Hi Readers! Are you searching for some information on Rectal Cancer?
Then here’s what you are looking for in just a few seconds of reading.
Know all about Rectal cancer its origin and statistics reflecting its incidence. And much more!
Rectal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the rectum.
The rectum is part of the body’s digestive system. The digestive system removes and processes nutrients like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and water from foods and helps pass waste material out of the body.
All your food goes here for processing! The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines. The large bowel or colon is the first 6 feet of the large intestine.
The rectum and the anal canal constitute last 6 inches. The anal canal ends at the anus (the opening of the large intestine to the outside of the body). That’s about the digestive system.
Now look into the Risk Factor! Age and family history can affect the risk of developing this disease.
Change in bowel habits or blood in the stool are the possible signs of rectal cancer
Three Important Factors! The treatment and prognosis of this cancer depend on the stage of the cancer, which is determined by the following 3 considerations:
- How deeply the tumor has invaded the wall of the rectum
- Whether the lymph nodes appear to have cancer in them
- Whether the cancer has spread to any other locations in the body like the liver and the lungs.
Radiation treatments are given daily, for up to 6 weeks, weekly 5 days. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes and is completely painless; it is similar to having an x-ray film taken.
The main side effects of radiation therapy for rectal cancer include rectal or bladder irritation, mild skin irritation, diarrhea and fatigue. These side effects usually resolve soon after the treatment is complete.
Chemoradiation is often given for stages II and III rectal cancer. Preoperative chemoradiation is sometimes performed to decrease the size of the tumor.
Statistics!! The following statistics relate to the incidence of rectal cancer:
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society 23,220 new male cases for rectum cancer in the US 2004
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society 18,400 new cases in women in the US 2002
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society 17,350 new female cases for rectum cancer in the US 2004
The term ‘prevalence’ of rectal cancer usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing rectal cancer at any given time.
The term ‘incidence’ of rectal cancer refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of rectal cancer diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ greatly.
