recent Darzi report 1 to see that patientrelated outcomes, and quality of life in particular, are likely to become more dominant within our clinical practice. We believe that as our understanding of this type of data increases, so too will their clinical applications.
Mr Lee is right to raise concerns about the length of time needed after surgery for some groups of colorectal cancer patients to resolve issues with respect to their quality of life. Addressing the psychosocial needs of patients is of paramount importance to those with incurable cancer, but as our work (confined to patients with potentially curable disease) shows, other groups of patients might also benefit from accessing similar services. Younger patients and those with stomas or low rectal anastomoses were identified as more likely to report lower than expected quality of life. More focused quality of life assessment, with psychosocial support offered appropriately, may help to minimize the impact of colorectal cancer and its treatment on the lives of these patients and their families. The wider use of quality of life data will inevitably help to identify vulnerable patients and guide appropriate intervention.