Bowel Function in Survivors of Rectal Cancer Managed with Watch-and-Wait Versus Surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer is associated with long-term bowel dysfunction, yet data on outcomes in patients managed with watch-and-wait is limited. This study compared bowel function in rectal cancer survivors managed with watch-and-wait versus sphincter-preserving surgery and evaluated the performance of two instruments: the Memorial Sloan Kettering Bowel Function Instrument (MSK-BFI) and the Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) score within each cohort.

Patients and methods

In this cross-sectional study, rectal cancer survivors treated with long-course chemoradiotherapy between 2011 and 2019 at Flinders Medical Centre were recruited. Participants without stomas completed the MSK-BFI, LARS, and comorbidity questionnaires. Demographics and cl

SUBMITTER: Vatandoust S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12835014 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature