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 ..