title: Patients' Vulnerability in Follow-up After Colorectal Cancer: A Qualitative Action Research Study.
abstract: In the transition between being a hospitalized patient with cancer and resuming "normal" life, many patients experience physical, mental, and social challenges. Scientifically, as well as politically, it is therefore recommended to undertake research with a focus on rethinking and reorganizing follow-up after cancer treatment.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to identify the perspectives of fast-track colorectal cancer surgery patients on challenges experienced in the transition from being a hospitalized patient with cancer to being a cancer survivor.
  
  
  
  The current article represents phase 1 in an ongoing action research project. Data were analyzed by using the "interpretive description" method.
  
  
  
  Twelve patients (6 male and 6 female patients; mean age, 72.4 years) participated in the study. The analyses show that the patients physically experienced readiness to leave hospital after a few days; however, shortly after returning home, most of them became mentally overwhelmed by the feeling of vulnerability that was closely related to the feeling of being handed over the responsibility for a newly cancer-operated body and a fragile life situation. Four issues that challenged the patients emerged from the analysis: restore an everyday life, participate in a follow-up program, get relevant information, and manage contact with relevant health professionals.
  
  
  
  The study indicates that the transition to restoring a normal life after cancer surgery had been an experience characterized by more vulnerability than expected by the patients in the study.
  
  
  
  The findings provide 4 well-defined themes, each of which constitutes a point of departure related to focused patient-centered interventions related to follow-up after cancer surgery.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Sjællands Universitetshospital, Denmark, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, (Dr Thomsen); and Roskilde and Køge Hospitals, and Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Dr Hølge-Hazelton).
authors.forename: Thora G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Bibi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hølge-Hazelton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D035862:Vulnerable Populations