Dr. Hoeltgen and Dr. Wool at Barrington Surgeons provide expert surgical treatment for patients living with rectal cancer from in and around Barrington, Illinois.
The rectum is the lowest part of the colon. Like colon cancer, abnormal cells can grow in or on the walls of this tissue. Also, like colon cancer, rectal cancer is symptomless in its early stages, which makes having regular screening tests such as colonoscopies essential. Men and women should have screenings every five years from the age of 50. Those with a family or medical history of colon cancer should start their screenings earlier and have them more regularly. Some of the common symptoms of rectal cancer include rectal bleeding, dark or bloody stools, a change in bowel habits, cramping or abdominal pain, unintended weight loss, and weakness and fatigue. Again, similarly to colon cancer, it is important to remember that many of these symptoms are also caused by other non-cancerous medical conditions.
Like many cancers of the digestive tract, rectal cancer can have hereditary links. Other risk factors include:
Surgery is the most effective treatment to remove rectal cancer. Dr. Wool and Dr. Hoeltgen provide rectal cancer removal surgeries to remove the tumor and affected tissue. Both doctors are highly experienced in laparoscopic surgeries and in the use of the da Vinci Surgical System. Both of these surgical procedures typically produce better patient outcomes with improved recovery times and less scarring. Rectal cancer has a relatively low chance of recurrence, so chemotherapy is not often the best solution. There are four types of surgeries that are possible treatments for rectal cancer: