, complements Bowel Cancer Australia’s Never2Young CPD series launched in 2024 to help overcome perceived age bias by people under age 50 diagnosed with bowel cancer.
[i] Durcinoska I, Young JM, Solomon MJ. Patterns and predictors of colorectal cancer care coordination: A population-based survey of
Australian patients. Cancer. 2017 Jan 1;123(2):319-326. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30326. Epub 2016 Sep 7. PMID: 27603147.
[ii] Cancer Nurses Society of Australia, CSNA Position Statement, August 2024.
About us:
About Bowel Cancer Australia
Bowel Cancer Australia is a national charity dedicated to championing what matters most to people impacted by bowel cancer and empowering everyone affected to live their best life.
Contact details:
For further information or to arrange an interview with a medical expert or patient contact:
Stephanie Bansemer-Brown – Bowel Cancer Australia
[email protected] | 0412 915 797