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Rectal cancer is a kind of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the rectum. The rectum is the last several inches of the large intestine. It starts at the end of the final segment of the colon and ends when it reaches the short, narrow passage known as the anus.
Cancer inside the rectum and cancer inside the colon 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 t...
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Rectal cancer may not cause symptoms early on. Symptoms of rectal cancer usually happen when the disease is advanced.
Signs and symptoms of rectal cancer include:
The exact cause of most rectal cancers isn't known.
Rectal cancer happens when cells in the rectum develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA holds the instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA gives instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions tell the cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, the DNA changes give different instructions. The changes tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can keep living when healthy cells would die. This causes to...
Treatment for rectal cancer may begin with surgery to remove the cancer. If the cancer grows larger or spreads to other parts of the body, treatment might start with medicine and radiation instead. Your healthcare team considers many factors when creating a treatment plan. These factors may include your overall health, the type and stage of your cancer, and your preferences.
Surgery to remove the cancer can be used alone or in combin...
There's no sure way to prevent rectal cancer, but you can reduce your risk if you:
Colorectal cancer screening reduces the risk of cancer by finding precancerous polyps in the colon and rectum that could turn into cancer. Ask your healthcare professional about when you should begin screening. Most medical organizations recommend starting screening around age 45. You may be screened earlier if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer....
For informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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