Rectal cancer is a type of bowel cancer that starts in the lining of the rectum, which is the last part of the large intestine just before the anus. It is related to colon cancer but is treated somewhat differently because of the rectum’s location deep in the pelvis and its close relationship to surrounding organs and muscles that control bowel movements.

Quick Scoop: What is rectal cancer?

Rectal cancer happens when normal cells in the rectal wall change, grow out of control, and form a tumor. Most of these tumors are adenocarcinomas , meaning they begin in the gland-forming cells that line the inside of the rectum.

The rectum:

  • Is the last several inches of the large bowel (colon → rectum → anus).
  • Stores stool until it passes out of the body as a bowel movement.

In many cases, rectal cancer starts as small noncancerous growths called polyps that, over time, can become cancerous if not removed.

Common symptoms (but sometimes none early on)

Symptoms can be subtle at first, which is why screening is important. Possible signs include:

  • Blood in the stool or on the toilet paper.
  • A change in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or narrower stools) lasting more than a few weeks.
  • Feeling that the bowel does not empty completely.
  • Abdominal discomfort, cramps, or gas pains.
  • Unexplained weight loss or fatigue.
  • Iron‑deficiency anemia found on blood tests.

These symptoms can also be caused by non‑cancer conditions like hemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome, but they should still be checked by a doctor, especially if they persist or worsen.

Causes and risk factors

Rectal cancer usually develops over many years as genetic changes accumulate in the cells of the rectal lining. Known risk factors include:

  • Age : Risk increases after age 50, though cases in younger adults have been rising.
  • Family or personal history of colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer, or certain inherited syndromes (such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis).
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease affecting the colon/rectum).
  • Lifestyle factors : Low‑fiber and high‑red/processed‑meat diets, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.

Having risk factors does not mean someone will definitely get rectal cancer, and people without obvious risk factors can still develop it.

How it is found (diagnosis and staging)

Doctors generally use a combination of exams and tests to diagnose rectal cancer and see how advanced it is.

Typical steps:

  1. Medical history and physical exam, often including a digital rectal exam.
  1. Colonoscopy to look at the rectum and colon from the inside and remove or biopsy suspicious areas.
  1. Imaging tests (CT, MRI, sometimes endorectal ultrasound) to determine the local extent of the tumor and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other organs.
  1. Lab tests, including blood tests, and sometimes tumor markers like CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen).

Staging describes how deeply the cancer has grown into the rectal wall, whether lymph nodes are involved, and whether there is spread (metastasis) to distant organs such as the liver or lungs.

Treatment in broad strokes

Treatment usually depends on the stage of the cancer, its exact location in the rectum, and the person’s overall health.

Main options include:

  • Surgery : Often the central treatment, aiming to remove the tumor and nearby lymph nodes while preserving continence if possible.
  • Radiation therapy : Frequently used (often with chemotherapy) before or after surgery to shrink the tumor and lower the chance of local recurrence.
  • Chemotherapy : Uses drugs that travel through the bloodstream to kill cancer cells or slow their growth; may be given before surgery (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant).
  • Targeted therapy and immunotherapy : In some advanced or specific molecular subtypes, medicines that act on particular cancer cell changes or help the immune system recognize cancer may be used.

Because the rectum is so important for bowel control and quality of life, specialists often use carefully planned combined treatments to try to cure the cancer while maintaining as much normal function as possible.

Outlook, screening, and “latest news” angle

When rectal cancer is found early—confined to the rectal wall and nearby tissue—outcomes are generally much better than when it is discovered after it has spread widely. Modern screening and treatment advances over the last decade have improved survival and helped more people keep normal bowel function.

Trends and updates you’ll often see discussed in news and forums include:

  • Lowering recommended screening ages (many guidelines now advise starting at 45 for average‑risk adults).
  • Rising awareness of rectal cancer in younger adults and calls for earlier evaluation of persistent rectal bleeding or bowel changes.
  • Newer approaches like total neoadjuvant therapy (all chemotherapy and radiation before surgery) and select “watch‑and‑wait” strategies for very good responders, being studied in specialist centers.

If you or someone you know has symptoms like ongoing rectal bleeding, a change in bowel habits, or unexplained weight loss, it’s important to see a doctor promptly for proper evaluation rather than self‑diagnosing.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.