On Friday 6 December at 14.00, Mira Mekhael defends her PhD dissertation entitled "Management of bowel dysfunction following treatment of pelvic organ and colon cancers".

The increasing number of cancer survivors in Denmark and globally has highlighted a critical need for dedicated rehabilitation services to address late sequelae from treatment. While many cancer survivors live with lasting physical and psychological effects, access to specialized rehabilitation services remains limited. In Denmark, national efforts, including the integration of survivorship care plans, have aimed to address these gaps in cancer care.

This dissertation examines the challenges faced by pelvic organ and colon cancer survivors, particularly those who experience late bowel dysfunction—a common and complex issue that diminishes quality of life for many patients. This research is part of a broader initiative led by the Centre for Research on Survivorship and Late Adverse Effects after Cancer in the Pelvic Organs, which was established to improve support for survivors through the creation of specialized late sequelae clinics. These clinics, founded in 2017 and 2018, employ multidisciplinary, algorithm-based approaches to address the diverse needs of patients with bowel dysfunction.

Through studies conducted within these clinics, this thesis investigates the effectiveness of specialized, patient-centered care in managing complex gastrointestinal sequelae. Findings aim to inform future cancer rehabilitation efforts by identifying effective treatment modalities and improving our understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying these sequelae.

The summary is written by the PhD student.

The defence is public and takes place in auditorium C114-101, Aarhus University Hospital. Please see the press release for more information. 

Contact

PhD student Mira Mekhael
Mail: au337005@uni.au.dk 
Phone: +4526213506 

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