Comparing Quality of Life in Rectal Cancer Survivors Managed With Watch-and-Wait Versus Surgery.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A nonoperative (watch-and-wait) approach is increasingly accepted for patients with rectal cancer who achieve a complete clinical response to neoadjuvant treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of surgery-compared with a watch-and-wait strategy-on long-term quality of life among rectal cancer survivors following chemoradiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included survivors of resectable rectal cancer treated with long-course chemoradiotherapy between 2011 and 2019 at Flinders Medical Centre, Australia. Participants were categorized as sustained watch-and-wait, surgery after regrowth, or standard surgery after chemoradiotherapy. Patient-repor..