After surgery for rectal cancer, many people undergo changes in bowel habits, which may include the need to empty their bowels more often, accidental leakage of stool or gas, the sudden urge to go to the bathroom, and more. The term "Low Anterior Resection Syndrome" or LARS is used to describe these symptoms. LARS has a negative impact on one's quality of life, and can lead to frustration, as there is no single intervention that has proven to be effective for LARS, and each patient has to undergo trial and error to find one's solution. As people struggle with LARS, they describe feeling hopeless and isolated. Peer support is a supportive relationship between individuals who share common experiences or face similar challenges. The goal of our study is to evaluate whether use of an online peer support application with trained mentors who themselves have lived or are living with LARS will empower patients to better manage their LARS symptoms and improve their quality of life.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer - Quality of Life Questionnaire - C30 questionnaire
Timeframe: 1 week before the launch of the app
Assessing 'Change' via European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer - Quality of Life Questionnaire - C30 questionnaire after 6 months
Timeframe: 6 months after using the app.