Rectal cancer
Living with rectal cancer
Talk to others
Your GP or nurse may be able to reassure you if you have questions, or you may find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor, psychologist or specialist telephone helpline operator. Your GP surgery will have information on these.
Some people find it helpful to talk to others with bowel cancer at a local support group or through an internet chat room.
Beating Bowel Cancer offers support services to people with bowel cancer. They run anurse advisory line on08450 719 301or020 8973 0011, available 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Fridays.
You can also email a nurse at nurse@beatingbowelcancer.org .
The organisation also runs a national patient-to-patient network called Bowel Cancer Voicesfor people affected by bowel cancer and their relatives.
Want to know more?
- Beating Bowel Cancer: Bowel Cancer Voices
- Macmillan Cancer Support: cancer support groups
Your emotions
Having cancer cancause a range of emotions. These may include shock, anxiety, relief, sadness and depression.
Different peopledeal with serious problems in different ways. It's hard to predict how knowing you have cancer will affect you.
However, you and your loved ones may find it helpful toknow aboutthe feelings that people diagnosed with cancer have reported.
Want to know more?
- Macmillan Cancer Support: the emotional effects of cancer
Recovering from surgery
Surgeons and anaesthetists have found using an Enhanced recovery after bowel cancer surgery helps patients recover more quickly.
Most hospitals now use this programme.It involves giving you more informationabout what to expectbefore the operation, avoiding giving you strong laxatives to clean the bowel before surgery, and in some cases giving you a sugary drinktwo hours before the operation to give you energy.
During and after the operation, the anaesthetist controls the amount of IV fluid you need very carefully. After the operation, you'll be given painkillers that allow you to get up and out of bed by the next day.
Most people will be able to eat a light diet the day after their operation.
To reduce the risk ofblood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) , you may be given special compression stockings that help prevent blood clots, or a regular injection with a blood-thinning medication calledheparin until you're fully mobile.
A nurse or physiotherapist will help you get out of bed and regain your strength so you can go home within a few days.
With the enhanced recovery programme, most people are well enough to go home within a week of their operation.
The timing depends on when you and the doctors and nurses looking after you agree you're well enough to go home.
You'll be asked to return to hospital a few weeks after your treatment has finished so tests can be carried out to check for any remaining signs of cancer.
You may also need routine check-ups for the next few years to look out for signs of the cancer recurring. It's becoming increasingly possible to cure cancers that recur after surgery.
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: after your operation for bowel cancer
Diet after bowel surgery
If you've had part of your colon removed, it's likely you'll experience some diarrhoeaor frequent bowel motions.
One of the functions of the colon is to absorb water from stools and empty when going to the toilet.
After surgery, the bowelinitially doesn't empty as well, particularly if part of the rectum has been removed.
Inform your care team if this becomes a problem,as medication is available to help control these problems.
You may find some foods upset your bowels, particularly during the first few months after your operation.
Different foods can upset different people, but food and drink known to cause problems include fruit and vegetables that are high in fibre, such as beans, cabbages, apples and bananas, and fizzy drinks, such as cola and beer.
You may find it useful to keep a food diary to record the effects of different foods on your bowel.
Contact your care team if you find you're having continual problems with your bowels as a result of your diet, or you're finding it difficult to maintain a healthy diet. You may need to be referred to a dietitian for further advice.
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: diet after bowel cancer
Living with a stoma
If you need a temporary or permanent stoma with an external bag or pouch, you may feel worried about how you look and how others will react to you.
Information and advice about living with a stoma including stoma care, stoma products and stoma-friendly dietsis available on the ileostomy and colostomy topics.
For thosewho want further information about living with a stoma, there are patient support groupsthat provide support for people who may have had, or are due to have, a stoma.
You canget moredetailsfrom your stoma care nurse, or visit support groups online for further information:
- Colostomy Association
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group this organisation provides a unique visiting service for anyone wishing to speak with someone who has been through similar surgery
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: coping with a stoma after bowel cancer
- Colostomy Association
Sex and bowel cancer
Having cancer andreceiving treatment may affect how you feel about relationships and sex.
Although most people are able to enjoy a normal sex life after bowel cancer treatment, you may feel self-conscious or uncomfortable if you havestoma.
Talking about how you feel with your partner may help you both support each other. Or you may feelyou'd like to talk to someone else about your feelings. Your doctor or nurse will be able to help.
Want to know more?
- Beating Bowel Cancer: intimate relationships
- Cancer Research UK: sex and bowel cancer
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group
Financial concerns
A diagnosis of cancer can cause money problems because you're unable to work, or someone you're close to has to stop working to look after you.
There's financial support available for carers and yourself if you have to stay off work for a while or stop work because of your illness.
Free prescriptions
People being treated for cancer are entitled to apply for an exemption certificate giving free prescriptions for all medication, including medication to treat unrelated conditions.
The certificate is valid for five years. You can apply for one by speaking to your GP or cancer specialist.
Want to know more?
- Care and support
- Get help with prescription costs
- Cancer Research UK: free prescriptions for people with cancer
- GOV.UK: benefits
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group
- Macmillan Cancer Support: financial issues
- Money Advice Service
Dealing with dying
If you're told there's nothing more that can be done to treat your bowel cancer, your GP will still provide you with support and pain relief. This is called palliative care.
Support is also available for your family and friends.
Want to know more?
- End of life care
- Macmillan Cancer Support: caring for someone with advanced cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support: dying with cancer
- Marie Curie Cancer Care
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 7 Oct 2016
Introduction
Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer. Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed
Symptoms
Read about symptoms of bowel cancer, including blood in the stools (faeces), a change in bowel habit, such as more frequent, looser stools, and tummy (abdominal) pain.
Causes
Read about the causes of bowel cancer. Cancer occurs when the cells in a certain area of your body divide and multiply too rapidly. This produces a lump of tissue known as a tumour.
Diagnosis
Read about diagnosing bowel cancer. When you first see your GP, they'll ask about your symptoms and whether you have a family history of bowel cancer.
Treatment
Read about treating bowel cancer. Treatment for bowel cancer depends on which part of your bowel is affected and how far the cancer has spread.
Living with rectal cancer
Read about how bowel cancer can affect your daily life in different ways, depending on what stage it's at and what treatment you're having.
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Anne Messenger, from London, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2005. After keyhole surgery, she is now in the clear and focused on helping others.
Patient story: "If it's caught early, you stand a good chance of recovery."
Lester tells his story of being diagnosed with bowel cancer
Patient story: "It was soft and smooth. I could feel it."
Linda's account of being diagnosed with bowel cancer
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