Information on Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer is form of cancer that can affect the layers of the rectum, which is the lower part of the colon that connects the anus to the large intestine. There are three layers of the rectum that rectal cancer can penetrate. The first layer of the rectum that can be contaminated by rectal cancer is the mucosa. The mucosa is the layer of the rectum wall that lines the inner surface and is made up of glands that release mucus that helps stool pass through the body. The second layer of the rectum is the Musclaris propria which is made of muscles and helps the rectums contract. The third layer of the rectum that can be affected by rectal cancer is the Mesorectum which is the fatty tissue that surrounds the rectum.

Rectal cancer is fairly common and constitutes about 40,000 of the 150,000 cases of colorectal cancer that are diagnoses every year. The most common form of rectal cancer is called adenocarcinoma, which is a form of rectal cancer that affects the mucosa layer of the rectum. This type of cancer is dangerous because it can spread to the rest of the body through Lymph nodes located in the rectum. The severity of rectal cancer can depend on many things, including how deep the cancer penetrates through the rectum, which layers of the rectum are affected with the disease, and if the cancer has spread through out the body via the surrounding lymph nodes.

Some symptoms of rectal cancer include narrowing of the stool, pelvic pain, and red blood in the stool. On rare occasions, feces can be passed through the female vagina and passage of air with urine in men. If a person is experiencing these symptoms it is important to go to the doctors immediately.