How to detect colorectal cancer early

Written by Yan Chun

Oncology

Updated on December 29, 2024

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In clinical practice, to detect colorectal cancer early, screening should be prioritized for individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer. This generally involves tests for tumor markers and colonoscopy examinations. The tumor markers include carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 724, carbohydrate antigen 199, and carbohydrate antigen 125, among others. Colonoscopy examinations should be conducted annually. Furthermore, for individuals with colorectal polyps, yearly colonoscopy is especially recommended to detect early stages of colon cancer. Similarly, for individuals suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon and rectum such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, colonoscopy examinations should also be performed to facilitate early detection of colorectal cancer.

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Which is more serious, anal canal cancer or rectal cancer?

Rectal cancer and anal canal cancer both belong to the category of malignant tumors of the digestive system, with anal canal cancer generally considered a type of rectal cancer, primarily occurring at the anal canal close to the anus. Comparatively, anal canal cancer is somewhat more serious than rectal cancer. Clinically, the closer the tumor is to the anus, the potentially higher the malignancy, meaning more severe. However, subsequent treatment outcomes also need to be considered. Both anal canal cancer and rectal cancer can be considered for curative surgery. If the cancer is very close to the anus and an anus-preserving surgery is not feasible, further colostomy surgery may be required.

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The difference between rectal cancer and colon cancer lies in the location of the cancer. Rectal cancer occurs in the rectum, which is the final part of the large intestine, while colon cancer occurs in other parts of the colon.

Rectal cancer and colon cancer are collectively referred to as colorectal cancer, named according to the different locations where the tumors occur. Rectal cancer occurs in the rectum. Colon cancer includes tumors in the transverse colon, descending colon, ascending colon, and sigmoid colon, and tumors in these areas are called colon cancer. Both are known as colorectal cancer, and they exhibit similar clinical manifestations, including rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits, such as constipation, diarrhea, alternating constipation and diarrhea, and changes in stool shape, such as narrowing of the stool. They are merely named differently based on the location of the tumors and are collectively referred to as colorectal cancer.

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Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

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What are the symptoms and early signs of rectal cancer?

In the early stages of rectal cancer, there are no obvious symptoms. Only when the condition progresses to a certain extent do some clinical symptoms appear. The first is a change in bowel habits or the nature of the stool. The second possible symptom is abdominal pain. The third possible outcome is intestinal obstruction. The fourth symptom occurs when the tumor develops to a certain extent, and lumps can be felt in the abdomen. The fifth point includes possible symptoms of systemic poisoning such as anemia, weight loss, fever, and weakness. The sixth point is that in the advanced stages of rectal cancer, some metastatic lesions may appear, such as extensive pelvic metastasis and infiltration, leading to pain in the sacral area and sciatic neuralgia; if areas like the vaginal, rectal mucosa, or bladder mucosa are involved, there may be vaginal bleeding or blood in the urine, resulting in conditions like rectovaginal or rectovesical fistulas.

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53sec

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Has rectal cancer progressed to the advanced stage with vomiting?

Patients with rectal cancer who experience vomiting do not necessarily indicate that their condition has reached an advanced stage; the situation needs to be differentiated and treated accordingly. If nausea and vomiting are due to the gastrointestinal side effects of antitumor treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it is unrelated to the severity of rectal cancer. Appropriate antiemetic treatment can provide significant relief. If a rectal cancer patient experiences projectile vomiting due to brain metastases, which lead to an increase in intracranial pressure, it indicates that the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Some rectal cancer patients may also experience vomiting due to gastrointestinal obstruction caused by the tumor, accompanied by cessation of bowel movements and gas, which are also signs of advanced disease.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao

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How to differentiate rectal cancer from hemorrhoids

Rectal cancer is a malignant lesion, with clinical symptoms mainly causing an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, changes in stool characteristics such as grooved stools or stools with mucus and pus and blood. Severe patients may experience abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia, and other accompanying symptoms. Generally, low-lying rectal cancer can be seen during a digital rectal examination or with an anoscope. If the cancer is located higher up, an electronic colonoscopy is needed to see the cauliflower-like mass. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, are benign lesions often caused by improper diet or poor bowel habits, leading to pathological hypertrophy and descent of the anal cushions. They are mostly characterized by intermittent painless rectal bleeding with bright red blood, along with a feeling of heaviness and a foreign body sensation in the anus.