Purpose
Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors face significant challenges after completing treatment, including returning to work, concerns about the future, and financial difficulties. Understanding how inner strength developed after treatment affects survivors’ lives is crucial for informing patient-centered care. This study explored the unique inner strength exhibited by CRC survivors during their transition to a “new normal.” Methods: We recruited 16 patients from Korea who had completed treatment, to explore their experiences of managing their health. We conducted a qualitative study from July 4, 2022 to July 25, 2022 using individual interviews and directed content analysis. Transcribed interview data were analyzed to interpret meaning from the data, consistent with the naturalistic paradigm. Results: Participants described their transition to a new normal by reframing the cancer experience, struggling to return to normal life, experiencing growth promoted by supportive relationships, and encountering both positive and negative life changes. Throughout these experiences as survivors, inner strength played a critical role in adapting to a new normal. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that inner strength serves as a dynamic psychological resource, enabling CRC survivors to reframe their illness, regain disrupted roles, and reconstruct a meaningful life despite ongoing physical and emotional challenges. In doing so, inner strength facilitates their adaptation to a new normal.

Purpose
This study investigated differences in inner strength, multiple identities, and quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors, considering gender and the presence of an ostomy. It also focused on identifying factors that influenced their quality of life.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, 170 colorectal cancer survivors were recruited. Inner strength, multiple identities, and quality of life were assessed through an online survey. Within each subgroup, comparisons were made in two ways: (a) between women and men; and (b) between ostomy and non-ostomy groups.
Results
The quality of life for colorectal cancer survivors was higher among men than women. For inner strength, men reported higher levels of anguish and searching, whereas women showed higher levels of connectedness. The quality of life was higher in the non-ostomy group than the ostomy group. However, the non-ostomy group had a higher level of anguish and searching than the ostomy group. Inner strength emerged as the most powerful factor influencing quality of life after adjusting for age and gender.
Conclusion
This study emphasizes the significance of inner strength in colorectal cancer survivors. It provides a deeper understanding of quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors by examining factors that influence it and considering how these effects differ based on gender and the presence of an ostomy. To improve the quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors, it is essential to comprehend the roles of factors such as gender and ostomy and develop individualized interventions tailored to their specific characteristics.

Citations

• The Role of Inner Strength in Korean Colorectal Cancer Survivors on the Journey from Treatment to New Normal: A Qualitative Study
  Hannah Yu, Eunjung Ryu
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2025; 37(3): 332.     CrossRef
• Cultural Adaptation of a Web-Based Ostomy Care Intervention for Hispanic Cancer Patients and Caregivers: A Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
  Xiaomeng Wang, Lixin Song, Amy Vondenberger, Fei Yu, Jia Liu, Roxana Delgado, Robert Svatek,  Natalia Villegas Rodriguez, Lurheinna Rosado Rivera, Mark Bonnen
  JMIR Cancer.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef