Rectal Cancer Research Paper
Rectal cancer is the most common cancer experienced by either men or women. It happens in individuals regardless of age. It is only next to breast cancer in terms of frequency. Based on my research and observation, hereditary factors plays a part in being afflicted with the disease. The rectum is the lower part of the colon that connects the large bowel to the anus.Rectal cancer forms inside the large intestine, which is approximately five and a half feet long. The first five feet of the large intestine is called the colon. The rectum makes up the last six inches. This is where stool collects and then passes out of the body through the anus during a bowel movement rectal cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop in the tissue
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If a first-degree relative (a child or a parent) has rectal cancer, there is a chance that one can develop the disease as well. If there is family history of rectal cancer, it is recommended that endoscopy of the rectum and colon should be performed starting ten years prior to the age at which the first-degree relative was diagnosed with cancer, or when the person who has a risk of developing the disease reaches the age of 50. Another important factor that is often being overlooked is the absence of the screening for the disease. Routine screening is one of the great ways to prevent this type of cancer.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS:
There are numerous symptoms and signs associated with rectal cancer. These symptoms range from mild to severe and can cause the person experiencing them to seek medical care. In addition, there are many cases when rectal cancer exists, but there are no symptoms. In such situations, routine screening is very important to discover the disease. Symptoms and signs of rectal cancer include:
• The most common symptom is bleeding (80% of cases). The bleeding can be short term or prolonged. In either case, the patients experiencing the bleeding need to inform the doctor and got to the hospital.
• Blood in one’s stool
• Change in bowel …show more content…
Those who experience such symptom need to undergo a medical exam to make sure their diagnosis is correct.
DIAGNOSIS:
The only way to prevent rectal cancer is the screening of rectum and colon; if the screening is performed and precancerous growth is discovered, it is removed and the development of cancer is stopped. There are several screening tests for rectal cancer:
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical tests (FIT): Early rectal cancer may damage blood vessels of the rectal lining and cause small amounts of blood to leak into the feces.
• Endoscopy: During endoscopy, a doctor inserts a flexible tube with a camera at the end (called an endoscope) through the anus and into the rectum and colon. During this procedure, the doctor can see and remove abnormalities on the inner lining of the colon and rectum.
In cases when there is suspicion of rectal cancer, the actual cancerous tumor can be detected by performing one of the two tests: endoscopy or digital rectal examination (DRE).
• A digital rectal examination
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Rigid
If a first-degree relative (a child or a parent) has rectal cancer, there is a chance that one can develop the disease as well. If there is family history of rectal cancer, it is recommended that endoscopy of the rectum and colon should be performed starting ten years prior to the age at which the first-degree relative was diagnosed with cancer, or when the person who has a risk of developing the disease reaches the age of 50. Another important factor that is often being overlooked is the absence of the screening for the disease. Routine screening is one of the great ways to prevent this type of cancer.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS:
There are numerous symptoms and signs associated with rectal cancer. These symptoms range from mild to severe and can cause the person experiencing them to seek medical care. In addition, there are many cases when rectal cancer exists, but there are no symptoms. In such situations, routine screening is very important to discover the disease. Symptoms and signs of rectal cancer include:
• The most common symptom is bleeding (80% of cases). The bleeding can be short term or prolonged. In either case, the patients experiencing the bleeding need to inform the doctor and got to the hospital.
• Blood in one’s stool
• Change in bowel …show more content…
Those who experience such symptom need to undergo a medical exam to make sure their diagnosis is correct.
DIAGNOSIS:
The only way to prevent rectal cancer is the screening of rectum and colon; if the screening is performed and precancerous growth is discovered, it is removed and the development of cancer is stopped. There are several screening tests for rectal cancer:
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical tests (FIT): Early rectal cancer may damage blood vessels of the rectal lining and cause small amounts of blood to leak into the feces.
• Endoscopy: During endoscopy, a doctor inserts a flexible tube with a camera at the end (called an endoscope) through the anus and into the rectum and colon. During this procedure, the doctor can see and remove abnormalities on the inner lining of the colon and rectum.
In cases when there is suspicion of rectal cancer, the actual cancerous tumor can be detected by performing one of the two tests: endoscopy or digital rectal examination (DRE).
• A digital rectal examination
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Rigid