What are the methods of surgical treatment for rectal cancer? Can rectal cancer be cured after surgical resection?

In recent years, the incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing year by year, posing a great threat to people's health. The best time to treat colorectal cancer is in the early stage. Do you know what methods are available for early colorectal cancer? Which treatment method is good? Let's learn about it below.

Treatment options for rectal cancer

1. Surgical treatment: It is divided into radical surgery and palliative surgery. The choice of surgical method can be comprehensively judged based on factors such as the location, size, activity, and degree of cell differentiation of the tumor.

2. Radical surgery: There are different methods.

Abdominal perineal excision (Miles): Applicable to rectal cancer with tumors less than 7 cm from the anal verge. The excision range includes the lower part of the sigmoid colon and its mesentery and the entire rectum, lymph nodes around the inferior mesenteric artery, anal levator muscles, fat in the ischiorectal fossa, anal canal and surrounding skin with a diameter of about 5 cm and all anal sphincters. A permanent artificial anus is made in the left lower abdomen at the proximal end of the sigmoid colon.

Dixon surgery: It is suitable for rectal cancer with the tumor more than 10 cm away from the anal verge. It can preserve enough rectum and sigmoid colon. The surgery causes little damage, preserves the normal anus, and has good defecation function, but it is not a complete cure.

Pull-down rectal cancer resection: It is suitable for rectal cancer with a tumor 7 to 10 cm away from the anal verge. The anus is retained, the rectum is cut off at the dentate line through the anus, and the sigmoid colon is pulled down from the anus and fixed to the anus. Although this method retains the anus, the effect of controlling defecation after surgery is unsatisfactory and the thoroughness of the operation is poor.

3. Palliative surgery: Suitable for advanced cases with extensive metastasis that cannot be cured, such as colostomy, to relieve obstruction.

4. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy after surgery can control blood metastasis in the body to improve the efficacy. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for patients who cannot undergo surgery or who have relapses after surgery.

5. Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy can be performed before and after surgery. Preoperative radiotherapy can improve the efficacy of surgery and reduce the recurrence rate of patients after surgery; postoperative radiotherapy can kill residual micro-lesions. It is also suitable for advanced patients or those who have recurred after surgery.

There are many treatments for rectal cancer. The specific treatment method to be adopted still needs to be decided according to the individual's specific situation. It may be one or a combination of multiple treatment methods to achieve better results.

Is rectal cancer easy to treat? Can it be cured?

As a type of cancer, rectal cancer is very difficult to treat. If it is in the early stage, the treatment effect is relatively good. If it is in the middle or late stage, the treatment is more troublesome. Whether it is surgical treatment, chemotherapy or physical therapy, it can only alleviate the condition and relieve the pain of the patient. Therefore, once the patient finds any abnormal symptoms, he must go to the hospital for examination in time.