Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University offers an alternative treatment option for locally advanced rectal cancer that has shown impressive results and improved patient quality of life. With the watch and wait approach, the patient is given chemotherapy and radiation, followed by close monitoring. If the cancer responds to these treatments, surgical resection may not be needed, thus preserving the rectum and avoiding the need for a stoma and colostomy bag. It has been observed that around half of eligible patients treated first with chemotherapy and radiation experience a complete clinical response.
