“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.