Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA landmark clinical trial has revealed that around 80 per cent of early-stage rectal cancer patients could avoid radical surgery and keep their rectum using chemoradiotherapy. Currently, around 4,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with early-stage rectal cancer annually and typically undergo radical surgery that can leave them with a permanent stoma. The trial evaluated over 500 patients across five countries, comparing traditional radical surgery against shorter radiotherapy courses and a five-week chemoradiotherapy regimen. Findings published in The Lancet Oncology showed that five weeks of chemoradiotherapy, alongside localised surgery when needed, was the most effective approach to avoid removing the rectum. Researchers will monitor patients for three years to assess long-term survival and recurrence rates, with experts hoping the treatment will soon become standard care. In fullBowel cancer patients spared major surgery after ‘life-changing’ trialMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Why thousands of bowel cancer patients could be spared life-altering surgery
Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA landmark clinical trial has revealed that around 80 per cent of early-stage rectal cancer patients could avoid radical surgery and keep their rectum using chemoradiotherapy. Currently, around 4,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with early-stage rectal cancer annually and typically undergo radical surgery that can leave them with a permanent stoma. The trial evaluated over 500 patients across five countries, comparing traditional radical surgery against shorter radiotherapy courses and a five-week chemoradiotherapy regimen. Findings published in The Lancet Oncology showed that five weeks of chemoradiotherapy, alongside localised surgery when needed, was the most effective approach to avoid removing the rectum. Researchers will monitor patients for three years to assess long-term survival and recurrence rates, with experts hoping the treatment will soon become standard care. In fullBowel cancer patients spared major surgery after ‘life-changing’ trialMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
