Rectal Cancer: Its Causes and Risk Factors in the Society as Related to Nigeria

Download Article

DOI: 10.21522/TIJCR.2014.03.02.Art023

Authors : Akanji Christianah Abimbola

Abstract:

Rectal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the rectum. Age and family history can affect the risk of rectal cancer. Signs of rectal cancer include a change in bowel habits or blood in the stool. Rectal bleeding is a symptom of a problem in the GI (Gastrointestinal tract). The definition is broad as it means any blood passed rectally; consequently, the blood may come from any area or structure in the GI tract that allows blood to leak into the GI lumen (area where food and fluid is processed for absorption or removal as waste). For example, a bleeding ulcer in the stomach can have the blood excreted in the person's fecal material Rectal bleeding may be due to problems on the rectum itself or from many other problems that occur elsewhere in the GI tract. Perirectal bleeding is bleeding in an area adjacent to the rectum and may be due to abscesses or fistulas.

Rectal cancer is the growth of abnormal cancerous cells in the lower part of the colon that connects the anus to the large bowel. Rectal cancer develops usually over years; its actual cause is not known, but risk factors include increasing age (over 50), smoking, family history, high-fat diet, or a history of polyps or colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.

Radiation therapy can be used to kill or shrink rectal cancers. Follow-up is important to make sure that rectal cancer does not recur.

References:

[1]. Bullard KM, Rothenberger DA. Colon, rectum, and anus. Schwartz SE, ed. Principles of Surgery. 8th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2005.

[2]. Baxter NN, Garcia-Aguilar J. Organ preservation for rectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Mar 10. 25(8):1014-20. [Medline].

[3]. Brooks M. Local Excision for Rectal Cancer Increasing, but Inferior. Medscape Medical News. Available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/815376. Accessed: December 23, 2013.

[4]. Burn J, Gerdes AM, Macrae F, et al. Long-term effect of aspirin on cancer risk in carriers of hereditary colorectal cancer: an analysis from the CAPP2 randomised

[5]. Cao S, Bhattacharya A, Durrani FA, Fakih M. Irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2006. 7(6):687-703.

[6]. Current Therapy in Colon and Rectal Surgery. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby; 2005.

[7]. Ceelen WP, Van Nieuwenhove Y, Fierens K. Preoperative chemoradiation versus radiation alone for stage II and III resectable rectal cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21. CD006041. [Medline].

[8]. Colorectal Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2014. 160:171-181.

[9]. Ebert MP, Tanzer M, Balluff B, et al. TFAP2E-DKK4 and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012 Jan 5. 366(1):44-53. [Medline].

[10]. Giovannucci E, Wu K. Cancers of the colon and rectum. Schottenfeld D, Fraumeni J, eds. Cancer. Epidemiology and Prevention. 3rd ed. Oxford University Press; 2006.

[11]. Henderson D. Home-Based Stool Test Detects 79% of Colorectal Cancers. Medscape Medical News. Available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/820194. Accessed: February 10, 2014.

[12]. Hendlisz A, Van den Eynde M, Peeters M, Maleux G, Lambert B, Vannoote J, et al. Phase III trial comparing protracted intravenous fluorouracil infusion alone or with yttrium-90 resin microspheres radioembolization for liver-limited metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to standard chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Aug 10. 28(23):3687-94. [Medline].

[13]. Hampel H. Genetic counseling in patients with familial risk for colorectal cancer. Presented at: NCCN 19th Annual Conference: Clinical Practice Guidelines & Quality Cancer Care; March 13, 2014; Hollywood, Fla.

[14]. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2001 Apr 18. 93(8):583-96. [Medline]. Schoen RE, Pinsky PF, Weissfeld JL, Yokochi LA, Church T, Laiyemo AO, et al. Colorectal-Cancer Incidence and Mortality.

[15]. Kapiteijn E, Marijnen CA, Nagtegaal ID, Putter H, Steup WH, Wiggers T. Preoperative radiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision for resectable rectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2001 Aug 30. 345(9):638-46. [Medline].

[16]. Kumar A, Scholefield JH. Endosonography of the anal canal and rectum. World J Surg. 2000 Feb. 24(2):208-15. [Medline].

[17]. Kidwell KM, Yothers G, Ganz PA, Land SR, Ko CY, Cecchini RS, et al. Long-term neurotoxicity effects of oxaliplatin added to fluorouracil and leucovorin as adjuvant therapy for colon cancer: Results from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project trials C-07 and LTS-01. Cancer. 2012 May 8. [Medline].

[18]. Lynch HT, de la Chapelle A. Hereditary colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2003. 348:919â€"932.

[19]. Lipton LR, Johnson V, Cummings C, et al. Refining the Amsterdam Criteria and Bethesda Guidelines: testing algorithms for the prediction of mismatch repair mutation status in the familial cancer clinic. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Dec 15. 22(24):4934-43. [Medline].

[20]. Lee JK, Liles EG, Bent S, Levin TR, Corley DA. Accuracy of Fecal Immunochemical Tests for

[21]. Mulcahy N. NCCN: Test all colorectal cancers for Lynch syndrome. Medscape Medical News. March 14, 2014. [Full Text].

[22]. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Colon and Rectum Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Available at http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html. Accessed: May 14, 2015.

[23]. Nelson H, Petrelli N, Carlin A, Couture J, Fleshman J, Guillem J, et al. Guidelines 2000 for colon and rectal cancer surgery.

[24]. Nielsen A, Munk C, Kjaer SK. Trends in incidence of anal cancer and high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia in Denmark, 1978-2008. Int J Cancer. 2012 Mar 1. 130(5):1168-73. [Medline].

[25]. Potter JD. Colorectal cancer: molecules and populations. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999 Jun 2. 91(11):916-32. [Medline]. [Full Text].

[26]. Quan D, Gallinger S, Nhan C, Auer RA, Biagi JJ, Fletcher GG, et al. The role of liver resection for colorectal cancer metastases in an era of multimodality treatment: A systematic review. Surgery. 2012 Jun. 151(6):860-70. [Medline].

[27]. Robbins AS, Siegel RL, Jemal A. Racial disparities in stage-specific colorectal cancer mortality rates from 1985 to 2008.

[28]. Rothenberger D, Garcia-Aquilar J. Rectal cancer, local treatment. Current Therapy in Colon and Rectal Surgery. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby; 2005.

[29]. Rothwell PM, Fowkes GR, Belch JF, Ogawa H, Warlow CP, Meade TW. Effect of daily aspirin on long-term risk of death due to cancer: analysis of individual patient data from randomized trials. Lancet. Dec 7/2010; Early online publication. [Full Text].

[30]. Simkens LH, Koopman M, Mol L, et al. Influence of body mass index on outcome in advanced colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with or without targeted therapy. Eur J Cancer. 2011 Nov. 47(17):2560-7. [Medline].

[31]. Stitzenberg KB, Sanoff HK, Penn DC, Meyers MO, Tepper JE. Practice patterns and long-term survival for early-stage rectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Dec 1. 31(34):4276-82. [Medline]. [Full Text].

[32]. Weiser MR, Landmann RG, Wong WD, Shia J, Guillem JG, Temple LK, et al. Surgical salvage of recurrent rectal cancer after transanal excision. Dis Colon Rectum. 2005 Jun. 48(6):1169-75. [Medline]. van Helmond J, Beart RW. Cancer of the rectum: Operative management and adjuvant therapy.