Rectal cancer is cancer of the rectum. The rectum is the last part of the colon, and connects from the colon to the anus. It is approximately 12 centimeters in length. Rectal cancer is said to be advanced when it has progressed beyond the rectum and spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes (Stage III) or distant organs and lymph nodes (Stage IV). Like all cancers, rectal cancer is "staged." Stage I is the earliest form. Stage III and Stage IV rectal cancer are usually considered to be "advanced," which means treatment is more difficult or, in some cases, impossible. In Stage IV rectal cancer, the cancer is typically no longer curable, and the American Cancer Society states that the survival rate for Advanced Stage IV rectal cancer is less then 5 percent.
Incidence of Rectal Cancer
The American Cancer Society groups colon and rectal cancer together, and estimates that in the United States, one in 19 Americans is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. In the year 2009, it estimates that 40,870 new cases of rectal cancer were diagnosed, while 106,100 cases of colon cancer were diagnosed. Both colon and rectal cancer are slightly more common in men than in women.
When is Rectal Cancer "Advanced"
The American Cancer society classifies potentially advanced rectal cancers into three main groups: advanced, recurrent and metastatic cancers. An advanced stage of rectal cancer may not be metastatic, which means the cancer can be advanced even if it has not spread to other organs. Likewise, recurrent cancer is cancer that comes back after the original cancer has gone into remission. Recurrent cancer is often considered to be a more "advanced" type of rectal cancer, because it may not respond as well to subsequent treatments. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that recurrent cancers, or a relapse after cancer is cured, is more common in cancers of smaller body parts, like the rectum.
Symptoms
Rectal cancers are often asymptomatic in early stages, which is part of what makes their treatment so difficult. Typically, rectal cancer symptoms do not show up until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.
When symptoms do present at an earlier stage, they are similar to the symptoms of several other anal conditions such as fissure, piles, impacted bowel or irritable bowel syndrome.
Some of the common signs of advanced rectal cancer are rectal bleeding or blood in stools; weight loss for no apparent reason; a feeling of incompleteness when emptying the bowels; extreme conditions of the bowel such as quick and erratic swings between diarrhea and constipation; heavy loss of iron in the body, extreme weakness and fatigue that happens without any physical activity and sensations like bloating, gas and abdominal pains and cramps.
Symptoms and Check-Ups
Even at an advanced stage, many of the symptoms are similar to those that people encounter on a day to day basis, without the disease. Because of the lack of distinct symptoms, regular screenings are essential. This makes treatment easier and reduces incidence of fatality. The American Cancer Society reports that 90 percent of rectal cancer cases are curable if detected early, so waiting for symptoms to appear can be detrimental.
Treatment and Prognosis
Most advanced stage rectal cancers are only treatable, but not curable. This means the treatment process can only prolong survival. The commonly used treatment options are chemotherapy, radiology or medication or surgery.
Like most other advanced cancers, advanced rectal cancers offer little hope of survival, with less then a 5 percent long-term survival rate reported by the American Cancer Society. Surgery is usually no longer option to remove the cancer. Medication and other options are used on a case-to-case basis, mainly to alleviate symptoms and prolong life.
Tags: rectal cancer, American Cancer, advanced stage, advanced rectal, American Cancer Society, cancer cancer, rectal cancers
