Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41258299›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

"A lot can happen in that time": understanding patients' perspectives on reduced surveillance frequency and the potential for circulating tumor DNA blood tests after colorectal cancer treatment.

Maddison Dix, Donna Hughes-Barton, Renee J Smith, Emma Kemp, Sarah Cohen-Woods, Jean M Winter, Timothy J H Lathlean, Carlene J Wilson, Graeme P Young, Charles Cock and 1 more

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Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Maddison DixFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. maddison.dix@flinders.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9934-8079
Donna Hughes-BartonFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4764-7528
Renee J SmithFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Emma KempFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5664-8031
Sarah Cohen-WoodsFlinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2199-6129
Jean M WinterFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2041-8602
Timothy J H LathleanFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7340-1567
Carlene J WilsonFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1883-4690
Graeme P YoungFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9458-8383
Charles CockFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3578-1137
Erin L SymondsFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2451-0358

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIndividuals who have completed colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment are recommended regular radiological scans for 3-5 years to monitor for cancer recurrence. Since the frequency of radiological surveillance is generally reduced until it is no longer recommended, blood tests measuring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could supplement and/or replace radiological surveillance once scans are not recommended. To better understand patients' support needs throughout ongoing care after CRC treatment, this study explored perspectives on reduced scan frequency and the potential incorporation of ctDNA tests.

methodsEight focus groups were conducted with 21 individuals (11 males; median age at diagnosis 61 years) who received CRC treatment in South Australia. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop and interpret themes.

resultsParticipants' reported mental wellbeing was linked to their perceived health status following CRC treatment, and radiological surveillance was important in forming these perceptions. Perspectives on reduced surveillance frequency differed by participants' level of health anxiety. Although some individuals interpreted surveillance changes as a positive indicator of their ongoing cancer-free health, others felt this would lead to more uncertainty regarding their cancer status. Participants supported the incorporation of ctDNA blood tests to provide additional information about their risk of recurrence.

conclusionIndividuals lacking information about their cancer status may have a higher risk of experiencing adverse mental health outcomes (e.g., fear of cancer recurrence) following reductions in surveillance frequency. Using ctDNA tests may help decrease fears of recurrence and support perceptions of good health during times of radiological surveillance change.

Indexed as

Circulating Tumor DNAColorectal NeoplasmsNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalAdultAgedAnxietyFemaleFocus GroupsHealth StatusHumansMaleMiddle AgedSouth AustraliaCirculating Tumor DNAColorectal cancerFollow-up carePatient experiencesPsychosocial impactsSurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID41258299

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.