Additional research

If you have previously had surgery as part of your treatment for colorectal cancer, samples of the cancer cells will have been stored in the hospital laboratory where tissue is studied (pathology department). If you take part in the FOCUS trial, the research team will ask your permission to retrieve some of that stored tissue in the future, so that they can learn even more about colorectal cancer. The research will involve extracting DNA (the code that controls the development of your body cells) and certain chemicals from the tumour. This is to see whether it is possible to predict which patients may benefit the most from each treatment. This type of research is anonymous, meaning that neither you nor your relatives will be identified in any way. These studies will not affect your treatment. You are free to decide not to take part in this part of the FOCUS trial. If you do so this will not affect your participation in the main part of the trial or your relationship with your doctor.

The FOCUS trial will also look at the cost-effectiveness of the different treatment plans being tested. As well as looking at medical and hospital costs it will also look at the costs to patients (travel costs and lost time at work). This information will be used to help cancer services obtain the funding to give patients the best and most cost-effective treatment.

As part of this, you will be asked to complete short questionnaires on your use of health services. You will also be asked to fill in a questionnaire about the cost and time taken to visit the hospital and time away from your usual activities.