Rectal cancer is form of cancer that can affect the layers of the
rectum, which is the lower part of the colon that connects the anus to
the large intestine. There are three layers of the rectum that rectal
cancer can penetrate. The first layer of the rectum that can be
contaminated by rectal cancer is the mucosa. The mucosa is the layer
of the rectum wall that lines the inner surface and is made up of
glands that release mucus that helps stool pass through the body. The
second layer of the rectum is the Musclaris propria which is made of
muscles and helps the rectums contract. The third layer of the rectum
that can be affected by rectal cancer is the Mesorectum which is the
fatty tissue that surrounds the rectum.
Rectal cancer is
fairly common and constitutes about 40,000 of the 150,000 cases of
colorectal cancer that are diagnoses every year. The most common form
of rectal cancer is called adenocarcinoma, which is a form of rectal
cancer that affects the mucosa layer of the rectum. This type of
cancer is dangerous because it can spread to the rest of the body
through Lymph nodes located in the rectum. The severity of rectal
cancer can depend on many things, including how deep the cancer
penetrates through the rectum, which layers of the rectum are affected
with the disease, and if the cancer has spread through out the body via
the surrounding lymph nodes.
Some symptoms of rectal cancer
include narrowing of the stool, pelvic pain, and red blood in the
stool. On rare occasions, feces can be passed through the female vagina
and passage of air with urine in men. If a person is experiencing these
symptoms it is important to go to the doctors immediately.