Carcinoma Rectum

What is Carcinoma Rectum?

Carcinoma rectum is a type of cancer that develops in the rectum, the lower part of the colon which connects our large bowel to the anus. Its most important function includes formation of stool for better evacuation. Our colon is made up of 3 layers, mucosa, muscularis propria and mesorectum. There are muscles and layers in our rectum that help in the sound functioning of our excretion system, but lymph nodes, also known as regional lymph nodes, mostly make the surroundings of our rectum. They are an important factor of our immune system. These layers assist in secretion of harmful external elements like bacteria and viruses. The most critical stage is when the harmful cancer cells spread from the rectum to the lymph nodes, and then to other body parts. Mucosa is the organ which is mostly affected.

This cancer affects both men and women equally. Treatment of this kind of cancer involves detailed study about the spread of the infection surrounding lymph nodes. The rectum is a major part of the colon, and its complicated position hinders all the treatment, making it more serious compared to colon cancer.

Symptoms

The symptoms might vary as per the level of severity. These include:

  • Bleeding from the rectum.
  • Excessive threads of blood in the stool.
  • Varied bowel habits.
  • Excessive secretion of stools, gas, or repeated diarrhoea.
  • Growth of rectal mass in the passage of stool.
  • Obstruction in bowel movement.
  • Anemia, fatigue, and at times loss of breath.
  • Incomplete secretion of stool.
  • Unexplained weight loss.

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Causes

No cancer grows overnight. Carcinoma rectum is also a slow process. In its initial stage or the precancerous stage, it is known as polyps. They have the tendency to convert into cancer cells, and at a later stage affect the wall of our rectum.

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Risks

Studies over a period of time have shown that following factors play an important role in developing them:

  • After 50 years of age.
  • Excessive smoking.
  • Family history of carcinoma rectum.
  • Fat rich diet mostly consisting of animal fat.
  • Bowel disease.

 

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Prevention

If there is a family history of developing such cancer, one should get regular screening tests to protect themselves from the disease. Other prevention measures include:

  • Quitting smoking.
  • Limiting alcohol consumption.
  • Limiting consumption of red meat.
  • Maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Being physically active.
  • Substantial intake of calcium, vitamin D, and multivitamins containing folate.

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How is it diagnosed?

At Medanta, following technologies are used to identify the disease:

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How is it treated?

The doctor will carry out a physical examination to know about the patient’s medical history, and will also enquire about his/her family history to know the complete medical background. The treatment will mostly depend on the patient’s medical..

  • Surgery

    It is the most common method used to remove cancer. In this procedure, the cancer and some part of the surrounding healthy tissue are removed.

     

  • Radiation therapy

     In radiation therapy, high energy X-rays are used to destroy cancer cells. It may be used pre or post-surgery for an effective treatment.

     

  • Chemotherapy

    Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells by limiting their ability to grow and divide.

     

  • Anti-angiogenesis therapy

    It is a targeted therapy that inhibits the process of making new blood vessels that give nutrition to the tumour.

     

  • Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors

    It is also a targeted therapy that is known to be effective in slowing down the growth of cancer.

When do I contact the doctor?

The probability of having carcinoma rectum doubles when you have a medical history. The cells are transferred from parent to the child and thus an initial check-up at an early stage (around 10 years of age) is recommended. Also, if you observe the above mentioned symptoms such as bleeding from the rectum, varied bowel movement, etc. you need to consult a doctor immediately and get the problem treated as soon as possible. 

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How does Medanta provide care?

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