Rectal Cancer essays

Rectal Cancer essays Rectal Cancer is a disease where cancer cells are found in the tissues of the rectum. It is a highly treatable cancer if localized. The rectum is the last eight to ten inches of the large intestine in the digestive system, and has two muscle mechanisms involved in expelling fecal matters, the internal and external sphincter. The experience of rectal cancer may begin with your doctor discovering it first, or by discovering the symptoms. People assume that they have piles or hemorrhoids when they have discomfort in the rectal area. Sometimes, this just is not the case. In fact, the Hemorrhoid Care Medical Clinic said, 90% of people that have rectal cancer assumed they had hemorrhoids instead of cancer.(Hemorroid.net) Besides hemorrhoids, there are many symptoms to rectal cancer. These signs may help a person find it before it is too late. Some symptoms are: Changes in bowel movements like narrow stool, bloody stool, black stool, diarrhea, constipation, and bowel obstruction. Also, there could be fever and pain, rectal bleeding, stomach pains and cramps, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, anemia (low red blood cell count), constant visits to the restroom, pain in genital tissue, and an urgent need to urinate.(Colon and Rectal Cancer) Before going any further, there are some important facts to know about rectal cancer. 90 percent of all rectal cancer deaths are preventable, when found early; survival can be increased from 62% to 81% that means that 56,000 patients will live. 1 in 17 Americans will get rectal cancer and it is the second most common cancer death in America. The five year survival rate is 90% if the patient takes medication and makes the needed visits to the doctor.(Hemorroid.net) Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer and cancer that begins in the rectum is called rectal cancer. Cancer affecting any of these areas is referred as colorectal cancer. Cancer in these parts oc...