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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can spare many patients with rectal cancer from invasive surgery that can carry lifelong side effects, research indicates. The findings indicate that MRI can predict patient outcomes and the risk of the tumor recurring or spreading for patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation. That information could be extremely useful in determining the best course of treatment and deciding whether a patient can avoid surgery in favor of a "watch and wait" approach, the researchers say. "Now we have a powerful tool to help patients and their doctors predict who would benefit from surgery after initial...

A new treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer shows favorable results in that surgery can sometimes be avoided completely. It also reduces the risk of recurrence. Rectal cancer affects around 2,000 people in Sweden every year. Of these, a third have a high risk of recurrence. Patients often first receive radiotherapy or a combination of radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy for five weeks, followed by surgery and usually an additional round of chemotherapy for up to six months. A study shows that it is possible to double the chance of eliminating the need to surgically remove part of the bowel if...

On October 10, the world's first randomized study on using colonoscopy-screening to prevent colorectal cancer was presented. "Colonoscopy unfortunately is not a miracle cure for colorectal cancer. According to our study, it probably is not better than the fecal samples," says Michael Bretthauer. Previously, experts have assumed that the effect of using colonoscopy to detect colorectal cancer is higher than using fecal samples. Researchers have assumed that up to 9 out of 10 colorectal cancer cases can be prevented using colonoscopy. With fecal samples the same is assumed to be 2–3 out of 10 cases. In the study 1.2% of...

Based on survival rates at 5 years for stage III-IV CRC, the results showed a significant 11.9% increase in deaths when comparing a 0-3 month delay to a >12 month delay. New research presented today at UEG Week Virtual 2020 has shown that delays in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening caused by COVID-19 has resulted in significantly increased death rates for the cancer. Researchers at the University of Bologna produced a model to forecast the impact of time delays in CRC screening on CRC mortality caused by COVID-19. The results found that moderate (7-12 months) and large (>12 months) delays in...

REPORTED BOOTED OUT OF SEAN PENN EVENTA Yeas & Nays reporter (Tara Palmeri) was publicly berated and threatened to be escorted out by police on Thursday night when the reporter asked actor Sean Penn a question about his humanitarian work in Haiti. Penn, who recently has been criticized for his motivations in helping to rebuilding Haiti, recently told CBS News he hopes his critics "die screaming of rectal cancer." Members of the media were invited to a gala hosted at the Washington Hebrew Congregation and were allowed to ask one question each of the actor in a closed-door news briefing....