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. 2023 Jul;25(7):1489-1497.
doi: 10.1111/codi.16592. Epub 2023 May 1.

Patient and multidisciplinary team perspectives on watch and wait in rectal cancer

Helen Mohan  1   2   3 , Mohammed Rabie  2 , Ciaran Walsh  4 , Deena Harji  2 , Paul Sutton  5 , Ian Geh  4 , Ian Jackson  6 , Emma Helbren  7 , Martyn Evans  4 , John T Jenkins  1   4
Affiliations

Patient and multidisciplinary team perspectives on watch and wait in rectal cancer

Helen Mohan et al. Colorectal Dis. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

This article adopts a multidisciplinary approach, including surgery, oncology, radiology and patient perspectives, to discuss the key points of debate surrounding a watch and wait approach. In an era of shared decision-making, discussion of watch and wait as an option in the context of complete clinical response is appropriate, although it is not the gold standard treatment. Key challenges are the difficulty in assessing for a complete clinical response, prediction of recurrence and access to timely diagnostics for surveillance. Salvage surgery has good results if regrowth is detected early but does have imperfect outcomes, with only a 90% salvage rate. Good communication with patients about the risks and alternatives is essential. Patients undergoing watch and wait should ideally be enrolled in prospective registries or clinical trials.

Keywords: complete response; organ preservation; rectal cancer; watch and wait.

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References

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