Here's a summary for lay persons who have experienced personally or in their entourage a rectal cancer condition and have had the curiosity to go through some of the medical literature(whence the jargon!): If after colonoscopy Confirmed by scans:PET or CT Plus MRI to give a mark You are diagnosed with a LARC Then you'll have to take CRT That's Chemo-Radiotherapy Six weeks of it, plus six weeks more You'll have to repeat as before! And notwithstanding cCR You'll have to undergo a LAR With a protective ostomy: The pouch will leak, but don't worry The lab will find, a little late, That's pCR, but it's your fate! Then the ostomy is reversed, With open wound, which will be nursed And, at last, you shit from your arse! But be aware, you're stuck with LARS!

What is considered a “smaller tumor” ??

In a nutshell: LARC>>> LAR >>>> LARS!