• Startseite
• da Vinci Chirurgie
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED
• Chirurgen-Datenbank

• Startseite
• *
• *
• *
• DISPLAYNAME NOT DEFINED

• E-Mail
• Drucken

Rectal Cancer Treatment Options

The treatment choice depends mainly on the location of the tumor and the stage of the disease. Treatment may include one or more of the following: chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy or surgery. Surgery is the most common treatment for all stages of rectal cancer.

Your doctor can discuss your treatment options in detail, the expected side effects and results. You and your doctor can work together to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs. Generally treatment for rectal cancer may include:¹

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs enter the bloodstream and can affect cancer cells all over the body. Anticancer drugs are usually given through a vein, but some may be given by mouth. You may be treated as an out-patient, at the doctor's office, or at home. Rarely, a hospital stay may be needed.

The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the specific drugs and the dose. Side effects can include: infection, bruising or bleeding easily, fatigue, hair loss, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or mouth sores. Your health care team can suggest ways to control many of these side effects. Most side effects usually go away after treatment ends.

Biological Therapy

Some people with rectal cancer that has spread receive a monoclonal antibody - a type of biological therapy. The monoclonal antibodies bind to rectal cancer cells. They interfere with cancer cell growth and the spread of cancer. People receive monoclonal antibodies through a vein at the doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. Some people receive chemotherapy at the same time.

Side effects depend mainly on the monoclonal antibody used. Side effects may include rash, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blood pressure changes, bleeding, or breathing problems. Side effects usually become milder after the first treatment.

Radiation

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cancer cells only in the treated area. Doctors use different types of radiation therapy to treat cancer. Sometimes people receive two types:

External radiation:

This type of radiation comes from a machine. Treatment is given at a hospital or clinic five days a week for several weeks.

Internal radiation (implant radiation or brachytherapy):

The radiation comes from radioactive material placed in thin tubes put directly into or near the tumor. The patient stays in the hospital and the implants generally remain in place for several days. Usually they are removed before the patient goes home.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT):

This type of radiation is given during surgery.

Side effects depend mainly on the amount of radiation given and the part of your body that is treated. Radiation therapy to your abdomen and pelvis may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, or urgent bowel movements. It also may cause urinary problems, such as being unable to stop the flow of urine from the bladder; and your skin in the treated area may become red, dry, and tender.

You are likely to become very tired during radiation therapy, especially in the later weeks of treatment. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients to try to stay as active as they can. Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be distressing, your doctor can usually treat or control them. Also, side effects usually go away after treatment ends.

Surgery^1,3,4

Surgery is usually the main treatment for rectal cancer. There are two main options for rectal cancer surgery: a low anterior resection or an abdominal perineal resection.

Low anterior resection:

For cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes and is located in the upper, middle and possibly lower rectum, the surgeon can remove the diseased part of the rectum without affecting the anus. The colon is then attached to the remaining part of the rectum. This allows patients to move their bowels in the usual way and avoid colostomy (portion of large intestine brought through the abdomen to carry stool out of the body) bag. The hospital stay is usually 3 to 10 days, depending on the patient’s condition and the complexity of the surgery.

Abdominal perineal resection (AP):

This operation is more involved than a low anterior resection and may be used for cancers in the lower third of the rectum (the part nearest to the anus), especially if the cancer is growing into the sphincter muscle (muscle that keeps the anus closed and prevents stool leakage). The surgeon makes one incision in the abdomen, and another in the perineal area around the anus. This incision allows the surgeon to remove the anus, tissues surrounding it and sphincter muscle. Because the anus is removed, you will need a permanent colostomy to allow stool a path out of the body. The usual hospital stay is similar to the LAR procedure and varies depending on the patient’s conditions and the complexity of the surgery.

These operations – low anterior resection and abdominal perineal resection - can be done with open, laparoscopic or da Vinci surgery. Potential side effects of surgery depend on several things, including the extent of the operation and the patient’s health before surgery. Your health care team will monitor you for signs of bleeding, infection, or other problems requiring immediate treatment.

Open surgery:

The surgeon makes a large cut into your abdomen to access the colon, rectum and surrounding areas. Traditional open surgery is very invasive and typically involves more trauma to the body and a long recovery.

Laparoscopic Surgery

With laparoscopic surgery, your doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a small camera attached (laparoscope) to perform the operation. A few small incisions are made in your abdomen to access the colon, rectum and surrounding areas.

da Vinci® Surgery for Rectal Cancer

If your doctor recommends surgery to treat rectal cancer, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive da Vinci Surgery. Using the most advanced technology available, the da Vinci Surgical System enables your doctor to perform this delicate operation through a few tiny incisions with breakthrough vision, precision, dexterity and control. da Vinci Surgery offers rectal cancer patients many potential benefits, including:

da Vinci offers patients facing rectal cancer surgery (low anterior resection and APR) such potential benefits as:

• Excellent clinical outcomes for cancer control⁵
• Quick return of bowel function⁵
• Fast return to diet⁵
• Less blood loss⁶
• Shorter hospital stay⁶
• Fast recovery time⁵

The da Vinci System is a state-of-the-art surgical platform with 3D, high-definition vision and patented surgical instruments that takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand. By overcoming the challenges of traditional open and laparoscopic surgery, da Vinci is changing the experience of surgery for people around the world.

• The da Vinci Surgical System
• FAQs
• Am I A Candidate?
• Important Safety Information

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed since surgery is specific to each patient, condition and procedure. It is important to talk to your doctor about all treatment options, including the risks and benefits. This information can help you make the best decision for your situation.