Follow-up and aftercare services for people affected by colorectal cancer should place more emphasis on aspects of patient needs (such as quality of life, lifestyle advice, psychosocial issues, information needs and self-management) in making the transition into the survivorship period. Nurses have a key role to play in this. Nurse-led models of follow-up may be favourable in providing information tailored towards patient needs and outcomes; more research is needed in this area to determine feasibility, acceptability and impact on outcomes.