It is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, ranking second among gastrointestinal tumors. The most frequent sites are the rectum and the junction of the rectum and sigmoid colon, accounting for 60%. The disease mostly occurs after the age of 40, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

Medical history and symptoms:

Changes in bowel habits or stool characteristics, mostly manifested as increased frequency of bowel movements, loose or watery stools, blood and mucus in the stool. Sometimes alternating constipation or diarrhea, with narrowed stools. Pain in the middle and lower abdomen, varying in severity, mostly dull pain or distending pain. Patients with right-sided intestinal cancer often discover abdominal masses. Note the presence of systemic symptoms such as anemia, weight loss, lack of strength, edema, hypoproteinemia, etc. When tumor necrosis or secondary infection occurs, patients often have fever.

Physical examination findings:

Palpable abdominal masses or masses detected during digital rectal examination, often hard with tenderness and irregular in shape. Anemia, weight loss, and cachexia. Lymph node metastasis compressing venous return may cause ascites, lower limb edema, jaundice, etc.

Auxiliary examinations:

Blood tests show microcytic anemia and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Persistent positive fecal occult blood test. X-ray findings include barium filling defects, rigid intestinal walls, weakened or absent peristalsis, irregular haustrations, and intestinal stenosis or dilation. Colonoscopy can clarify the nature, size, and location of the lesion and even detect early-stage lesions. Additionally, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), B-ultrasound, and abdominal CT scans also aid in diagnosis.

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bubble_chart Treatment Measures

Surgical treatment:

is the most effective method for radical treatment of colon and rectal cancer. Patients suitable for surgery should undergo surgical resection as early as possible.

Chemotherapy:

After radical surgery for large intestine cancer, 50% of cases still experience recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy may improve the 5-year survival rate after radical surgery. The first-choice anticancer drugs are fluorouracil, followed by mitomycin and doxorubicin.

Radiation therapy:

Preoperative radiotherapy can shrink tumors and increase resection rates, while postoperative radiotherapy can kill residual tumor cells. Radiation therapy alone is only used for advanced-stage rectal cancer cases, with effects such as hemostasis, pain relief, and prolonging survival.

Endoscopic treatment:

For early-stage mucosal layer cancer, endoscopic resection can be performed. For advanced-stage tumors, stents can be placed endoscopically to prevent stenosis and obstruction.

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment:

Can be used as an auxiliary and supportive treatment to improve symptoms and prolong survival.