Laparoscopic Surgery or Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery in Treating Patients With Rectal Cancer That Can Be Removed By Surgery

Inclusion

* Able to provide written informed consent
* Diagnosis of rectal cancer amenable to curative surgery either by anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection (i.e. staged T1-3, N0-2, M0 by CT and MRI or transrectal ultrasound)
* Rectal cancer suitable for resection by either standard or robotic-assisted laparoscopic procedure
* Fit for robotic-assisted or standard laparoscopic rectal resection
* ASA =\< 3
* Capable of completing required questionnaires at time of consent

Exclusion

* Benign lesions of the rectum
* Cancers of the anal canal
* Locally advanced cancers not amenable to curative surgery
* Locally advanced cancers requiring en bloc multi-visceral resection
* Synchronous colorectal tumours requiring multi-segment surgical resection
* Co-existent inflammatory bowel disease
* Clinical or radiological evidence of metastatic spread
* Concurrent or previous diagnosis of invasive cancer within 5 years that could confuse diagnosis (non-melanomatous skin cancer or superficial bladder cancer treated with curative intent are acceptable; for other cases please discuss with Chief Investigator via CTRU)
* History of psychiatric or addictive disorder or other medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude the patient from meeting the trial requirements
* Pregnancy
* Participation in another rectal cancer clinical trial relating to surgical technique