PhD Conferral Mrs. Aniek Heldens, MSc.

“Preoperative optimisation of physical functioning in patients with colorectal cancer” 

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the Netherlands, with surgical resection with or without chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy as a useful treatment. This thesis evaluates various elements of physical fitness during the treatment process of patients with colorectal cancer and shows the following results:

- There are differences in the implementation of evidence-based physiotherapy in the Netherlands, as described in the literature, for people with colorectal cancer.

- There is a relationship between preoperative physical fitness (walking distance, mobility and experienced fatigue) and recovery after surgery. The fitter the patients are before surgery, the faster they will recover after surgery.

- In 50% of patients with rectal cancer, physical fitness was reduced after completing chemoradiotherapy and these patients reported more negative side effects.

- A training program during chemoradiotherapy treatment for rectal cancer patients is safe and feasible. There was also a muscle in muscle strength and functional exercise capacity.