PhD Defence Barbara Melissa Geubels

Keywords: Rectal cancer, organ preservation, surgical oncology, radiotherapy, Watch-and-Wait 
 

"Expanding Organ Preservation Strategies in Rectal Cancer"

This thesis developed a framework for expanding organ preservation strategies in patients with rectal cancer to avoid the need for a stoma and extensive surgery. It has been demonstrated that the broad implementation of a Watch-and-Wait approach, rather than major surgery, is safe for patients with a good response to neoadjuvant treatment. Additionally, for patients with a small residual tumor, further organ-preserving treatments, such as minor surgery or additional radiation, are available. Even in cases of rectal cancer regrowth, options remain to avoid a stoma or to conduct additional imaging before proceeding with major surgery 

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