Rectal Cancer

About

Rectal cancer often doesn't cause symptoms in the early stages. The most common signs of the disease include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Changes in appetite and the frequency, consistency or size of bowel movements
• Unintended weight loss
• Extreme tiredness

Although many rectal cancers develop for reasons that aren't well understood, certain factors increase your risk, including:

• Smoking
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• High-fat, low-fiber diet
• Inactive lifestyle
• Family history of rectal or colon cancer or colorectal polyps
• Age older than 50 years
• Inherited gene mutations that lead to colorectal polyp formation