What are the symptoms of early rectal cancer?

Rectal cancer refers to the cancer between the dentate line and the junction of the rectum and sigmoid colon. It is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive tract. Rectal cancer is located low and can be easily diagnosed by rectal examination and sigmoidoscopy. However, it is located deep in the pelvic cavity, with complex anatomical relationships, and it is not easy to perform a thorough surgery. The recurrence rate after surgery is high. Therefore, prevention and early detection are very important.

Early symptoms of rectal cancer 1. Blood in the stool

If you have rectal cancer, the tumor in the intestine will secrete a large amount of mucus. At the same time, the inflammation of the intestinal lesions caused by rectal cancer tumors will also cause an increase in mucus. Specifically, when you defecate, you will find that your stool contains a lot of mucus or foam.

The period with mucus and foam is still in the very early stage of rectal cancer, and bloody stools will appear if it develops further. The formation of bloody stools is due to erosion of the surface of the rectal cancer tumor and ulceration of the rectum, which causes intestinal bleeding. At this time, the stool will appear very thin and contain a lot of foam, mucus, pus and blood.

Early symptoms of rectal cancer 2. Incomplete bowel movements

After suffering from rectal cancer, the compression of the tumor and the surrounding human tissues will cause the anus to fall, thus creating an illusion of incomplete defecation. When people have incomplete defecation and feel a strong foreign body sensation in the intestines at the same time, it is almost certain that it is rectal cancer, because other intestinal diseases generally do not cause this situation.

Early symptoms of rectal cancer 3. Abdominal pain and bowel sounds

The abdominal pain caused by rectal cancer is not only abdominal pain, but also accompanied by hyperactive bowel sounds, paroxysmal intestinal colic, thinner stools, reduced flatulence, etc. This is because rectal cancer can cause intestinal stenosis and intestinal obstruction.

Although abdominal pain is a classic symptom of rectal cancer, its specific manifestation in each rectal cancer patient is different. Different locations of rectal tumors, different physical constitutions, and different diets may cause different symptoms.

In addition, we would like to remind everyone that when you have blood in your stool, you should distinguish between hemorrhoids and the precursor of rectal cancer. The blood in the stool caused by hemorrhoids is sticky outside the stool. If you are not sure, please go to a large hospital for cancer screening in time, and do not be afraid to see a doctor.