A new less invasive treatment is safer than standard major surgery for early-stage rectal cancer, giving patients a better quality of life with fewer life-altering side effects, a pilot study shows.
New research involving the University of Leeds shows that a combination of local keyhole surgery and radiotherapy, rather than major surgery that removes the whole rectum, prevents debilitating side effects, such as diarrhoea, or the need for a colostomy bag.
Patients reported a better quality of life with the new treatment, with less impact on their family and social life, and felt more positive about their body image and the way their bowels work.
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IMAGE: The equipment for transanal endoscopic microsurgery is geared towards small and precise operations, and includes a camera, electrical knife, grasping forceps and suction device. view more
Credit: STAR TREC clinical trial.
A new and less invasive treatment developed by Cancer Research UK researchers is safer than standard major surgery for early-stage rectal cancer, giving patients a better quality of life with fewer life-altering side effects, results from a pilot study show.
Results from the TREC trial show that a combination of local keyhole surgery and radiotherapy, rather than major surgery that removes the whole rectum, prevents debilitating side effects, such as diarrhoea, or the need for a permanent colostomy bag.