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Rectal cancer
Is a severely blocked anus a symptom of rectal cancer?
Is anal blockage a manifestation of rectal cancer? The answer could be yes, but it could also be due to hemorrhoids, or other diseases. The main common symptoms of rectal cancer include changes in bowel habits and the characteristics of the stool. There may be frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, or constipation, or alternating constipation and diarrhea, a sensation of anal heaviness, or associated with vague abdominal pain. Symptoms of abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and abdominal masses might also appear. When the tumor grows to a certain extent, an abdominal mass can be palpated, which might cause some compressive symptoms, possibly leading to anal blockage as one of the symptoms.
Can a colonoscopy detect colon and rectal cancer?
Colonoscopy can detect colon and rectal cancers. By conducting a colonoscopy, it can be determined whether a space-occupying lesion is in the colon or the rectum. In the workplace, it can also confirm the distance from the anus in centimeters, to guide the next steps of surgical treatment. If a colon or rectal tumor is found during colonoscopy, a pathological biopsy may be needed. Combined with the pathological biopsy, a diagnosis can be made whether the patient has colon cancer or rectal cancer. At the same time, colonoscopy can also detect other diseases, such as colon polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease of the colon, and so on.
Is there a difference between colon cancer and rectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer includes rectal cancer and colon cancer. Its clinical manifestations may include rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, and changes in stool shape. It is named according to the specific location of the tumor. For example, if the malignant tumor occurs in the rectum, it is called rectal cancer. If it occurs in the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and ascending colon, these malignant tumors are called colon cancer. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are collectively referred to as colorectal cancer.
What tests are used to check for rectal cancer?
When clinical symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, changes in bowel habits, bloody stools, and abdominal pain occur, we should be vigilant about the possibility of rectal cancer. The examination for rectal cancer can start with a digital rectal exam, especially for low-lying rectal cancer, which is closer to the anus; these tumors can be detected through this method. Then, a colonoscopy should be performed to take a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, which is the gold standard for confirmation. Additionally, blood tests for tumor markers can be conducted. Generally, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA199 levels may be elevated, but this is not absolute as their specificity and sensitivity are not very high. An enhanced CT scan of the abdomen can also be done. In such scans, we can see thickening of the intestinal wall where the tumor is located, and the enhancement can show the intensified thickening of the intestinal wall. Combining all these methods can confirm the diagnosis of rectal cancer.
What medicine to take for diarrhea caused by rectal cancer?
Diarrhea is a common symptom of rectal cancer. For symptomatic treatment, we can take medications such as montmorillonite powder or loperamide to alleviate diarrhea, and use probiotics like Bifidobacterium triple or quadruple live bacteria to regulate intestinal flora. However, these treatments only alleviate symptoms rather than cure the underlying disease. The key is to control the rectal cancer itself. Treating the tumor is the fundamental solution. Only when the tumor is under control will the patient's diarrhea symptoms be relieved. Otherwise, even if the symptoms are alleviated by antidiarrheal drugs, if the tumor is not controlled, symptoms including diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain will recur and may even worsen.
What causes rectal cancer?
The occurrence of rectal cancer is a process involving multiple factors and multiple steps, and it is the result of the interaction between environmental factors and genetic factors of the body. To date, its causes are not completely understood, but there are some factors that are considered high-risk. First, dietary factors are generally believed to be high in animal protein, high fat, and low fiber, which are significant factors in the high incidence of rectal cancer. Second, lifestyle factors such as prolonged sitting, smoking, drinking, being overweight, and obesity may increase the incidence of rectal cancer. Third, having a history of medical surgeries. Fourth, environmental factors, such as asbestos workers. Fifth, genetic factors.
Where to apply moxibustion for rectal cancer?
Firstly, the treatment of rectal cancer with moxibustion needs to be differentiated. Everyone has a different constitution. If someone has rectal cancer and has a heat-type constitution, it is not recommended to undergo moxibustion treatment. However, if the patient has a cold-type constitution, moxibustion treatment can be performed. The second issue is where exactly to apply the moxibustion. It can be done on the abdomen, around the navel, where there are acupuncture points, all suitable for moxibustion. For example, the navel, which corresponds to the Shenque point, can be treated with moxibustion. Other points above and below the navel, like Guanyuan and Qihai, can also be used for moxibustion.
Stage II colorectal cancer
Rectal cancer staging is based on the TNM system. "T" refers to the primary tumor, "N" indicates whether there are lymph node metastases, and "M" indicates the presence of distant metastases. Staging is determined according to these factors. Stage II generally refers to patients with T3, N0, M0, or T4, N0, M0. What does this mean? T3 indicates that the tumor has penetrated the base layer reaching the subserosal layer, or has invaded the tissues adjacent to parts of the colon or rectum that are not covered by peritoneum, which is described as T3. T4 means that the tumor has invaded through the entire bowel wall, perforated the visceral peritoneum, and involved other organs or structures, which is called T4. N0, M0 means there are no lymph node metastases and no distant metastases, such as to the liver or lungs. Such patients are clinically staged as stage II rectal cancer.
Can proctitis cause discomfort in the rectum?
As to whether proctitis will cause discomfort in the rectum, it depends on the specific situation. If it is only mild proctitis, generally, it does not cause discomfort for the patient. However, if the proctitis is severe and accompanied by conditions such as rectal ulcers, rectal discomfort is likely to occur, and the patient may experience symptoms such as pain and a sense of urgency followed by incomplete defecation. In severe cases, fever may also occur. Once a patient develops proctitis, it is advised to promptly complete an electronic colonoscopy examination. If necessary, tissue should be taken for a pathological biopsy to rule out the possibility of malignant tumors in the rectum.
What are the symptoms and early signs of rectal cancer?
In the early stages of rectal cancer, there are no obvious symptoms. Only when the condition progresses to a certain extent do some clinical symptoms appear. The first is a change in bowel habits or the nature of the stool. The second possible symptom is abdominal pain. The third possible outcome is intestinal obstruction. The fourth symptom occurs when the tumor develops to a certain extent, and lumps can be felt in the abdomen. The fifth point includes possible symptoms of systemic poisoning such as anemia, weight loss, fever, and weakness. The sixth point is that in the advanced stages of rectal cancer, some metastatic lesions may appear, such as extensive pelvic metastasis and infiltration, leading to pain in the sacral area and sciatic neuralgia; if areas like the vaginal, rectal mucosa, or bladder mucosa are involved, there may be vaginal bleeding or blood in the urine, resulting in conditions like rectovaginal or rectovesical fistulas.