Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

The Mind Gap: Exploring Long-Term Mental Health Care Needs After a Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis (126655)

Maddison Dix 1 , Sarah Cohen-Woods 2 , Renee J Smith 1 , Carlene J Wilson 1 3 , Donna Hughes-Barton 1 , Emma Kemp 1 4 , Molla M Wassie 1 , Paul Hollington 1 5 , Charles Cock 1 6 , Erin L Symonds 1 6
  1. Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  2. Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  3. Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Cancer Council South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  5. Colorectal Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  6. Department of Gastroenterology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Objectives/purpose: Routine follow-up for individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) generally ends after 5 years, with ongoing needs often underrecognized. This study aimed to understand the long-term (≥5 years post-diagnosis) mental health care needs of individuals diagnosed with CRC.

Sample and setting: Individuals aged ≥18 years who received a CRC diagnosis or treatment at Flinders Medical Centre between 2010-2020.

Procedures: Surveys evaluating post-diagnostic care experiences were sent to 491 individuals between February and April 2025, with a target of 200 responses. Multivariable binary logistic regression explored associations between any self-reported mental health problems after diagnosis and age at diagnosis, sex, time since diagnosis, cancer stage, and current symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression and fear of cancer recurrence.

Results: As of 30 May 2025, 104 responses have been received (21% response rate; mean age at diagnosis 61.9 years (standard deviation ±10.8), 51% male). 49% of respondents (n=50/102) reported mental health problems following their diagnosis, of which 34% (n=17/50) believed they received enough information or support regarding their mental and emotional health. Those with higher fear of cancer recurrence (OR=1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.28, p=.009) were more likely to report post-diagnostic mental health problems than those with lower fear. Conversely, those who were older at the time of diagnosis were less likely to report mental health problems than those diagnosed at younger ages (OR=0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.98, p=.009). Other variables were not associated with post-diagnostic mental health problems (p>.050).

Conclusion and clinical implications: Approximately half of study participants reported mental health concerns following their CRC diagnosis, yet only one third felt they received enough information or support to address this. Allocation of oncology-based mental health services should prioritise individuals diagnosed at younger ages and those with higher fear of cancer recurrence and should aim to facilitate long-term support beyond 5 years post-diagnosis.