Rectal cancer treatment

Metastasis means that the cancer has spread beyond the rectum to other parts of the body. This is often referred to as advanced rectal cancer. Your treatment options will depend on several factors, including the extent of the cancer and where it has spread. Colorectal cancer usually spreads to the liver. It can also spread to the lungs, the lining of the abdomen, the ovaries, the brain, and other organs. Recent advances in treatment have improved the outlook for people with metastatic rectal cancer, including • Treatment Options for Metastatic Rectal Cancer Rectal cancer that has spread to other organs often requires a combination of treatments. These may include: • surgery • chemotherapy • image-guided therapies, such as MRI and CT • radiation therapy • targeted therapies and immunotherapy • clinical trials Learn more Treatment Options for Rectal Cancer That Has Spread to the Liver Rectal cancer most often spreads to the liver. This happens in part because the blood supply from the large intestine, which includes the rectum, is connected to the liver through a large blood vessel. To treat rectal cancer that has spread to the liver, MSK specialists may use several options, often in combination. These include: MSK surgeons can often Some people will need a colostomy. For this procedure, a surgeon cuts the rectum above the level of the cancer and attaches the end to a surgical opening in the belly. Waste is collected from this opening and stored in a bag attached to the skin...

Evidence shows that rectal cancer is distinct from colon cancer, with different aetiologies and risk factors possibly reflecting different environmental exposures. These updated guidelines provide recommendations for the treatment and management of rectal cancer including follow-up, long-term implications and survivorship. Also included are new diagnosis, staging and treatment algorithms that address the treatment of local recurrence and metastatic disease.

Rectal cancer The rectum is the last several inches of the large intestine. Rectal cancer starts in the lining of the rectum (rectal mucosa). Rectal cancer is cancer that begins in the rectum. The rectum is the last several inches of the large intestine. It starts at the end of the final segment of your colon and ends when it reaches the short, narrow passage leading to the anus. Cancer inside the rectum (rectal cancer) and cancer inside the colon (colon cancer) are often referred to together as "colorectal cancer." While rectal and colon cancers are similar in many ways, their treatments are quite different. This is mainly because the rectum sits in a tight space, barely separated from other organs and structures. The tight space can make surgery to remove rectal cancer complex. In the past, long-term survival was uncommon for people with rectal cancer, even after extensive treatment. Thanks to treatment advances over the last few decades, rectal cancer survival rates have greatly improved. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of rectal cancer include: • A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or more-frequent bowel movements • Dark maroon or bright red blood in stool • Narrow stool • A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely • Abdominal pain • Unexplained weight loss • Weakness or fatigue When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent symptoms that worry you. There is a problem with information submitted for this req...

7 Questions to Ask Before Rectal Cancer Surgery Learn more At Memorial Sloan Kettering, surgery is the most common treatment for many stages of rectal cancer. If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with rectal cancer, we want to help you understand the surgical options so that you have the best outcome possible. This information can help prepare you for the decisions you and your doctors will make together. As with many kinds of cancer, early detection is critical. Surgery alone can often be the only necessary treatment for small tumors that haven’t spread through the rectal wall. Sometimes a tumor can be removed though the anus without removing the entire rectum. Other people will need to have most or all of the rectum removed. Cancer that has spread through the wall of the rectum or to nearby lymph nodes usually requires chemotherapy and radiation in addition to surgery. Surgery for rectal cancer does have some challenges. For example, the pelvis contains many narrow parts, making the area difficult to operate on. This region also contains the nerves that control your ability to use the bathroom as well as those that affect your sexual health. Your MSK surgeon will take every precaution to protect those nerves. Some rectal cancer is likely to come back after surgery. Back to top Because it’s more challenging to operate within the pelvis, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to shrink rectal tumors before surgery, especially larger tumors. This appr...