Bowel Pain: A Symptom of Rectal Cancer?
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Bowel pain is one of many symptoms of colon cancer, but it could possibly be a less serious medical problem. If you have this symptom you should certainly see your doctor. We will describe some of the physiology and medical aspects on this page to help you understand what might be going on.
The rectum is the bottom part of the colon that ends at the anus. The rectum holds stool until the next bowel movement. It is the main job of the rectum to help regulate when stool is released and prevent uncontrolled discharge of feces. Sphincter muscles, which connect the rectum to the anus, are responsible for the elimination of stool.
It helps to know something about the anatomy
The rectum is made up of five layers. It has an inner lining layer, muscular layer for the inner lining, support tissue for lining layers, muscle and an outside covering layer. Rectal cancer usually begins in the inner lining layer. It then advances throughout the other layers.
Colorectal cancers often have no symptoms in the early stages until the cancer has progressed, then rectal pain is likely. However, rectal cancer is more likely to show symptoms earlier.
Symptoms of rectal cancer may include:
- Rectal pain
- Painful bowel movements
- Rectal bleeding
- Blood in stools
- Alternating constipation and diarrhea
- Change in the size of stools
- Change in thickness of stools
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Unexplained weight loss
Tumor growth can give different people different symptoms
Some symptoms are caused when a tumor begins to take over room in the rectum, the tumor bleeds or the tumor grows through the rectum.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and conduct a physical examination. The examination will include a digital rectal examination. This allows your doctor to check for lumps inside your rectum. It also tells him where your bowel pain is located and if your sphincter muscles are working properly.
Your doctor will probably want to send you for blood tests. He will also ask you to give a stool sample for testing to discover if there is blood in it.
Other tests used to diagnose rectal cancer are CT scans, colonoscopies and endorectal ultrasound. None of these tests will cause any bowel pain.
There are several different procedures your doctor may or may not need performed
A colonoscope is a thin flexible hose with a camera which is inserted in your rectum. This permits the doctor to see the inside of your colon. You are given medication so you do not feel pain.
An endorectal ultrasound is when a small probe is put into your rectum. It sends out sound waves which are altered into a picture that a technician interprets. You don't need medication for this procedure.
A biopsy may be performed on a small piece of tissue taken from your rectum. A specialist will examine the tissue to decide if it is abnormal. If it is, the biopsy will help your doctor decide what kind of treatment you need.
Colorectal cancers are difficult to detect because they are usually pain-free in the beginning stages. Bowel pain is not normal. There may be another reason than rectal cancer, but your life could be in danger if you don't see your doctor immediately.
Protect Yourself From the High Cost of Cancer
According to the recent studies, American men have a 44% chance of developing cancer while the chances for women are about 37%. The general risk of developing colon cancer in the United States is about 6%. For this reason, it's important for everyone, particularly people above the age of 50 years, to go for routine screening.
Whether discovered early or late, cancer is a debilitating disease due to the care, costs and the mental and physical trauma involved. Many times the cost of treatment leaves the patient in heavy financial distress.
Most insurance plans do not cover the total cost of the treatment, which leaves the patient and their family in a lurch. These days people have started purchasing supplemental cancer insurance that can help in covering otherwise uninsured expenses related to cancer illness. If you would like to learn more about supplemental cancer insurance you can click here.
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