These educational materials were developed as a resource for ACG members, primary care physicians and patients to help address many of the scientific issues surrounding colorectal cancer screening and to provide answers to some of the most pressing and important questions regarding colorectal cancer.

Resources include guidelines, slide sets and patient education materials.

A range of clinical practice tools and resources including guidelines, slides and patient information regarding gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers.

A range of resources for health professionals including screening kits, awareness materials and distributable patient information regarding bowel, colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers.

A downloadable bowel cancer patient pathway, including sections about screening, referral and treatments, is also available here.

Information regarding the risks, screening and treatment of bowel cancer, and cancer in general, designed specifically for the Indigenous population.

Comprehenisve oncologist approved information about colorectal cancers. Each guide provides information on:

• Overview
• Medical Illustrations
• Risk Factors
• Prevention
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Staging With Illustrations
• Treatment
• Clinical Trials Resources
• Side Effects, After Treatment
• Current Research
• Questions to Ask the Doctor
• Patient Information Resources

A searchable database of internationally developed clinical guidelines relating to the screening, diagnosis, treatment and managment of colorectal cancers.

This case study recounts the experience of John, a 62-year-old male diagnosed with colorectal cancer. This case study aims to facilitate the development of competencies that reflect the role of the Specialist Cancer Nurse (SCN) in managing disease and treatment related care for a person at risk of or diagnosed with colorectal cancer across the cancer journey.

The case study contains four sections:

• Reduce risk; Find the condition early
• Have the best treatment and support during active treatment
• Have the best treatment and support between and after active treatment.

This primary care colorectal module includes resources and information specific to colorectal and other bowel cancers, treatments and side effect management, clincial tools, an opioid conversion calculator and safe handling of cytotoxics.

Free registration is required to access the site.

The ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers MOC Module consists of 25 multiple-choice questions which include patient case information, educational links and answer rationales. This activity is a tool for self-assessment of medical knowledge as it relates to gastrointestinal cancers.

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify knowledge and practice gaps relating to gastrointestinal cancers
• Apply knowledge learned toward an enhanced ability to identify gastrointestinal cancer risks and recommend effective interventions for individual patients
• Demonstrate participation in life-long learning and enhancement of competence.

A four-page guide for general practitioners for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer.

mCRC:CARE is a central portal providing access to up-to-date education and resources for nurses who work with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)
patients. The programme has been designed to address three main objectives.

1. To help nurses working in cancer care to recognise the unique needs of mCRC patients.
2. To enhance nurses' communication skills so that they can better educate and support mCRC patients.
3. To assist nurses to empower mCRC patients to become their own advocates.

Currently, mCRC:CARE comprises six educational modules that provide an overview of mCRC and investigate the main physical, psychological, social and
emotional issues of specific relevance to mCRC patients. The focus of the programme is on the supportive care of mCRC patients. Each module includes
strategies for nurses working with mCRC patients to address some of these issues and improve patients' quality of life.

This online learning program has been endorsed by Royal College of Nursing, Australia, according to approved criteria. Participation attracts 18 RCNA Continuing Nurse Education (CNE) points (3 RCNA CNE points per module) as part of RCNA's Life Long Learning Program (3LP).

The NGC's mission is to provide physicians and other health professionals and others an accessible mechanism for obtaining objective, detailed information on clinical practice guidelines and to further their dissemination, implementation, and use.

All of the criteria below must be met for a clinical practice guideline to be included in NGC:

• The clinical practice guideline contains systematically developed statements that include recommendations, strategies, or information that assists physicians and/or other health care practitioners and patients to make decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
• The clinical practice guideline was produced under the auspices of medical specialty associations; relevant professional societies, public or private organizations, government agencies at the Federal, State, or local level; or health care organizations or plans. A clinical practice guideline developed and issued by an individual not officially sponsored or supported by one of the above types of organizations does not meet the inclusion criteria for NGC.
• Corroborating documentation can be produced and verified that a systematic literature search and review of existing scientific evidence published in peer reviewed journals was performed during the guideline development. A guideline is not excluded from NGC if corroborating documentation can be produced and verified detailing specific gaps in scientific evidence for some of the guideline's recommendations.
• The full text guideline is available upon request in print or electronic format (for free or for a fee), in the English language. The guideline is current and the most recent version produced. Documented evidence can be produced or verified that the guideline was developed, reviewed, or revised within the last five years.

Downloadable clinical practice guidelines developed and endorsed by NCCN for:

• Colon Cancer
• Rectal Cancer

A full range of guidelines and resources relating to colon and rectal cancers. including:

• information about prevention, genetics and causes
• screening and testing unformation about methods of cancer detection including new imaging technologies, tumor markers, and biopsy procedures
• Information about treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and vaccine therapy
• statistics related to cancer incidence, mortality, and survival
• research
• information and current news about clinical trials and trial-related data

A library of downloadable clinical practice guidelines developed in the UK and internationally relating to the diagnosis, treatment and management of Lower Gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, including:

• Small bowel
• Colon
• Rectum
• Anus

Comprehensive, authoritative, evidence-based information regarding colorectal cancer and its associated risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

Multimedia resources including anatomical drawings are available on the site. 

Website listing gastrointestinal cancer trials open in Australia as well as relevant events.

Professional and educational body for Stomal Therapy nurses.

Membership includes access to member site, CPD opportunities, conference attendance and patient information.

ACSA represents, at a national level, the interests of all 22 regional Stoma Associations in Australia.

A list of patient support groups is also available on the site.

Bowel Cancer Australia is national charity with a mission to decrease the impact of bowel cancer and gastrointestinal diseases in our society through awareness, education, support and research.

Bowel Cancer Australia aims to achieve this by -

• funding cutting edge research into bowel cancer and gastrointestinal diseases;
• establishing Australia’s inaugural endowed Chair in Bowel Cancer Research and associated Centre of Excellence in Gastrointestinal Research;
• implementing awareness campaigns and education programs in conjunction with gastrointestinal specialists to reduce the incidence of bowel cancer and gastrointestinal diseases in the workplace and community;
• encouraging participation by Australians in appropriate screening for bowel cancer in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) guidelines; and
• providing a support network for patients, their families and carers, including a nurse and nutritionist advisory service.

Cancer & Bowel Research Trust is a non-profit trust which raises vital funds to support both external and internal cancer research projects, fund the purchase of equipment used at both treatment and diagnostic levels, provide patient accommodation and manage, conduct and fund ongoing awareness and prevention campaigns into bowel cancer.

The Colorectal Surgical Society aims to foster the development and maintenance of colorectal surgery as a specialty with the following objectives:

• education of colorectal surgeons, the medical profession and the public
• development and maintenance of standards of practice of colorectal surgery in Australia and New Zealand
  to facilitate and promote the training, certification and accreditation of colorectal surgeons
• development and support of research programmes in colorectal surgery
• acting in an advisory capacity for government, the AMA and other health organisations
  provision of peer review advice
• to foster the international exchange of all matters important to the development of colorectal surgery

Membership is available to Surgeons who have demonstrated a commitment to the specialty of colorectal surgery and have undergone a recognised programme of training in colorectal surgery. Further information is available here.

The Gastrointestinal Group is open to gastroenterologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, other medical specialists, nurses, stoma care providers, researchers and other health care professionals with an interest in the management of both colorectal and upper gastrointestinal malignancies.

The aim of the group is to promote education of health care professionals and the public on this area of oncology.  We also aim to provide a role in public health advocacy (particularly with regard to screening for colorectal cancer) and best practice guideline development.

The group has close links with the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group (AGITG) that is predominantly involved in the conduct, organisation and development of multi-centre gastrointestinal oncology clinical trials.

NSWOG Colorectal was established in December 2005 and has multidisciplinary representation from across the health spectrum, including consumers. The committee focus has been on data and pathology reporting, as well as screening.

A UK document aimed at shaping service delivery and defining a detailed practical framework for modern colorectal cancer care.

Information for consumers regarding the incidence, screening, symptoms and treatment of colorectal cancer in Australia.

GuidelineStat™ is the only website of its kind – a wholly CME guideline resource dedicated to the needs of busy, practice-based physicians, spanning multiple therapeutic areas and linked to guideline-oriented patient cases.

The colon cancer tool includes:

• Slide Presentation, suitable for self-directed learning
• Disease State Animation focused on the disease entity and its treatment
• Practical Case Studies exemplifying key teaching points and best-practice guideline recommendations
• Treatment and Diagnostic Algorithms
• An Executive Summary that addresses the practical, need-to-know information from the guideline
• Self-Evaluations
• Patient Education Resources for in-office communications with patients
• A Discussion Forum to promote information exchange between learners and guideline experts
• Breaking News with links to recent publications

The Imedex E-Learning Center is designed to meet the needs of the busy healthcare professional with a complete suite of innovative E-learning products. Dozens of clinically-relevant, accredited activities are available to practitioners every day at no charge, focusing on impacting the clinical management of patients around the world.

Bowel and colorectal cancer activities include webcasts, interactive case studies and podcasts.

ASCO's Gastrointestinal Cancer Portal offers gastrointestinal cancer specific resources including the latest information from:

• ASCO's Virtual Meeting
• The Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Meeting abstracts
• Educational Book manuscripts
• ASCO Daily News

Providing relevant, high quality and up-to-date information, MedConnect is a gateway to leading local and international medical news, research, events and resources to allow health care professionals to stay connected to the most important developments in medicine.

The colorectal cancer page features the latest news, research, drugs, podcasts, videos, articles, conferences and events.  

Users can sign up for free to receive daily news feeds and journal summaries about their specialist topic.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program annual monitoring report 2009 presented estimated national statistics on key program activity, performance and outcome indicators for people invited to screen in 2008. Using the latest program data to January 2010, this data supplement provides final statistics on participation, documented follow-up procedures, and cancer and bowel abnormality detection outcomes for these people. While this data update provides a larger amount of outcome data, incomplete reporting, particularly histopathology confirmations, still hinders a complete picture of participant outcomes.

The purpose of this activity,  a series of multiple choice questions, is to review the relationship between a reduced risk of colorectal cancer and observing certain lifestyle recommendations as described in a research article "Association of adherence to lifestyle recommendations and risk of colorectal cancer: a prospective Danish cohort study" published on bmj.com, available here.

The objectives are:

• To estimate the proportions of colorectal cancer cases that might be associated with lack of adherence to particular lifestyle recommendations.
• To compare the proportion of men and women diagnosed with colorectal cancer based on their adherence or lack of adherence to particular lifestyle recommendations.

An editorial published in the Medical Journal of Australia (Terry Bolin, Alistair E Cowen and Melvyn G Korman. MJA 2002; 176 (4): 145-146) regarding the importance of screening in the prevention of colorectal cancers. 

Information about the latest research into the screening, risk factors and incidence of colorectal cancer, with links to evidence based articles and reports.

Information about the genetic risk of colorectal cancer and methods of preventing the development of the disease.

The deCODEme Complete Scan identifies the eight variants listed above and uses them to provide customers of European descent with a personalized interpretation of their genetic risk for developing colorectal cancer. For individuals of East Asian origin, the deCODEme genetic test provides interpretation of colorectal cancer risk associated with two variants; on chromosome 8 (close to POU5F1P1) and a variant in the SMAD7 gene on chromosome 18.

At present, the necessary scientific information to interpret the genetic risk for individuals of other ethnicities is not available. This information will be added as soon as it becomes available and we are assured of its quality.

The World Health Organization's new Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health advise that people of all ages can reduce the risk of developing a Non Communicable Disease, including breast and colon cancers, by undertaking various amounts and intensities of physical activity.

The recommendations are available in a number of languages and target ages.

The colorectal cancer risk assessment is an interactive tool designed to help people and their healthcare providers make informed choices about colorectal screening. The tool uses a respondent's answers to an online questionnaire to calculate that person's 5-year, 10-year, and lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Information from the National Cancer Institute regarding colorectal cancer prevention, screening and detection, including:

• Prevention, Genetics, and Causes of Colorectal Cancer
• Screening and Testing for Colorectal Cancer
• Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
• Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers Research Group in the Division of Cancer Prevention

This article, published in the Australian Family Physician journal by McMurrick, P.; Dorien, S.; Shapiro, J. (Vol 35, (4) 177 - 258) outlines the risk assessment, early detection primary prevention and management of colorectal cancer.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with about 34 900 new patients diagnosed every year. It is the second most common cause of death from cancer, with about 16 100 deaths per year.

The risk of being diagnosed with bowel cancer rises with age: 83% of cases arise in people who are 60 years or older.

In view of this and following successful trials of screening, the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes has set up a screening programme for bowel cancer.

The programme is aimed at people without symptoms but it is expected that many people will be more aware of bowel problems and symptoms that they might have. The purpose of this module is to help you care for such patients. Some of these patients will have bowel cancer, some will have other problems, and some will have no problems at all. The module offers practical advice, but is not meant to replace clinical judgment. The module encourages healthcare professionals to take into account patients' values and preferences when caring for them.

The NHS has set up a screening programme for bowel cancer. The NHS Cancer Screening Programme has issued guidance for primary care on screening. This module is based on the guidance. The module offers practical advice but is not meant to replace clinical judgment. The module encourages healthcare professionals to take into account patients' values and preferences when caring for them.

After completing this module, participants should know:

• How to advise people who are worried about bowel cancer
• What information you should give them
• How to advise people who have questions about the new NHS bowel cancer screening programme.

This module should help you to:

• Be familiar with the typical presenting features of lower gastrointestinal tract cancer
• Identify unusual presentations of lower gastrointestinal tract cancer
• Know when to refer patients with suspected lower gastrointestinal tract cancer to a specialist team
• Know which patients you should refer urgently and which patients you should refer routinely.

A four-page guide for general practitioners for assessing the risk of bowel cancer. Includes patient information.

A guide for General Practitioners to assist in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to assess positive tests and refer patients appropriately. The guide includes information regarding faecal occult blood tests (FOBT), duty of care and payment arrangements.

A range of resources are also available for health practitioners.

Downloadable clinical practice guidelines developed and endorsed by NCCN for the screening and early detection of colorectal cancers.

The Cancer Council Australia has developed an online module about bowel cancer and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program that available on the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) gplearning website for members and non-members.

The module offers GPs the latest information and approaches to screening for major forms of cancer including breast cancer, cervical cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer.

Activity can be completed in one or a number of sessions. The module takes two hours to complete.

Members of the college and those with a QA number with the college will receive 2 RACGP QA&CPD points for completing the module. 

Members of the RACGP can login using your username and password.

Non-members can click HERE for directions to access the module for FREE.

This webpage summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer. Supporting documents to the recommendations can also be downloaded.

The AASTN Inc. Education and Professional Development Subcommittee has developed a series of Patient Education Pamphlets for use by Stomal Therapy Nurses in the education of ostomates and others.

Brochures include:

• Caring for your colostomy
• Managing constipation
• Caring for your stoma
• Caring for your ileostomy
• Caring for your urostomy

Most brochures are available in multilingual translations and can be downloaded the Royal District Nursing Service website.

Physicians who assess and treat patients with colon and rectal cancers need to be aware of newly issued guidelines and recommendations for staging, assessment, and reporting to optimize patient treatment decisions, particularly in stage II disease. 

The program was directed by Carolyn C. Compton, MD, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Educational Objectives

• Discuss key updates in colorectal cancer staging and assessment based on the 2009 7th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC).
• Describe pathologic challenges affecting accuracy of assessment in stage II (lymph node negative) colorectal cancer.
• Describe principal issues that physicians should be aware of in reviewing a pathology report for colorectal cancer.
• Assess whether your institution’s practice of lymph node assessment for staging colon and rectal cancers is consistent with current recommended practice and if not, what you believe needs to be done to improve practice.
• Assess whether your institution’s practice of developing and/or using pathology reports is consistent with new AJCC recommendations and if not, what you believe needs to be done to improve practice.
• Integrate new criteria into practice.

Free colon cancer CME courses consisting of a web cast and post test for health professionals interested in new developments for treatment of colorectal cancers.

The Colorectal Cancer Profiler treatment decision support tool helps you understand how your diagnosis, test results, and medical history affect your treatment options. Your free Treatment Options Report will include descriptions of treatments, side effects, and questions to ask your docto, customized for your unique diagnosis.

Information on adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum, which comprises approximately 95% of all colon and rectal cancers, is covered in this tool. Other rare types of colon and rectal cancers are not addressed in this tool.

Information about radiation therapy treatment options for patients with colon, rectal and anal cancers, including downloadable PDF fact sheets including information about possible side effects of treatment.

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have pioneered the use of computerized devices to help patients and their physicians decide among the major treatment choices for several cancers.

Available is a tool to help predict the probability of being disease-free from colon cancer after surgery.

Provides links to a wide range of evaluated resources and learning activities in the areas of supportive and psychosocial care, including survivorship.

An article published in Digestive Surgery journal by Matthew R. Dixon, Michael J. Stamos ⁽Dig Surg 2004;21:344-351) with the following abstract:

Palliative care has appropriately been receiving increased attention in recent years. From the surgeon’s standpoint, therapy is considered palliative when resection of all known tumor sites is no longer possible or advisable. Since a cure, as commonly defined, is not possible, the goal of treatment and eventually the success of therapy becomes judged by the control of symptoms and alleviation of suffering. Providing optimal palliative care for the patient with advanced colorectal cancer is a complex and challenging process. The process of providing palliative care may be a departure from the traditional surgical satisfaction derived from the complete excision of a malignancy, but surgeons achieving excellence in palliative care will likely find this a rewarding endeavor.

A presentation explaining the benefits of a palliative approach to bowel care to manage the side effects of cancert treatments.

Caresearch is an online collection of evidence based resources relating to palliative care. This Australian web site provides access to scientific abstracts, government reports, refereed journal articles and sources of data. It also contains information on national research and other projects, resources for patients and carers, models of service provision and educational opportunities including online learning packages.

Provides links to a wide range of evaluated resources and learning activities in the areas of palliative care, pain management and end of life planning.

Information for people with bowel cancer and their families and friends.

A chart for patients demonstrating the steps along the pathway of prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and after care for bowel cancer, including further information and advice about each stage.

A downloadable chart that shows a typical ‘patient pathway’. It is just a guide and may vary from patient to patient. If you have recently been diagnosed with bowel cancer, the next step will be to determine the stage of the disease and to agree your treatment plan.

Just as everyone is different, so the treatment given to them will be the best possible for their individual circumstances. Your specialist will discuss the options open to you, including when and where treatment will take place, the process you will go through, what drugs will be available for your treatment if required, and who will be treating you at every stage.

A pathway demonstrating options available to patients during the bowel screening process.

Consumer information from Cancer Council Australia regarding the incidence, mortality, prevention, detection, symptoms, risk factors and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Further information is also available on the state and territory Cancer Council websites:

• Cancer Council NSW Colorectal Cancer Information
• Cancer Council Victoria Colorectal Cancer Information
• Cancer Council SA Colorectal Cancer Information
• Cancer Council QLD Colorectal Cancer Information
• Cancer Council ACT Colorectal Cancer Information

The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is the oldest and largest national patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. In order to increase rates of screening and survivorship, the CCA provides patient support, public education, supports research and conducts advocacy work across America.

Consumer targeted overview of colorectal cancers including information regarding risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and links to a patient resource centre.

Comprehensive information regarding colorectal cancers.