Rectal cancer is a relatively common cancer, and many people in life often delay the treatment of the disease because they ignore the early symptoms of rectal cancer, so many people are very concerned about rectal cancer. early symptoms, but most people don’t understand them. So what are the early symptoms of rectal cancer? What are the early symptoms and manifestations of rectal cancer?
1. Blood in the stool
Basically half of the patients with rectal cancer will have bloody stool. This kind of bloody stool often only covers the surface of the stool. The color is bright red or dark red. When the cancer only involves the surface of the mucosa, symptoms such as hepatic distension or itching often occur; when the cancer invades below the mucosa, bloody stools will occur. This kind of bloody stools has a small amount of intermittent bleeding and is mostly bright red or Dark red blood.
2. Mucus in the stool
In rectal cancer, there is a cauliflower-shaped tumor mass and inflammatory lesions of the intestinal mucosa, which can cause a large amount of mucus secretion, forming Mucus stool, if gas is mixed with mucus stool, the stool will be foamy. Cancer lesions will be combined with surrounding infections and produce a large amount of pus. At this time, they are often misdiagnosed as chronic enteritis or dysentery. If the surface of the cancer erodes or forms ulcers, symptoms include more bleeding, thin stools, increased pus and blood, and a bloody odor.
3. Changes in the frequency of defecation
Changes in defecation habits are also among the early symptoms of rectal cancer. Normal people's bowel movements are relatively regular, usually once in the morning. Patients with rectal cancer experience irregular changes in defecation frequency, defecation time, and defecation quantity. For example: Rectal papillary cancer often presents with diarrhea and frequent bowel movements due to excessive mucus; ring-shaped hard cancer often presents with constipation symptoms at the earliest, and later begins to cause loose stools and diarrhea.
4. Rectal chasing sensation
When the cancer in the rectal ampulla is large or invades surrounding tissues, clinical symptoms such as anal prolapse and incomplete defecation may occur. Because ampullary cancers are mostly cauliflower-shaped, secretions mixed with pus and blood often flow out of the anus.
5. Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain is one of the early symptoms of a small number of patients with rectal cancer. Cancer of the upper rectum or sigmoid colon may form annular stenosis, intestinal obstruction, etc., and often manifest paroxysmal abdominal cramps, accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, hyperactive bowel sounds, thin stools, and reduced anal exhaust. These symptoms There is a certain degree of relief or disappearance after defecation.
6. Dietary principles for patients
(1) Patients with colon and rectal cancer often have recurrent and protracted diarrhea and weak digestion ability, so they should be given diet that is easy to digest and absorb. food.
(2) Patients with colorectal cancer often have blood in their stools. Patients with advanced stages often have a lot of blood in their stools, so they should eat less or avoid irritating and spicy foods.
(3) Patients with chronic diarrhea or advanced stage patients have long-term fever, sweating, and damage to body fluids, so they should drink more water or soup. The staple food can be porridge, noodles and other semi-popular Yunnan diet.
(4) Patients often have symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, and even vomiting, so they should eat a light diet and avoid greasy food.
(5) Patients with advanced colorectal cancer suffer from chronic diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, loss of a large amount of nutrients and water, weight loss, loss of qi and blood, and should take nutritious and nourishing medicinal diets.