Ground-breaking research has claimed that a new treatment plan for rectal cancer can cause tumours to ‘disappear completely’.
Scientists at Sweden’s Uppsala University have been uncovering revolutionary methods to fight against the disease, which NICE reports affects over 40,000 Brits annually.
The team’s findings suggest that with a specific treatment, patients may sidestep drastic bowel surgeries and even see their tumours disappear, while retaining essential bodily functions.
Professor Bengt Glimelius, who led the research, explained: “The tumour disappears completely more often, thereby increasing the chance of avoiding surgery and retaining normal rectum and rectal function. Moreover, there are fewer metastases [secondary malignant growths].”
Currently, the go-to treatment for rectal cancer often involves a combination of chemo and radiotherapy followed by partial bowel removal and further chemotherapy.
While effective in tumour removal, this method could lead to additional complications, possibly necessitating a colostomy bag – a pouch collecting waste through a skin opening.
Instead, scientists suggest using chemo and radiotherapies at the start, instead of sandwiching an operation. There’s potential this will lessen or even eliminate the need for surgical intervention.
Professor Glimelius continued: “If the tumour disappears completely during treatment, surgery is not required. This means that the rectum is preserved and the need for a stoma and a new rectum is eliminated.
“When part of the rectum is surgically removed, the new rectum does not quite understand that it should be able to refrain from frequently sending a signal to the brain that you need to use the toilet.”