RADIATION therapy has saved the lives of millions of people with cancer, but it can have some distressing side effects.
Therapy can damage the rectum and impair its ability to expand as it fills, leading to incontinence.
Loss of compliance to the rectum is very difficult to treat— but that could soon change.
Sydney Colorectal Associates is conducting the world's first randomised control trial of vitamin A in people with radiation proctitis.
Colorectal surgeon Denis King and clinical nurse consultant Vicki Patton are conducting the trial at Hurstville Private and St George hospitals.
Radiation proctitis is the name given to epithelial damage to the rectum following treatment of pelvic malignancy.
It affects one in every five to 10 men who have had radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
Professor King said if vitamin A was shown to work, it could be adopted immediately as a treatment.
He said vitamin A was readily available, inexpensive, and not covered by patents.
Ninety people who have had prostate or cervical cancer are being sought for trial being funded by the Bupa Health Foundation.
Registration: St George Hospital anorectal physiology lab, 9113 2272 or 9113 2715.