Prostate Cancer History Does Not Increase the Risk of Rectal Cancer Recurrence, suggests study

The study found no significant difference in overall mortality between men with and without a previous PC diagnosis. However, further analysis revealed that men with lower or intermediate-risk prostate cancer had a reduced overall mortality risk after rectal cancer surgery when compared to the patients without a PC diagnosis. Also, men with low- or intermediate-risk PC had a 21% lower overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–0.90), while the individuals with high-risk PC had a 15% lower mortality (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74–0.98).

There was no statistically significant difference in rectal cancer recurrence between men with a history of PC, regardless of risk level, and the individuals without prior prostate cancer. For men with low- or intermediate-risk PC, the recurrence risk was only slightly lower (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.74–1.14), while men with high-risk PC had a marginally lower recurrence rate, despite not being significant (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.52–1.01).

The study offers reassuring news for men with a history of prostate cancer who face rectal cancer surgery. Overall mortality rates were slightly lower for the individuals with prior PC, and no substantial difference was observed in cancer recurrence rates. These findings suggest that a history of prostate cancer does not negatively affect outcomes for rectal cancer patients, and in some cases, survival rates may be better.

Source:

Sverrisson, I., Smedh, K., Chabok, A., & Nikberg, M. (2024). The risk for rectal cancer recurrence and overall mortality is not increased in men previously diagnosed with prostate cancer: a report from the Swedish colorectal cancer registry. In International Journal of Colorectal Disease (Vol. 39, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-024-04710-y