How to treat hereditary colorectal cancer

Rectal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the digestive tract. The tumor is located at the junction of the dentate line and the rectosigmoid colon. Due to its relatively low location, it is easily diagnosed clinically by rectal indications and sigmoidoscopy. The anatomical relationship of the location of rectal cancer is complex, and the recurrence rate after surgery is very high. So how to treat hereditary colorectal cancer? Let's learn about it together.

The treatment of rectal cancer is mainly based on surgery, supplemented by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other comprehensive methods. Surgical treatment is divided into two types: radical and palliative. For lower rectal cancer with a tumor less than seven centimeters from the anal edge, a combined abdominoperineal resection is usually used. A permanent colostomy, or artificial anus, is made in the abdomen. This type of surgery is thorough and has a relatively high cure rate.

For upper rectal cancer with a tumor located more than 12 centimeters from the anal verge, low abdominal resection and extraperitoneal primary anastomosis are used. The sigmoid colon and most of the rectum are removed in the abdominal cavity, and the sigmoid colon and rectum are anastomosed outside the peritoneum. This surgery is less invasive and can preserve the original anus, but it is not suitable if the tumor is relatively large.

Early rectal cancer that is 7 to 11 centimeters from the anal verge is suitable for rectal cancer resection with preservation of the anal sphincter. If the tumor is large and poorly differentiated, this surgery will not be thorough and a combined abdominal perineal resection is still required. If the tumor is severely infiltrated locally or has metastasized widely, only palliative resection can be performed, with limited resection of the intestinal segment with the tumor.

In addition to surgical treatment, radiotherapy is also very important. Simultaneous radiotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery and then surgery is more effective than radiotherapy after surgery, and the patient's survival period is longer. After rectal cancer surgery, patients usually need half a year of chemotherapy to prevent cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.