Background

Condition Lookup

Sub-Category:

Rectal Cancer

Number of Conditions: 1

Adenocarcinoma of the Rectum

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Rectum and Anus Disorders

Sub-category: Rectal Cancer

Symptoms:
rectal bleeding; persistent changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation); abdominal discomfort or pain; unexplained weight loss; fatigue; narrow stools

Root Cause:
Malignant tumor arising from the glandular cells lining the rectum, often caused by genetic mutations and environmental factors leading to uncontrolled cell growth.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Colonoscopy with biopsy, imaging studies such as CT, MRI, or PET scans, blood tests (e.g., CEA tumor marker), and staging via TNM classification.

Treatment:
Treatment may include a combination of surgery (total mesorectal excision), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy depending on the stage and individual patient factors.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs such as fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine (oral prodrug of 5-FU), or oxaliplatin (platinum-based chemotherapy agent). Targeted therapies like bevacizumab (anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody) or cetuximab (anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody) may also be used in specific cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer worldwide, with adenocarcinoma comprising over 95% of cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), smoking, obesity, high consumption of red and processed meats, and physical inactivity.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the stage at diagnosis; early-stage disease has a high cure rate, while advanced stages carry a poorer outlook. Five-year survival rates range from over 90% (localized disease) to less than 15% (distant metastases).

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Potential complications include bowel obstruction, perforation, metastasis to other organs (commonly the liver and lungs), and treatment-related side effects like neuropathy and bowel dysfunction.