The prognosis for rectum cancer depends on the size of the tumor. Small tumors may be removed by surgery, and large cancers may require more aggressive treatment. The number of lymph nodes involved in rectal cancer is an important predictor of survival. Stage II and Stage III patients will generally have around 12 lymph nodes resected. The number can be reduced with neoadjuvant therapy.
In 2013, there will be 73,680 new cases of rectal and colon cancer. The odds vary, but men in their 50s have a 1.91 percent chance of contracting the disease. Black individuals are statistically at a higher risk, but the reasons are not fully understood. Other risk factors for developing this disease include a family history of the disease and certain health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease. People with a family history of rectal cancer are more likely to develop the disease.
More than half of patients with CRC will develop metastases. Most of these metastases will occur in the liver, but there are cases of oligo-metastases that are curable with peri-operative chemotherapy. Systemic therapy for rectum cancer aims to improve quality of life and prolong survival. Clinical research and practice are addressing this issue. In the 1990s, FU/LV monotherapy was standard first-line therapy, with mOS of 12 months.
While the symptoms of rectosigmoid cancer may not be immediately apparent, they can be a sign of colon cancer. In addition to pain and altered bowel habits, patients with rectosigmoid tumors can experience bright red blood during the bowel movement. Painful abdominal cramps are also signs of rectosigmoid tumors. In addition to pain, patients with this type of cancer may also experience bleeding, which may be mistaken for hemorrhoids. Any of these symptoms should prompt a visit to a doctor.
Various types of treatment for rectal cancer will be used to treat the disease. Some treatment methods may involve radiation or chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the disease. Radiation therapy may use high-energy beams to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing and dividing. Immunotherapy may involve drugs to boost the immune system and teach the body to fight cancer cells. Targeted drug therapy may be combined with chemotherapy. In the latter case, the drugs target specific abnormalities within the cancer cells and cause them to die.
There are several risk factors for rectal cancer. People with a family history of colorectal cancer are more likely to develop the disease. Inflammation in the bowel increases the risk of developing cancer. Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, or ulcerative colitis are the most common causes of inflammation in the bowel. If these risk factors are present, patients with these conditions should be closely monitored. The prognosis of rectal cancer is largely influenced by the response to pre-operative therapy and pathological staging.
