Each year Bowel Cancer UK host the National Colorectal Cancer Nurses Study Day. A one day conference that provides free education for colorectal cancer nurses. This year the 130 places filled in under a week. This leads to two thoughts, the first how fantastic to belong to a profession with a workforce who are engaged in education for the benefit of patients, the second I hope that those that miss out have other opportunities for education in these challenging times within the NHS.

The wish to learn is no surprise. The role of the Colorectal CNS remains diverse, challenging, interesting and rewarding. CNS’s navigate patients through the pathway with unique knowledge of both systems and disease management. They manage personalised care delivering End of Treatment Summaries, Holistic Needs Assessments, health and well being events all whilst interpreting results, managing patients symptoms and often with advanced assessment and prescribing skills. In addition to this Colorectal Nurses may be based in oncology, providing support, on treatment clinics, enhanced supportive care clinics and prescribing chemotherapy. The specialty continues to evolve with knowledge of genomics and some nurses undertaking consenting for lynch testing.  

It is the evolution of the specialty along with the unique nature of the nurse patient relationships that makes the role, in my opinion an outstanding one. This year has seen the publication of the British Society of Gastroenterology Guidelines on the management of acute and chronic GI symptoms and complications as a result of treatment for cancer (Andreyev et al 2025). This provides excellent clinical guidelines and calls for a multidisciplinary approach to management of side effects for those treated for GI cancers. Once again we see specialist nurses looking at ways to make this happen, whether that be extending their own roles or working with medical colleague to deliver care. Whatever the approach CNS’s will strive for the best care possible for their patients.

At a time when we continue to work in organisations with capacity, economic and wider managerial challenges the quest for knowledge and excellence continues in our CNS workforce. This is truly something to be proud of. 

Reference:

Andreyev et al (2025). British Society of Gastroenterology practice guidance on the management of acute and chronic GI symptoms and complications as a result of treatment for cancer, Gut 2025;0:1–28.