Your general practitioner (GP) will arrange the first tests to assess your symptoms, or further tests if you have had a positive screening test. If these tests do not rule out cancer, you will usually be referred to a specialist, such as a colorectal surgeon or a gastroenterologist. The specialist will arrange further tests. If bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is diagnosed, the specialist will consider treatment options.
Often these will be discussed with other health professionals at what is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. During and after treatment, you may see a range of health professionals who specialise in different aspects of your care.
To find cancer specialists, multidisciplinary teams and hospitals in NSW or ACT, you can visit the NSW Government website CanRefer.
Health professionals you may see
| GP | assists you with treatment decisions and works in partnership with your specialists in providing ongoing care |
| colorectal surgeon | diagnoses bowel cancer; performs bowel surgery; may perform colonoscopy |
| gastroenterologist | diagnoses and treats disorders of the digestive system, including removing bowel polyps; performs colonoscopy |
| radiation oncologist, radiation therapist | a radiation oncologist treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy; a radiation therapist plans and delivers radiation therapy |
| medical oncologist | treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy (systemic treatment) |
| cancer care coordinator | coordinates your care, liaises with other members of the MDT, and supports you and your family throughout treatment; care may also be coordinated by a clinical nurse consultant (CNC), cancer nurse specialist or colorectal cancer nurse, or patient navigator |
| nurse | administers drugs and provides care, information and support throughout treatment |
| stomal therapy nurse | provides information about surgery and can help you adjust to life with a temporary or permanent stoma |
| dietitian | helps with nutrition concerns, weight issues and suggests diet changes during treatment and recovery |
| genetic counsellor | provides advice for people with a strong family history of bowel cancer or with a genetic condition linked to bowel cancer |
| social worker | links you to support services and helps you with emotional, practical and financial issues |
| physiotherapist, exercise physiologist | help restore movement and mobility, and improve fitness and wellbeing |
| continence physiotherapist | provides exercises to help your pelvic floor muscles recover and improve bowel and bladder control |
| occupational therapist | assists in adapting your living and working environment to help you resume usual activities after treatment |
| counsellor, psychologist | help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment |
| palliative care specialist and nurses | work closely with the GP and cancer team to help control symptoms and maintain quality of life |
→ READ MORE: Making treatment decisions for bowel cancer
More resources
Prof Alexander Heriot, Colorectal Surgeon and Director Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Director, Lower GI Tumour Stream, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Cameron Bell, Gastroenterologist, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Graham Borgas, Consumer; Prof Michael Bourke, Director of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Westmead Hospital, The University of Sydney, NSW; Laura Carman, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria, VIC; Amanda Connolly, Specialist Bowel Care Nurse, Icon Cancer Centre Windsor Gardens, SA; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, Operations Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Anne Marie Lyons, Stomal Therapy Nurse, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and NSW Stoma Ltd, NSW; Lisa Nicholson, Manager Bowel Care Services, Bowel Cancer Australia, NSW; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Rafi Sharif, Consumer; Dr Kirsten van Gysen, Radiation Oncologist, The Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, NSW; Sarah Williams, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Lower GI, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.
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