When Ernest Miles performed abdomino-perineal excision for rectal cancer in the early 1900s, the operative mortality was around 50% and long term cancer outcomes were not even mentioned! With improved postoperative care, cancer outcomes became more important – and there was an increasing awareness of the role of surgical technique in achieving cure. In fact,
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Over many years at Royal Melbourne Hospital, I have been fortunate to have had a strong research collaboration with medical oncologist Prof Peter Gibbs. Back in 2003, we established a comprehensive database on all of our Colorectal Cancer (CRC) patients treated at RMH and Melbourne Private Hospital and now have data on several thousand patients
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Every day we hear stories of developments in and new treatments for cancer and this especially applies to breast cancer and prostate cancer. And yet bowel cancer is the second commonest cancer in Australia (more common than breast and cervical cancer combined) Unfortunately bowel cancer is also the second highest cause of cancer related
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People often ask me how awareness of a disease can improve outcomes. In the case of bowel cancer, the answer is simple – early diagnosis of bowel cancer means excellent cure rates. As an example of how this can work, 90% of Australian women now participate in breast cancer screening and the result is that
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