Rectal Cancer

What is Rectal Cancer?

Rectal cancer is a type of cancer that forms when malignant cancer cells form in the rectum. Rectal cancer is classified into five different stages, which are determined by how much the cancer has spread to areas other than the rectum. Rectal cancer can be localized to only the inner layers of the rectum, but can eventually spread to other organs in the body such as the lungs or ovaries. Like most other forms of cancer, the cancerous cells continue to multiply even when new cells are unnecessary. The result of the growing cells is tumors, which can then spread into the blood stream and surrounding tissues.

Rectal Cancer Statistics

There are about 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer diagnosed each year, with only a handful more being men. It is estimated that about 1 in every 6500 people in the United States will develop rectal cancer sometime in their life, but the majority of them will survive. About half of the patients treated for rectal cancer survive the disease, but the survival rates depend greatly on the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. About 15% of reported cases are stage 1, which is the easiest stage of the disease to treat. Stage 2 diagnoses are normally about 20 to 30% of reported cases, and stage 3 has almost 40%. The remaining stage, stage 4, accounts for about 25% of cases that are very rarely completely cured.

Causes of Rectal Cancer

The causes of rectal cancer are related to either the environment or hereditary. Exposure to certain chemicals and other agents in the environment induce the mutation of certain cells, which eventually multiply can cause cancer to form. Rectal cancer is more common in industrialized nations that experience pollution and many other carcinogens in the air, and also because of poor diet habits that occur in these areas. Rectal cancer has been linked to diets that are high in fat, red meat, high calories, and high alcohol consumption. Diets that are high in fiber can help to prevent rectal cancer from occurring, since fiber can keep several carcinogens from coming in contact with the lining in the rectum. Age also plays a role in the development of rectal cancer, and rectal cancer is very rare in patients who are less than 40 years of age. Patients who suffer from ulcerative colitis are at an increased risk, along with those who smoke tobacco on a regular basis.

What Are the Symptoms of Rectal Cancer?

Most symptoms that are associated with rectal cancer occur when a tumor is present in the affected area. Bright red blood present in the stool is the most common symptom, and can also be accompanied by bloating and the inability to have a bowel movement. Pelvic pain, sudden unexplained weight loss, and narrowing of the stool can also occur in the early stages of the cancer. Persistent chronic fatigue can also occur when rectal cancer is present, and is mostly due to the lack of healthy cells in the rectums. During the later stages of rectal cancer, men may experience urinary infections and the passage of air in urine. Women rarely experience the passage of stool through their vagina, and it is normally a symptom that occurs once the disease has had plenty of time to progress.

Treatment for Rectal Cancer

After the diagnosis has been confirmed by a biopsy and ultrasound, the stage of the cancer is assigned. The staging method is used for physicians to determine the best treatment plan, and can also give a statistical likelihood of the treatment outcome. The most common form of treatment for earlier stages of rectal cancer is surgery, which is usually followed by radiation in order to kill off any remaining cells. Chemotherapy and radiation are also used for earlier stages, but more commonly used once the disease has had a chance to spread to other areas of the body. Chemotherapy is the best option for those with later stages of the disease, since it can treat specific areas where tumors cannot be reached with surgery.

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