Comment on the editorial of Sautter-Bihl et al. in Strahlentherapie und Onkologie 2013 189:105–110

Adenocarcinomas of the upper third of the rectum and the rectosigmoid junction seem to have similar prognosis as colon cancers even without radiotherapy, SAKK 40/87

“…It can be concluded that only few patients seem to benefit from radiotherapy, but all are subject to the risk of the correlated short-and long-term side effects [6] with low numbers needed to harm (NNH). These are fecal incontinence (NNH, 7) [7], (male) genital dysfunction (NNH, 4) [8], urinary incontinence (NNH, 6) [9], anal blood loss (NNH, 13) [7], and mucus loss (NNH,8) [7].…”