Cancer cells lump together and form a mass of extra tissue, also known as a cancerous tumor. When cancer cells are present in the rectum, it's referred to as rectal cancer.
Since rectal cancer can grow for years without causing any symptoms, it's best to get regular colorectal cancer screenings. But, knowing what to look out for can't hurt. Examples of rectal cancer symptoms include thin stools, stomach cramping, bright red blood on your poop, and feeling like you have to "go" when you don't.
Being age 50 or older is the number one risk factor for colorectal cancer. Examples of things that researchers believe increase rectal cancer risk include alcohol, smoking, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity.
Surgery is the most common treatment method and is often combined with chemo/radiation to treat late-stage rectal cancer
Common signs and symptoms of rectal cancer include:
* A change in bowel habits
* Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
* Blood, either bright red or very dark in the stool
* Stools that are narrower than usual
* General abdominal discomfort such as frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness or cramps
* Weight loss with no known reason
* Constant tiredness
* Vomiting
Diagnosis
In making a diagnosis of rectal cancer, your doctor will first start by recording your medical history, asking about any symptoms you may be experiencing and conducting a thorough physical examination. He or she also may recommend one or more of the following diagnostic tests:
* Digital Rectal Exam — This exam involves the doctor or nurse inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for an abnormalities.
* Barium Enema — Also known as a lower gastrointestinal series, this test involves taking X-rays of the large intestines.
* Fecal Occult Blood Test — This is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden, or occult blood in the stool. Such blood may arise from anywhere along the digestive tract. Hidden blood in the stool is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal cancer
Treatment for rectal cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, or a combination of these approaches
