Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer starts in the last several inches of the large intestine, also called the rectum. Colon and rectal cancer are similar because they typically develops in the form of polyps. Rectal polyps are a small clump of cells that form on the lining of the rectal. They start as harmless growths, but over time some can develop into rectal cancer. The treatments for colon and rectal cancer are very different as the surgery is more complex. Treatment options have advanced significantly in the last decade.

About Rectal Cancer

Cancer inside the rectum and cancer inside the colon are often referred to together as colorectal cancer.
Rectal cancer is highly treatable when found early.
Rectal cancer is one of the few digestive cancers with a preventive screening test.

Make an appointment

For more information, please contact your oncologist or the Cancer Care Center at (859) 301-4000.

Risk Factors for Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer is associated with a number of risk factors, including:

Age.
Colorectal polyps.
Family history of rectal cancer.
History of inflammatory bowel disease.
Obesity.
Poor diet.
Radiation therapy for previous cancer.

Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get rectal cancer have a specific mutation in their DNA that increases their risk of getting rectal cancer. Our heredity cancer program can provide important information to you and your family so we can take steps early to identify cancer early, when it is most treatable, and plan your treatment.

Causes of Rectal Cancer

The cause of rectal cancer is unknown, but the risk of developing the disease is higher if you have any of the known risk factors.

Symptoms of Rectal Cancer

Symptoms of rectal cancer include:

Abdominal pain.
Blood in the stool.
Changes in bowel habits.
Constipation.
Diarrhea.
Loss of appetite.
Unexplained fatigue.
Unexplained weight loss.

Diagnosing Rectal Cancer

If your doctor suspects that you have rectal cancer, we may run tests to determine the stage of cancer to develop the best treatment plan. These tests may include:

Blood tests to check genetic makeup and blood markers.
Colonoscopy and biopsy (tissue sample).
CT scan.
PET/CT scan.
Genetic testing.
MRI.
Stool test.

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we have an MRI test specifically for pelvis and colorectal cancer. Our radiology team also has specialists dedicated to diagnosing colorectal and pelvic cancer.

If you’ve been diagnosed with rectal cancer, we can provide a second opinion and present treatment options.

Treating Rectal Cancer

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we believe in caring for you, not just treating your cancer. Our holistic approach means we combine cancer treatment with working to minimize side effects and help you manage them. Our goal is to make you as comfortable as possible while we use innovative approaches to treat your cancer.

Your treatment plan for rectal cancer usually begins with surgery and uses a combination of other treatments depending on the stage of your cancer or if it has spread. Your treatment may include:

Chemotherapy — Therapy that uses drugs injected through IV, taken by mouth or applied on the skin to attack and kill cancer cells.
Clinical trials — Innovative drug and genetic therapies used to treat rectal cancers.
Immunotherapy — Medication therapy that stimulates your own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
Interventional radiation procedures — Nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedures to kill or shrink tumors. We use radiofrequency ablation and embolization to destroy small tumors without surgery and chemoembolization to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to the tumor.
Radiation therapy — Therapy that uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells, including progressive radiation treatments such as proton-based stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). SBRT is effective in treating rectal cancer that has spread to the liver and cannot be treated by other methods. SBRT can deliver more precise radiation, saving healthy tissue. SBRT is also used when there is a recurrence of cancer, where standard radiation treatment could not be used again.
Surgery — A procedure to remove cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. We use minimally invasive and traditional surgical procedures, including robotic anterior resections of the rectum. We specialize in sphincter saving surgery, preserving the function of your sphincter.
Precision medicine — Medication therapy that uses your DNA to specifically target the cells that lead to cancer and stop cancer from forming and spreading.
Supportive care — Helping you coordinate appointments and treating the side effects from your cancer or cancer treatment.

Preventing Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer is preventable with a healthy lifestyle and proper screening. Most rectal cancers form from polyps that can be detected through a colonoscopy. Colonoscopies or other colorectal cancer screening recommendations are based on medical and family history. Unless you have a family history, are at high risk, or develop symptoms, rectal cancer screenings start at age 50.

Positive lifestyle choices can also lower your risk of rectal cancer. Lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk include:

Avoid smoking — Smoking is linked to many cancers, including cancers of the rectal, pancreas, pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube) and stomach.
Decrease alcohol consumption — Heavy alcohol use is associated with cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, liver and rectal.
Diet — A diet rich in fiber, fruits, green vegetables, and whole grains can lower your risk of digestive cancers.
Exercise — Thirty minutes a day of exercise can decrease your risk of many cancers and help keep you at a healthy weight.
Maintain a healthy weight — Obesity is a risk factor in many cancers and increases your risk of rectal cancer.

Your Cancer Care Team

The team includes medical oncologists specializing in immunotherapy and precision medicine, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, thoracic surgeons, pain management specialists, genetic counselors, pathologists, nutritionists, pharmacists, nurses and support staff. They work together to create a treatment plan that’s just right for you.

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