Today, the life expectancy and quality of life for many bowel cancer patients is far greater than it was just 10 years ago. Eighty percent of cases can be successfully treated if diagnosed in time, often by surgery.
- Surgery: the quality of surgery and surgical skills are constantly evolving and Pelican, with associated surgeons, have been at the forefront of innovation in pelvic surgery and precision treatment. Pelican has run four national development programmes for colorectal cancer specialists. These have included thousands of people either in Basingstoke or at lecture theatres around the UK and Ireland:
- 2003 – 2007: MDT TME National Development Programme (promoting precision bowel cancer surgery)
- 2011 – 2014: LOREC – Low Rectal Cancer Development Programme
- 2015 – 2017: SPECC – Significant Polyp and Early Colorectal Cancer Development Programme
- 2018 – 2020: Pelican IMPACT – Improving the Management for Patients with Advanced Colorectal Tumours
- Since 2002, Pelican has invested over £2m in medical research for bowel, liver, bladder and prostate cancer. Our first major research project, MERCURY, assessed the role of MRI in accurately detecting and planning surgery for bowel cancer. Pelican has championed this use of MRI through its courses – and today it is recommended best practice for rectal cancer patients to have an MRI before surgery in the UK.
- Since 2001, more than 8,000 clinicians have attended Pelican training courses and meetings. Pelican has hosted several crucial meetings for surgeons, including several Guidelines Meetings, contributing to setting a national standard for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
