Is anal prolapse rectal cancer?

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on May 05, 2025
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Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of rectal cancer may experience varying degrees of anal heaviness and bloating. However, the presence of localized anal bloating and heaviness alone, without further examination, is not sufficient to diagnose rectal cancer. Sometimes, large hemorrhoids or excessive relaxation of the rectal mucosa compressing the anal opening can also result in localized anal bloating and heaviness. Additionally, certain anal or rectal inflammations can stimulate the intestinal mucosa and cause feelings of bloating and heaviness. Therefore, when these symptoms appear, further examinations such as an anoscopy or a colonoscopy are needed to clarify the cause of the symptoms, which will then allow for the selection of appropriate treatment methods. The presence of anal heaviness does not definitively indicate rectal cancer.

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