Delayed Treatment for Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer is a form of colon cancer that occurs in the rectum, the lower portion of the colon. Delayed cancer treatment can require invasive surgery and more lengthy treatment than early cancer treatment.

Invasive Cancer Surgery

• According to the Mayo Clinic, rectal cancer that is not treated early may spread to the rest of the colon and may require colectomy surgery to remove the cancerous portion of the colon.

Advanced Cancer Surgery

• Advanced rectal cancer may cause a blockage in the colon that may need to be surgically removed.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy may be used in combination with cancer surgery to kill cancer cells, inhibit tumor growth or relieve cancer symptoms with targeted chemotherapy drugs.

Radiation Therapy

• Powerful beams of energy may be used to shrink tumors before cancer surgery or to kill rectal cancer cells.

Early Cancer Treatment

• Early cancerous growths in the rectum may be completely removed during a colonoscopy and may not require additional surgery or treatment.