Organ Preserving Approaches in the Treatment of Rectal Cancer

Organ Preserving Approaches in the Treatment of Rectal Cancer brings together the medical and surgical management of patients, by exploring organ preservation's history and evolution, the diagnostic techniques involved in identifying patients that have a good response to therapy, and the various techniques for enhancing complete responses to neoadjuvant therapies.

The book examines different methods for treating patients using an organ preservation approach, including "watch and wait" and local excision techniques, alongside discussions on quality of life, future developments, and methods for stratifying patients into this approach.

Leading experts from across the world offer insights into the management of rectal cancer beyond the standard surgical framework. They advocate for avoiding surgery when practical, including employing patient observation and monitoring when no cancer is detected following chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Oncologists, surgeons, and academics in the field will gain practical guidance on how to identify these patients, manage follow-up care, and what to do if this approach is unsuccessful.

Ben Creavin has completed a medical doctorate in the management of rectal cancer including organ preservation approaches. He is a keen academic with over 100 published papers and numerous book chapters.


Desmond (Des) Winter is a clinical professor and consultant surgeon with a special interest in gastrointestinal and minimally invasive surgery. He is the current Editor-in-Chief of British Journal of Surgery (BJS) and has been involved in journal publishing for 20 years. Des has published over 500 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and books.