Western Health launches registry-led surveillance for rectal cancer survivors

With support from a VICS Survivorship Program grant, Western Health is implementing a registry-driven surveillance program for patients with rectal cancer who achieve a complete clinical response following Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (TNT). The project will establish a registry and multidisciplinary review process to improve monitoring and follow-up. It will also integrate patient-reported outcome measures and translated patient information to support equitable access for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. By strengthening tracking and coordination of surveillance investigations, the initiative aims to reduce delays, minimise patients lost to follow-up, and enable earlier detection of recurrence.

The model may be expanded to other cancer streams in the future.