Some Rectal Cancer Patients May Be Able to Avoid Surgery
- New research suggests that some rectal cancer patients might be able to avoid surgery with the “watch and wait” protocol if initial chemotherapy is successful.
- Over forty thousand Americans are diagnosed with rectal cancer every year, and new treatment approaches like “watch and wait” could supplement existing treatments like colostomies.
- Rectal cancer can be prevented with regular colonoscopies. Knowing when to get started could save your life.
“A small percent [of colorectal cancer patients] present with incurable disease – these patients may have been cured after surgery or surgery and chemotherapy and are now incurable,” warns Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine and SurvivorNet medical advisor.
Read MoreThe research also claims that this monitoring period might be as short as one to three years, saying that, after a single year with no regrowth, the risk of rectal cancer recurring or spreading drops dramatically.
Related: Colorectal Cancer Is On The Rise in Young Adults Here's What We Know
“Our results suggest that achieving a complete clinical recovery and sustaining it for one year is the most relevant protective factor in patients with rectal cancer, placing them in an excellent prognostic stage,” concluded Dr. Laura FernaÌndez, the study’s lead author.
Deciding When to Operate on Colon Cancer
Ultimately, the “watch and wait” protocol is a treatment option that those fighting rectal cancer should discuss with their medical team. Colorectal oncologists like Dr. Yeo can help patients weigh the benefits and risks of this approach and craft the best treatment plan for them.
“This is an important conversation to have with patients. We shouldn’t give false hope, as 30% of patients do not respond to these treatments and may not have salvage as an option,” Dr. Yeo tells SurvivorNet. “Those that do are taking a risk of losing an opportunity for cure (a low risk, but one that still should be discussed).”
What is Rectal Cancer?
Rectal cancer occurs when cancerous cells form in the tissue of the rectum, the lower part of the large intestine. Over forty thousand Americans are diagnosed with this disease every year.
Colon cancer and rectal cancer are closely related, as both the colon and rectum are part of the large intestine and both diseases share some symptoms. However, there are important differences between the two: rectal cancer is much more likely to spread throughout the body and to return after treatment than colon cancer.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are often used as the first line of attack against rectal cancer, eliminating cancerous cells with the tumor. Doctors then typically perform surgical resection to remove the tumor from your body, although new approaches like the “watch and wait” protocol are becoming increasingly commonplace.
“These findings support the idea that watch and wait is becoming more mainstream,” Dr. Yeo tells SurvivorNet, “meaning more surgeons/oncologists have protocols that they follow and are able to manage these patients in a reasonable and safe way.”
What to Know About Colostomies
A small percentage of people diagnosed with rectal cancer will need to have a colostomy, which is a surgery that reroutes waste from your colon through an opening in your abdomen into an external pouch.
This is not always permanent: some colorectal cancer patients can have the procedure reversed after the rectum heals from resection. For others, having a colostomy bag simply becomes a new normal.
Francine Susco never thought she’d be able to handle a colostomy bag after her surgery for colon cancer. But with time and patience, she was able to overcome her fears and thrive in her new normal.
“The fact that I was able to hand it and dress with it and cover it; I began to embrace it,” she told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. “It’s manageable one day at a time.”
"I Began to Embrace it": How One Survivor Learned to Live with a Colostomy Bag
Catching Colorectal Cancers
Colorectal cancers can be detected with a colonoscopy, which is a test that uses a camera attached to a long, thin tube to check for polyps (small abnormal growths) throughout your colon and rectum.
Related: You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment”: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
By removing these polyps before they become cancerous, doctors can actually prevent colon and rectal cancer before they happen.
Most experts agree that you should take a colonoscopy every ten years beginning at age 45, while those with a family history should get tested earlier and those who have already had it should be tested more frequently.
Knowing the symptoms of colorectal cancer are critical to catching the disease early. Consult with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool
- Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
- Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
- Weakness or fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
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