{
  "id": 2968276,
  "title": "New treatment helps patients with rectal cancer avoid major surgery and side effects",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/new-treatment-helps-patients-with-rectal-cancer-avoid-major-surgery",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-24T07:00:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Cancer Research UK",
    "slug": "cancer-research-uk",
    "url": "https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2026/08/24/new-treatment-helps-patients-with-rectal-cancer-avoid-major-surgery-and-side-effects/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A groundbreaking trial has revealed a new treatment for early-stage rectal cancer, potentially eliminating the need for major surgery and its associated side effects. Rectal cancer, a form of bowel cancer, often necessitates the removal of the entire rectum, leading to long-lasting issues such as bowel dysfunction, sexual complications, and the necessity of a permanent colostomy bag. The STAR-TREC trial, funded by Cancer Research UK and Stand Up To Cancer, has shown that chemoradiotherapy combined with minor surgery, when necessary, allows 80% of patients to preserve their rectum and avoid significant side effects.\n\nParticipants in the trial, conducted by researchers from UCL, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Leeds, were divided into two groups. One group underwent five weeks of chemoradiotherapy, while the other group received five days of radiotherapy. Following a year, the research team discovered that the chemoradiotherapy group experienced fewer instances requiring radical surgery and had minimal side effects, in comparison to the radiotherapy-only group.\n\nMichelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, emphasized the potential life-changing impact of this treatment. Brian, a 69-year-old from Birmingham, was among the 4,100 people annually diagnosed with early-stage rectal cancer in England. Initially, Brian assumed he had hemorrhoids, but a biopsy confirmed the presence of rectal cancer. Brian was one of over 500 patients recruited for the STAR-TREC trial. He opted to participate after discussing the potential outcomes with his consultant, who explained that surgery was highly likely to leave him with a permanent colostomy bag.\n\nBrian underwent five days of intensive radiotherapy as part of the trial and experienced minimal side effects beyond nausea and some lower back pain. The trial compared traditional surgical methods with the organ-preserving treatment approaches, finding that five weeks of chemoradiotherapy was more effective than the other two methods. After a year, the research team observed that patients who received five weeks of chemoradiotherapy were less likely to require major surgery and had minimal side effects.\n\nDavid Sebag-Montefiore, co-chief investigator of STAR-TREC and Professor of Clinical Oncology at the University of Leeds, expressed satisfaction with the results, stating that the treatment could allow patients to avoid the need for major surgery. The research team will continue to monitor patients for the next three years to assess the long-term effects and survival rates. Current data indicates that Brian, who completed the trial, has shown no signs of cancer recurrence, as confirmed by CT scans, MRI scans, and endoscopies.\n\nBrian expressed his gratitude for the trial and its positive impact on his quality of life. He remains an avid supporter of clinical trials, believing that success stories like his would not be possible without ongoing research into more effective and less invasive treatments.",
  "summary": "A landmark Cancer Research UK-funded trial suggests 4 in 5 people with early-stage rectal cancer could avoid major surgery and life-changing side effects. The post New treatment helps patients with rectal cancer avoid major surgery and side effects appeared first on Cancer Research UK - Cancer News .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}