Explain the treatment methods of rectal cancer in detail

The treatment of rectal cancer has always been the focus of many oncology experts' research, hoping to minimize the side effects of rectal cancer treatment on patients and obtain better treatment effects, which is very beneficial to rectal cancer patients. What are the common treatments for rectal cancer ? The following is a detailed introduction to the common treatments for rectal cancer.

In general, common treatments for rectal cancer include:

1. Radiotherapy.

The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of rectal cancer has been increasingly recognized. There are two types of treatment: comprehensive treatment combined with surgery and traditional Chinese medicine, and simple radiotherapy.

① Preoperative radiotherapy can control the primary lesion, control lymph node metastasis, improve the resection rate and reduce local recurrence, and is suitable for stage III rectal cancer. The anterior and posterior pelvic fields are used for irradiation, and the radiation dose can reach 40-45gy (4000-4500rad). Surgery is performed 3 weeks after radiotherapy; ② Postoperative radiotherapy is suitable for pathological examinations to confirm lymph node metastasis, the tumor has obviously infiltrated outside the intestinal wall, and there are residual unresectable lesions in the pelvic cavity. It is usually started 1-2 months after surgery when the perineal wound has healed. The anterior and posterior pelvic fields are used for irradiation, and sometimes the perineal field is also used. The radiation dose can reach 45-50gy (4500-5000rad).

2. Chemotherapy.

It is also a common treatment for rectal cancer. About half of patients with rectal cancer experience metastasis and recurrence after surgery. Except for some early patients, patients in the late stage and after surgical resection need to receive chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is another important treatment measure after surgical treatment in the comprehensive treatment of rectal cancer. Chemotherapy will inhibit the bone marrow hematopoietic system, mainly the decrease of white blood cells and platelets, so as to make up for the deficiency of chemotherapy and reduce the damage of chemotherapy to the hematopoietic system.

3. Surgical treatment: This type of treatment for rectal cancer is divided into radical and palliative treatments.

1. Radical surgery: Although surgery can remove the cancer, there may still be residual cancer, regional lymph node metastasis, or cancer thrombus in the blood vessels, and the chance of recurrence and metastasis is very high. The surgical method depends on the location of the cancer in the rectum. There are two systems in the rectal wall: the submucosal lymph plexus and the intermuscular lymph plexus. It is rare for cancer cells to metastasize to the lymphatic system in the intestinal wall. Once cancer cells penetrate the intestinal wall, they spread to the lymphatic system outside the intestinal wall. Generally, the paraintestinal lymph nodes at the same level or slightly higher than the cancer are first affected, and then the intermediate lymph node group accompanying the superior hemorrhoidal artery is gradually affected upward, and finally to the lymph node group beside the inferior mesenteric artery.

2. Palliative surgery: If the local infiltration of the cancer is severe or the metastasis is extensive and cannot be cured, in order to relieve obstruction and reduce the patient's pain, palliative resection can be performed. The intestinal segment with cancer is limitedly resected, the distal end of the rectum is sutured, and the sigmoid colon is taken for stoma (Hartmann operation). If this is not possible, only sigmoid colostomy is performed, especially in patients with intestinal obstruction.

The above is a summary of the common treatment methods for rectal cancer, I hope it will be helpful to everyone. Patients must choose the correct treatment method for rectal cancer according to the doctor's advice, and must be cautious to avoid adverse effects on the condition.