In a nutshell This study investigated the association between palliative surgery (a treatment that reduces pain without curing the disease) and quality of life in colorectal patients with incurable metastasis (cancer has spread to other parts of the body). Researchers reported that surgery led to an improved quality of life in these...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the impact of surgery in patients with stage 4 (spread to other areas of the body) colorectal cancer who were treated with chemotherapy. Researchers reported that surgery increased survival in these patients. Some background Prior studies have reported increased survival in patients with stage 4...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the safety of localized surgery compared with total mesorectal excision (TME; bowel and lymph nodes around the tumor are removed) in early stages (0 and 1) of rectal cancer. Researchers reported that localized surgery is as efficient as TME in early stages of rectal cancer. Some background Chemotherapy...
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In a nutshell This study looked at the usefulness of measuring the levels of a certain type of white blood cell in cancer tissue as a method of predicting the progression of rectal cancer. Some background Neoadjuvant therapy is when patients are given an initial treatment before their main cancer treatment. For example,...
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In a nutshell This paper examined the short- and long-term benefits of keyhole surgery compared to open surgery. Some background Laparoscopic surgery (also known as keyhole surgery) is surgery where one or more small cuts are made in the skin. This type of surgery leads to faster recovery times, better cosmetic results and fewer...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether levels of microRNA-21 could predict the patient response to chemo-radiotherapy delivered before they had surgery. Some background Almost a third of colorectal cancer is rectal cancer. The treatment for this cancer which has started to spread is a combination of chemotherapy,...
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In a nutshell This study looked at two different types of surgery: single port and multi-port surgery and compared the outcomes of each for colorectal cancer patients. Some background Studies have shown that surgical removal of tumors via a surgical method known as laparoscopic surgery is beneficial. Laparoscopic surgery is sometimes called...
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In a nutshell This study compared the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (where a few small cuts are made in the skin) and open surgery (where one or more larger cuts are made) combined with a specialized recovery program after surgery. Some background When compared with open surgery, laparoscopic surgery leads to...
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In a nutshell This study looked at the changes in the condition of patients with colorectal cancer who had surgery to remove their tumors. Some background Studies have shown that surgical removal of tumors (known as resection) is associated with a positive outlook in survival for patients with colorectal cancer. This is true for patients...
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In a nutshell The authors examined the outcomes of rectal cancer patients after transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). Some background Cancers are often described in terms of grades and stages. The T grades of rectal cancer describe how far the cancer has spread through the layers of the rectum. A T1 grade indicates that the cancer has grown...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed the safety and efficacy of two treatment combinations for colorectal cancer patients who have liver invasion but who are not eligible for surgery. Some background For patients with colorectal cancer the cancer is most likely to invade the liver if it spreads. Surgery is the best treatment option if the cancer has...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study examined cancer relapse rates and treatment options for patients with colorectal lung metastases (colorectal cancer that has spread to the lungs) after curative lung surgery. Some background Roughly 20% of patients with colorectal cancer will have cancer in a distant organ by the time they are diagnosed. The cancer will...
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