How to Detect Rectal Cancer Early: A Complete Guide

What is cancer of the rectum?

The rectum is the very end of your large intestine, just before the anus. This is where rectal cancer starts. It usually starts as small, harmless lumps called polyps. These polyps can slowly turn into cancer over time, sometimes over many years.

 Colorectal cancers are a group of cancers that includes cancer of the colon and rectum. Rectal cancer is one of these. Rectal cancer is very similar to other types of cancer, but it may need different treatment because of where it is.

 What is the most important thing to remember? Rectal cancer grows very slowly. That gives us a good chance to find it early and treat it before it spreads. Finding out about something early saves lives and makes it easier to treat.

How to Find Rectal Cancer

One reason rectal cancer can be hard to find is that it often grows without any signs at first. That's why it's so important to get regular health checkups and screenings. These tests help doctors find strange growths before you even know something is wrong.

1. Why it's important to find it early

Most of the time, rectal cancer starts as small polyps on the inside of the rectum. At first, these polyps don't cause any problems. But some of them can turn into cancer over time. If doctors find and remove polyps early, they might be able to stop cancer before it starts.

 Also, finding cancer early makes it easier to treat. It's often easier to have surgery, and your chances of getting better go way up. That's why regular checkups and screenings can save your life.

2. Who Should Get Tested?

 Everyone doesn't need the same tests or to take them at the same time. It depends on how old you are, what your family history is like, and other risks. This is a simple guide:

• If you don't have a family history or other risks, you should start screening around age 45.
• Family History: If someone in your family has had colon or rectal cancer, your doctor may tell you to start sooner, even in your 30s.
• If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or inherited gene problems, you may need tests more often.
• Symptoms: If you see blood in your stool, your bathroom habits change suddenly, or you lose weight for no reason, see your doctor right away, no matter how old you are.

3. Tests that are often used to find rectal cancer

Doctors use different tests to look for rectal cancer. Some are for regular checkups, and others are for when you have symptoms or when a test shows something strange:

• The colonoscopy is the most complete test. A small camera on a thin, flexible tube goes through your rectum to look at the whole colon and rectum. During this test, doctors can take tissue samples or remove polyps. It is usually done every ten years if everything looks normal.
• You can do these simple tests at home. In your stool, they look for hidden blood or DNA that isn't normal. You will need a colonoscopy if the results are positive.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy is like a colonoscopy, but it only looks at the lower part of your colon and rectum. It can be done with stool tests at times.
• CT colonography, also called virtual colonoscopy, uses CT scans to take pictures of your colon and rectum. It's less invasive, but if something strange comes up, you still need a regular colonoscopy.
• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): A quick test in which the doctor uses a gloved finger to feel inside your rectum for lumps near the anus. It's easy, but it can't find cancer higher up.

How often should you get screened?

• If you are at average risk, you should have a colonoscopy every ten years.
• You might have stool tests (like FIT or FOBT) once a year.
• If you have a higher risk because of your family history, past polyps, or genetic conditions, your doctor may tell you to start earlier and get tested more often.