What are the final stages of rectal cancer?
How does rectal cancer spread? If you have Stage 4 metastatic rectal cancer, it means that the cancer has spread beyond the rectum into other areas of the body. While it’s possible for these cancer cells to travel anywhere in your body, they’re more likely to end up in the liver, lungs, brain or abdominal lining.
How long do rectal cancer patients live?
For rectal cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate for people is 67%. If the cancer is diagnosed at a localized stage, the survival rate is 90%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 73%.
How fast does rectal cancer progress?
In two more recent studies, the total median time between symptom onset and diagnosis of rectal cancer was found to be around three months in a group of 180 patients11 and around four months in a sample of 66 patients.
What are the symptoms of advanced rectal cancer?
Symptoms
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or more-frequent bowel movements.
- Dark maroon or bright red blood in stool.
- Narrow stool.
- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.
- Abdominal pain.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Weakness or fatigue.
At what stage does rectal cancer spread?
Stage IIC: The tumor has spread through the wall of the colon or rectum and has grown into nearby structures. It has not spread to the nearby lymph nodes or elsewhere (T4b, N0, M0).
Is rectal cancer painful?
Cancer of the rectum should be considered whenever there is rectal bleeding, even if other causes such as hemorrhoids are present. A person may feel as if there is incomplete evacuation. There usually is no pain until later stages of the condition.
Is rectal cancer worse than colon cancer?
The prognosis of rectal cancer was not worse than that of colon cancer. Local advanced colorectal cancer had a poorer prognosis than local regional lymph node metastasis.
Is rectal cancer aggressive?
“In cases of advanced rectal cancer, patients may need chemotherapy or radiation for up to two months.” Colorectal cancer is very treatable and does not require an aggressive treatment plan, but that doesn’t mean this disease should be taken lightly. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
What happens if rectal cancer is left untreated?
If untreated, bowel cancer can grow deeper into the wall of the bowel. From there, it can spread to lymph nodes in the area. Later, bowel cancer can spread to the liver or lungs.