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Rectal Cancer Prognosis

The term "prognosis" describes what a person can expect in terms of survival following a diagnosis of rectal cancer. According to Emedicine, prognosis is very individualized with this type of tumor.

  1. Types

    • Rectal cancer is described in four stages, depending on how deeply the cancer cells have invaded the rectal wall and how far they've traveled. Stage 1 is localized cancer, while Stage 4 refers to rectal cancer that affects other parts of the body.

    Treatment

    • Stage 1 cancers may be completely removed by surgery. If the cancerous cells have spread beyond the rectum, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be recommended after surgery.

    Considerations

    • When discussing a cancer prognosis, the doctor will take into account individual factors, such as the person's age and overall health.

    Outlook

    • According to Emedicine, the five-year survival rate for Stage 1 rectal cancer is 70 to 80 percent. People with Stage 4 rectal cancer, on the other hand, have a less than 10 percent chance of being alive five years later.

    Warning

    • Even when rectal cancer is treated successfully, it may come back. It's important to have regular colonoscopies to monitor for recurrence.

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