Radiation therapy for rectal cancer in older adults
Part of Cancer, Digestive system clinical trials.
This trial studies a special type of radiation therapy for older adults with rectal cancer who are not able or willing to have surgery. It combines external beam radiation with a short, focused radiation treatment inside the rectum (brachytherapy) to try to control the cancer while avoiding the risks of surgery.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You are 70 years or older
- You have a confirmed diagnosis of rectal cancer (cancer starting in the rectum)
- You are 70+ and have a frailty score that suggests you're not fit for major surgery, or you have other health conditions that make surgery risky, or you've chosen not to have surgery
- You have a life expectancy of at least 6 months
- The cancer is in the rectum and has not spread to distant organs (like the liver or lungs)
- You are not currently receiving other cancer treatments and do not have another active cancer (except certain skin cancers or early-stage cervical cancer)
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
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