Surgery is usually the main treatment for rectal cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy are often given before or after surgery. The type of surgery used depends on the stage (extent) of the cancer, where it is, and the goal of the surgery.

Before doing surgery, the doctor will need to know how close the tumor is to the anus. This will help decide what type of surgery is done. It can also impact outcomes if the cancer has spread to the ring-like muscles around the anus (anal sphincter) that keep stool from coming out until they relax during a bowel movement.

Polypectomy and local excision

Some early rectal cancers and most polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy. This is a procedure that uses a long flexible tube with a small video camera on the end that's put into the person’s anus and threaded into the rectum. These surgeries can be done during a colonoscopy:

For a polypectomy, the cancer is removed as part of the polyp, which is cut at its base (the part that looks like the stem of a mushroom). This is usually done by passing a wire loop through the colonoscope to cut the polyp from the wall of the rectum with an electric current.

A local excision is a slightly more involved procedure. Tools are used through the colonoscope to remove small cancers on the inside lining of the rectum along with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue on the wall of rectum.

Thanks and Regards,
Michelle
Managing Editor
Colorectal Cancer: Open Access