SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF LOCALLY RECURRENT RECTAL-CANCER

The surgical management of locally recurrent rectal cancer may involve major procedures and is not for the faint-hearted. Nevertheless, such treatment is preferable to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; the latter will fail over a period of months during which the patient is likely t o experience intractable pain. Radical surgery offers good palliation and a better quality of life. Survival is prolonged by such operations which may be curative in up to one-third of patients. Nevertheless, s urgeons must be realistic in their assessment of and discussions with patients.