An oncological tumor of the rectum is a neoplasm of a malignant nature, which is formed from the cellular material of the inner membrane lining the inner side of the rectum. In the later stages, the tumor can reach a large size, grow into the wall, as well as into the intestinal lumen. This disease is very insidious, since the patient may not have guessed for years that his tumor is growing. The fact is that an oncological disease of the rectum may well not manifest itself for a long time.
If we consider the statistics, then among all diseases of a cancer nature, cancer of the rectum accounted for about 5% of cases. And if we consider cases of malignant lesions of the intestine, then oncology, which affects the rectum, is - 35-40%.
Unfortunately, science cannot yet say exactly why a malignant tumor in the rectum occurs. Among the adverse factors: malnutrition with a predominance of animal food and a small amount of fiber. Polyps and inflammatory diseases in the intestines. It is polyps, most often, that degenerate into cancerous tumors. Equally dangerous is HPV infection, which can happen during anal sex.
Another risk factor is persistent constipation, as bedsores and erosion occur in the rectum as a result of stool stagnation. At risk are all patients suffering from intestinal diseases, including anal fissures.
The first signs of colorectal cancer often do not cause alertness in the patient, since they are often mistaken for manifestations of hemorrhoids. Bleeding in general is the most common and common symptom of this disease. In this case, it is necessary to distinguish between bleeding that occurs when damage to hemorrhoids and those that can be regarded as symptoms of colorectal cancer.
You should know that with hemorrhoids, the emerging blood is scarlet, and bleeding appears after defecation, that is, the feces will be covered with blood from above. With a malignant tumor, the blood is darker and appears in front of the stool.
The characteristic symptoms of colorectal cancer are intestinal dysfunctions. The patient is tormented by constipation or diarrhea, and these conditions are often alternated with each other. Several times a day, a person experiences a false urge to use the toilet when not a feces, but a small amount of blood is released from the rectum, and in the later stages - pus and mucus. Frequent abdominal distention, difficulty with gas discharge, the feeling of having a foreign object in the rectum, all of the above are also symptoms of colorectal cancer. Sometimes cramping pains in the intestines, periodically occurring vomiting are noted.
Pain in patients occurs if the tumor spreads outside the rectum, capturing other tissues. In addition, in patients there is a general deterioration in well-being, due to anemia from constant blood loss.
However, all the symptoms of colorectal cancer described above do not always indicate the presence of an oncological neoplasm, the same signs appear with other bowel diseases, for example, proctitis.
In medicine, the division into the following stages of colorectal cancer, that is, the stages of the development of the disease, is accepted:
- The 1st stage is characterized by the presence of a small tumor (up to 2 cm) that does not have metastases. At this stage, the tumor has clear boundaries.
- 2nd stage. The tumor grows up to 5 cm in size, but continues to be within the intestine, not closing half of its lumen. Metastases are either absent or single lesions of pararectal fiber are observed.
- 3rd stage. The tumor becomes more than 5 cm, metastases appear in the inguinal lymph nodes.
- 4th stage. By this time, the tumor becomes large, growing outside the rectum. In this period, numerous metastases are observed in all lymph nodes.
For the treatment of cancer of the rectum, there are various methods, including surgery. Effective treatment can be recognized as radiation therapy and chemotherapeutic effects. The success of treatment directly depends on the stage of the disease, so at the first signs that may indicate the development of a tumor in the rectum, you need to go to the doctors.