Types

• Rectal cancer is described in four stages, depending on how deeply the cancer cells have invaded the rectal wall and how far they've traveled. Stage 1 is localized cancer, while Stage 4 refers to rectal cancer that affects other parts of the body.
  
  

Treatment

• Stage 1 cancers may be completely removed by surgery. If the cancerous cells have spread beyond the rectum, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be recommended after surgery.
  
  

Considerations

• When discussing a cancer prognosis, the doctor will take into account individual factors, such as the person's age and overall health.
  
  

Outlook

• According to Emedicine, the five-year survival rate for Stage 1 rectal cancer is 70 to 80 percent. People with Stage 4 rectal cancer, on the other hand, have a less than 10 percent chance of being alive five years later.
  
  

Warning

• Even when rectal cancer is treated successfully, it may come back. It's important to have regular colonoscopies to monitor for recurrence.