5 Things You Need to Know About Rectal Cancer

1. Rectal Cancer Starts Here

The large intestine is over 6 feet long, with the last 6 inches or so forming the rectum and the anal canal, which ends at the body opening called the anus. Rectal cancer forms in the rectum, usually starting in the tissue that lines the inside of the rectum, called the mucosa. This layer contains glands that secrete mucous, which helps remove solid waste from the body.

2. Past Intestine Trouble Can Increase Your Risk

A family history of rectal or colon cancer can increase a person's chances of getting the disease. Smoking also increases the risk. A person with past problems of large intestinal ulcers or Crohn's disease, an inflammation of the digestive tract that most often affects the small intestine, has a heightened chance of developing rectal cancer as well. Another risk factor for rectal cancer is age. A person over 50 years old has an increased risk of rectal cancer. Diets that are high in fat also contribute to the disease.

3. When to See Your Doctor

See your health care provider if you exhibit any of the symptoms of rectal cancer. Report to your doctor any blood you find in your bowel movements. Also let him know about any fatigue, unexplained weight loss, vomiting or changes in your bowel movements including diarrhea, constipation or feeling like you aren't quite empty. The symptoms aren't exclusive to rectal cancer, but they require examination by a professional. Early detection is important for every type of cancer.

4. Early Detection Through Screening

The only way to prevent rectal cancer is to remove any growths in the rectal area before they're cancerous. Rectal cancer screening enables your doctor to see these precancerous growths and extract them so you remain cancer-free. Screening happens in two ways. The first test is a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), which tests a stool sample to detect traces of blood in the stool; the other way a doctor screens for rectal cancer is through an endoscopy. Your doctor inserts a tube fitted with a camera into the anus and literally looks around the inside of the rectum. With endoscopy, physicians can locate and remove any suspicious growths from inside the rectal area.

5. Weigh your Options for Treatment

Treatment for rectal cancer includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Surgical procedures range from removal of the cancer through the anus, without an incision, to resection of the intestine, where surgeons remove the cancerous area of the rectum and sew the remaining sections back together in rectal resection. Normal function resumes after recovery with each of these procedures. When your surgeon can't repair the rectum, he performs a colostomy, where waste expels through an opening on the outside of the abdomen into a bag. Radiation uses X-rays or implanted radioactive material to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that kills the cancer or stops it from growing.