Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer is a type of colorectal cancer arising in the rectum, the final portion of the large bowel before the anus.

Although rectal cancer shares many features with colon cancer, its management is often more complex because of the confined anatomy of the pelvis and the close relationship of the rectum to surrounding organs and pelvic nerves.

Symptoms

Symptoms of rectal cancer may include:

• Rectal bleeding

• Change in bowel habit

• Urgency or difficulty controlling bowel motions

• A feeling of incomplete emptying

• Pelvic or rectal pain

• Unexplained weight loss

• Fatigue or anaemia

Because these symptoms can overlap with benign conditions such as haemorrhoids, persistent symptoms should always be assessed appropriately. Often a colonoscopy may be required to differentiate these conditions.