Discover the Relief You Need
When you find yourself dealing with sensitive colorectal issues, our team is here and ready to help you find a solution.
Colorectal cancer is among the most common types of cancer in the world, causing over 935,000 deaths in 2020 alone. The disease affects people of all racial backgrounds and genders. Rectal tumors are located endoscopically or through digital examination. Due to their location, rectal tumors can be difficult to treat in terms of using a sphincter-sparing approach.
Screening is part of the normal healthcare routine for all patients over 50 years of age. Regular screening can help identify high-risk patients, slow the growth of tumors and lesions, increase the survival rate, and provide improved peace of mind.
The biggest risk factor for rectal cancer is aging. Other factors may include:
Your initial consultation may feature a detailed medical history as well as a physical examination and digital probe. Other tests may include a colonoscopy, biopsy, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test, and immunohistochemistry.
Upon performing the physical exam, your doctor may discover a palpable mass along with bright red blood. Lab results may indicate anemia, changes in liver function, and electrolyte abnormalities.
Prognosis is related to a variety of factors, including:
Like other cancers, rectal cancer is staged according to the tumor size, location, and metastasis of the disease.
Surgery – Surgery is the common solution for rectal cancer, depending on what stage the disease is at. Surgery can often be combined with other options such as radiation and chemotherapy to reduce the tumor’s size before the operation. A combination approach can help reduce recovery time as well. Note that if rectal cancer has metastasized, surgery may not be recommended.
Radiation – Radiation therapy can be utilized to shrink the size of a tumor before surgery or to help prevent cancer from recurring. Radiation is often used as an alternative to surgery when operating is not viable due to the tumor’s various attributes.
Chemotherapy – Chemo can be used along with radiation prior to surgery to help reduce tumor size. After surgery, it can help to kill off any lingering cancer cells.
After your procedure, your doctors will follow up to ensure the efficacy of the chosen treatment plan and detect any new malignancies or metastases. It’s essential that the patient undergo regular routine screenings to prevent a recurrence.
When you find yourself dealing with sensitive colorectal issues, our team is here and ready to help you find a solution.