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The rectum is a part of the body’s digestive system and the last part of the large intestine. Rectal cancer occurs when cells in the rectum turn malignant (or cancerous). The exact cause of rectal cancer is unknown, but it is seen more commonly in older adults, usually over 50 years. Some factors that increase your risk for rectal cancer include:
Family history of colon or rectal cancer
The individual history of colon or ovarian cancer
Medical history of Crohn’s disease
Having three or more drinks a day
Smoking
Obesity
There are four primary types of rectal cancers– adenocarcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, lymphoma and carcinoid tumours, and over 90% of rectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. Rectal cancer life expectancy depends upon the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis, its spread, and the patient’s overall health. When detected in the early stages, rectal cancer has a good prognosis.
In its early stages, rectal cancer does not cause any symptoms. Few early symptoms as rectal cancer advances are changes in bowel movements (diarrhoea or constipation), rectal bleeding or blood in the stool.
Other symptoms of rectal cancer include:
In advanced stages (stage 3 and stage 4 rectal cancer) when cancer has spread to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:
Since some of these signs and symptoms may also be seen in haemorrhoids, you must consult your doctor for further evaluation.
If your doctor suspects rectal cancer based on your symptoms, medical and family
history, and physical examination, they may recommend the following tests:
The doctor inserts a well-lubricated, gloved finger inside the rectum to check for
abnormal growths or lumps.
This procedure uses a thin, tube-like instrument to look inside the colon and the rectum for abnormalities or growth. The procedure also allows for collecting any abnormal tissue sample for analysis.
Carcinoembryonic antigen assay or CEA assay measures the CEA level (a protein released by cells) in the blood. Though CEA is released by both normal and cancer cells, its increased levels may indicate cancer.
A biopsy is usually performed to confirm a rectal cancer diagnosis. A sample of the abnormal tissue from the rectum is collected and sent for laboratory analysis. This tissue sample also helps in staging and grading rectal cancer.
Your symptoms and diagnostic tests results help your doctor
Standard rectal cancer treatment options include – surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The choice of treatment will depend upon the sage of your cancer and its spread. For stage 1 rectal cancers that are localised and have not spread outside the rectal lining, surgery is the primary treatment.
Stage 2 rectal cancers have spread beyond the rectal walls into nearby tissues. So, these cases are usually treated using a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Stage 3 rectal cancers have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but no distant spread is observed. This stage of rectal cancer is treated similarly to stage 2 cancers, but the order of treatments used may differ in every patient.
Stage 4 rectal cancer is characterised by spreading cancer cells to distant sites in the body, including the lungs or the liver. Though many people panic about chemotherapy and rectal cancer side effects, it is one of the primary treatment choices to manage stage 4 rectal cancer.
In advanced cancers that are widespread, different treatment options aim to relieve patients’ symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Getting diagnosed with rectal cancer can make you anxious and question everything around you. It’s natural to feel this way. Accepting the diagnosis and choosing the best rectal cancer treatment options can be challenging. If you are unsure about your cancer diagnosis or need more clarity on your rectal cancer, speak to your doctor about getting a second opinion.
If you need to speak with an expert in rectal cancer or need a second opinion with a specialist, we are here to help you. Contact us today!
If your doctor suspects rectal cancer based on your symptoms, medical and family
history, and physical examination, they may recommend the following tests:
The doctor inserts a well-lubricated, gloved finger inside the rectum to check for
abnormal growths or lumps.
This procedure uses a thin, tube-like instrument to look inside the colon and the rectum for abnormalities or growth. The procedure also allows for collecting any abnormal tissue sample for analysis.
Carcinoembryonic antigen assay or CEA assay measures the CEA level (a protein released by cells) in the blood. Though CEA is released by both normal and cancer cells, its increased levels may indicate cancer.
A biopsy is usually performed to confirm a rectal cancer diagnosis. A sample of the abnormal tissue from the rectum is collected and sent for laboratory analysis. This tissue sample also helps in staging and grading rectal cancer.
Your symptoms and diagnostic tests results help your doctor
Standard rectal cancer treatment options include – surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The choice of treatment will depend upon the sage of your cancer and its spread. For stage 1 rectal cancers that are localised and have not spread outside the rectal lining, surgery is the primary treatment.
Stage 2 rectal cancers have spread beyond the rectal walls into nearby tissues. So, these cases are usually treated using a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Stage 3 rectal cancers have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but no distant spread is observed. This stage of rectal cancer is treated similarly to stage 2 cancers, but the order of treatments used may differ in every patient.
Stage 4 rectal cancer is characterised by spreading cancer cells to distant sites in the body, including the lungs or the liver. Though many people panic about chemotherapy and rectal cancer side effects, it is one of the primary treatment choices to manage stage 4 rectal cancer.
In advanced cancers that are widespread, different treatment options aim to relieve patients’ symptoms and improve their quality of life.