In our body, every organ is unique, important and priceless. It is difficult, for example, to say which of the intestines is the most important. But one thing is certain: the rectum helps the body quickly get rid of toxins, waste products, not allowing poisoning the body.
And everything would be fine, but it is this section of the intestine that is very often affected by various tumors. Among them are benign and malignant. Today we’ll talk about how a tumor appears and develops in the rectum, as well as the issue of therapeutic and surgical treatment.
Background
Tumors of the rectum occupy a fairly large percentage of all types of neoplasms in surgical practice. Cancers are not uncommon among them. This is a fairly common pathology, which leads to excruciating pains and death of a person if its development is not stopped in time. It should be noted the increase in the frequency of such pathologies. Apparently, this is due to the nutrition of the modern urban man. What is noteworthy, the most pronounced increase in incidence in countries of the first world. One way or another, but a rectal tumor is a fairly common diagnosis that oncologists and surgeons from all countries have to work on.
Benign neoplasms
This is an alarm bell to which you need to pay attention. In the absence of therapeutic effects, cells can degenerate. Then the process of metastasis begins, and malignant lesions slowly kill a person. Therefore, any tumor in the rectum should be examined. To do this, take a sample and conduct a histological examination.
A benign tumor can be of different origin, but this practically does not affect the nature of its development. It can form on the basis of any tissue, except lymphatic, perhaps. There are a lot of varieties of them. Let's look at the most popular types. They can be palpated. But some of them can be detected only during surgery.
Fibroma
Benign tumors of the rectum can be different. One of the most common is fibroma. Among the factors provoking its appearance, heredity, inflammatory processes and injuries can be distinguished. This is an incomplete list, doctors are still studying the prerequisites for changing living tissue.
Symptoms of a tumor of the rectum - the impossibility of tight closure of the anus, inflammatory processes. If a person is concerned about pain or even a slight discharge of blood from the anus, he needs to be examined immediately. Removal of a tumor of the rectum often takes place under local anesthesia. Hospitalization is not required for this.
Fibroids must be treated. If this is not done, the tumor will increase in size. It can turn into malignant. Therefore, the sooner therapy is started, the more likely it is to get by with minor surgical intervention.
Myoma
Quite a rare tumor of the rectum. Photos that are presented in specialized forums allow us to judge that it looks like a dense polyp. An inflammatory process and hormonal imbalance can provoke the growth of fibroids in the intestine. It is believed that among the triggering factors may be exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Symptoms of a rectal tumor can be different. But most often, mucus appears in the feces. The patient may complain of a feeling that he is constantly tormented by the urge to empty. In some cases, constipation may occur. Myomas can grow quite quickly and cause pain due to pressure on the intestinal wall. The treatment is removal.
Lipomas and angiomas
These are two more types of tumors that are quite rare and are not prone to become malignant.
- Lipomas are single or lobed tumors. As a rule, do not bother a person. The presence of such a neoplasm is only known when it, having increased, falls out of the anus.
- Angiomas May bleed, express, and fester.
The method of treatment is the same. Surgery to remove a rectal tumor varies in complexity. It depends on many parameters, so only a doctor can tell how long the operation and recovery will take. These two types of tumors are usually removed quite easily. They are not prone to degeneration, which means that the operation will be productive. After removal, it takes only a while to follow a sparing diet so that the body has the opportunity to recover.
Polyps
They are found quite often, unlike those species that were discussed above. Treatment of a rectal tumor begins from the moment you see a doctor and conduct a diagnosis. Therefore, in many respects, it will depend on the person himself and his careful attitude to his body whether it will be effective.
Polyps can vary greatly in shape and size. Often the disease is based on a chronic ailment, for the treatment of which a person has not allocated the proper amount of time. That is, if you are concerned about abdominal pain, you should immediately consult a doctor and look for the cause of what is happening. Painkillers only suppress sensations, and inside the pathological processes continue.
The biggest difficulty is that in the early stages of the disease, the symptoms practically do not appear. This is the main reason that patients come to the reception with a neglected form. By this time, a person may complain of pain in the intestines, mucus and blood in the stool and intestinal obstruction. Of course, the spectrum is quite large, but an experienced specialist should check all the guesses.
Polyps tend to degenerate into a malignant tumor. Therefore, the sooner you start treatment, the better. Very much the treatment depends on the size of the polyp. Single can be removed through the anus. If the entire rectum is affected, you will have to remove it completely.
Transition stage
The villous tumor of the rectum is no longer a separate polyp, but multiple formations on the mucosa. Sometimes the whole department or the entire intestinal cavity from the inside resembles a mushroom kingdom. Each of the formations has an elongated shape and a velvety surface. Sometimes several of them form a separate node. A sign may be blood that is secreted from the anus. The difficulty lies in the fact that you need to remove a large section of the intestine.
The villous tumor very quickly degenerates into a malignant one. Therefore, when it is detected, surgical intervention and additional treatment in the form of radiation or chemotherapy are required.
Causes of cancer
To date, the exact causes are unknown. There are a number of prerequisites that may play in favor of tumor development. Colorectal cancer, like any other, is difficult for patients to tolerate. Very often, the disease proceeds with severe pain. A person cannot eat normally, loses strength. Strong intoxication of the body is observed.
But back to the premises. Great importance is given to human nutrition. At the same time, the Western food style, which involves the use of a large amount of high-calorie fats, leads to a slowdown in the progress of the food coma. It should be borne in mind that the substances that cause the tumor can be present in food and for a long time affect the intestinal wall in one place. If you eat cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, herbs, then emptying will take place without delay. Therefore, the risk of developing the disease is slightly reduced.
Precancerous diseases
Chronic intestinal diseases, malnutrition - all this is the first step to oncological processes in the digestive tract. Therefore, the slightest discomfort should become a reason for contacting a gastroenterologist, who will prescribe the necessary treatment. Maintaining digestive health is the best prevention of cancer.
To precancerous conditions include polyps. Moreover, if solitary they are not very dangerous, then diffuse polyposis in almost 100% of cases leads to cancer. Chronic diseases of the stomach, liver and intestines also have this, especially in the absence of competent treatment.
Manifestations of cancer
Very often the same picture is observed. A person for a long time experiences discomfort, but does not go to the doctor, attributing all the unpleasant symptoms to hemorrhoids. And this is the most dangerous mistake. The fact is that rectal cancers grow slowly. Symptoms become apparent only when the tumor reaches a large size.
One of the first symptoms may be a discharge from the rectum of mucus, blood and pus. But at the same time, this speaks of rather late processes that occur in the tumor itself. Alert should be weakness, lack of appetite and strength. In blood tests, a drop in hemoglobin and an increase in ESR are usually observed. But sometimes patients do not go to the hospital even if there is spotting from the anus. A trip to the doctor is postponed time after time because of banal shame. But to rule out cancer and prescribe the right treatment can only be a specialist.
Frequent manifestations of colorectal cancer may include irregular stools, alternating diarrhea and constipation. Patients complain of painful bowel movements. Pain in the rectum will vary depending on where the tumor is located. They are most intense if the anal canal is affected.
Diagnostics
For an experienced doctor, it is not a big difficulty. He can examine the gut without using equipment, but this procedure allows you to assess its condition at a limited depth. Its entire surface is examined through a rectoscope. Additional information is provided by test results. Ultrasound examination allows you to assess the degree of tumor growth in the intestinal wall. It is very important for the diagnostician to exclude the likelihood of metastases in the liver and lymph nodes. For this, modern techniques are used.
Treatment
The main method is surgery. A rectal tumor can be large. If it blocks the output of feces, then excruciating pains cannot be avoided. The consequences can be very different. This is a rupture of the intestine with subsequent peritonitis, and the release of feces through the esophagus. Therefore, the tumor will have to be removed. There are several ways to do this, among which doctors choose the most humane:
- Removing part of the intestine and suturing the ends. If this is not possible, it is brought out to the front abdominal wall.
- During Hartmann's surgery, the tumor is removed, the upper part of the intestine is removed to the anterior abdominal wall, and the lower one is sutured.
- Extirpation. That is, the rectum is removed completely. In this case, the patient is provided with disposable kalopriemniki. When used correctly, a person can lead a normal lifestyle, go on a visit and visit public places. You need to have wet wipes and a clean replacement bag with you. Of course, such an operation is a tragedy for a person, but you can still get used to it.
After operation
After removal of the rectal tumor, the patient has to undergo a long course of treatment. Radiation therapy is used in some cases even before surgery. This allows you to reduce the tumor in size. But according to indications, the procedure can be applied after surgery. In this case, the risk of a new tumor is reduced. There is serious evidence that an operation without radiation therapy does not give such good results. A malignant tumor of the rectum is dangerous with metastases, so it is very important to complete the full course.
Chemotherapy is also used to treat metastases. It is perfect for preventing their occurrence. The choice of drugs today is quite large. In each case, the doctor will select a unique treatment regimen. The use of chemotherapy can extend the patient's life and improve its quality.
Prevention
Of course, it includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is necessary not only to stop smoking and drinking alcohol, but also be sure to adjust the diet. There are products that help slow down the growth of the tumor, destroy cancer cells. An example is onion and garlic.
Conversely, drinking alcohol with a lack of folic acid increases the risk of cancer. Therefore, we remove beer and wine from the table, and add fresh greens to each meal. Eating beans and other legumes is very beneficial. They contain soluble fiber, carbohydrates and starch, which are not destroyed by digestive enzymes. Foods high in fiber help reduce the time it takes for the contents to pass through the intestines, which also reduces the risk of contact with toxins, and therefore the likelihood of developing cancer. Being engaged in prevention, you need to regularly undergo an examination with a gastroenterologist, take the necessary tests.
Instead of a conclusion
A "rectal tumor" is a general diagnosis under which a benign or malignant tumor may be hidden. But this does not reveal the full picture. Today we examined what tumors are, which leads to their appearance, ways to combat the disease and preventive measures. I would like to note that the patient’s health is still in his hands. The right way of life, a healthy diet and lack of stress are, of course, not a panacea. But this behavior greatly increases your chances of staying healthy and living long. And of course, you need to visit a doctor regularly. Even an annual medical examination may be enough to get tested and tell the therapist what is bothering you.