Low Rectal Cancer
The Consequences of Low Rectal Cancer Treatment
The treatment for low rectal cancer MAY affect your bowel function for the rest of your life. The critical factor affecting the severity of these changes is the length of rectum you have left. If the anastomosis is above 6 cm, the chances are 76% you will have good functional results, between 3 and 6 cm the chances are 53% and below 3 cm the odds decrease to 35%. Other factors that will affect your bowel function include the type of surgery, surgical complications, chemotherapy and radiation burns.
The change in bowel function from the treatment of low rectal cancer can be none or all of the following conditions:
You cannot predict how many of these consequences you will experience as the result of your low rectal cancer treatment. We are all different. Some survivors may have very few consequences while others may have some or all of the consequences. The kind and degree of the consequences may be affected by the type, quantity and timing of your meals. The severity may decrease over time only to return even after you have had an extended "good period". Just realize that you will most likely experience some or all of these "consequences" once you have been treated for low rectal cancer. The more of your rectum that is removed, the greater are the risk that you will suffer the consequences. If you have undergone radiation, chemotherapy or both, the chances are that your bowel functions will be permanently affected.
Educate yourself:
Factors Influencing bowel function. An abstract on the consequences.
Surgical techniques influence on bowel function. An abstract on how surgery affect function
LAR and Bowel Functions. Summary of bowel function problems.
Surgical approaches to obtaining optimal bowel function. Abstract on affects.
Rectal resection with low anastomosis: functional outcome Summary of Effects
Sexual Dysfunction after LAR Summary of how LAR affects sexuality
Quality of Life of J-Pouch vs. Straight A review of how the two options affect quality of life.
Long term effects of J-Pouch vs. Straight. A review of how both types of treatment affect life
Anorectal function following LAR. A complete study on bowel functions after LAR
Ultra low Reconstruction A comparison between a LAR and J-Pouch
Function of J-Pouch v Straight Connection Study that compared long term differences
J-Pouch vs straight over time. Functional comparison between two options over time
Long Term Functional between J-Pouch and Straight Comparison between two options
Quality of Life between J-Pouch and Straight Comparison of QOL between two options
Functional outcome between J-Pouch and Straight Comparison finds J-pouch best for first year
Comparison of long term results J-pouch vs Straight. Comparison finds J-Pouch superior
J-Pouch function at 6 months vs Straight A comparison between the J-Pouch and Straight
Straight and colonic pouch after LAR Comparison between two options.
Randomized Comparison between J-Pouch and Straight Comparison between options.
Colostomies may influence patients QOL more than Poor Function. Finding QOF Poor
Morbidity and financial impact of colostomy closure Cost of closure after J-Pouch
Morbidity of Ostomy takedown Discussion of morbidity of takedowns
Explore on Goggle with these key words:
Colorectal Cancer, Bowel Function, Quality of Life, Anorectal function, J-Pouch, Anastomosis, Functional Outcome