Rectal cancer sits low in the pelvis, close to nerves that control continence and sexual function. Because of this, planning matters as much as the operation itself.
Many patients receive radiotherapy, sometimes with chemotherapy, before surgery. This shrinks the tumour and lowers the chance of it coming back in the pelvis.
The operation removes the rectum inside its natural fatty envelope, a technique called total mesorectal excision. A magnified robotic view helps identify and protect the pelvic nerves.
Whether a stoma is needed depends on how close the tumour is to the anal sphincter. In many cases a temporary stoma protects the join and is reversed a few months later. This is discussed with you honestly before the operation, never after.
General education, reviewed by Dr. Ishaan Allahabadi, MCh Surgical Oncology (Edge Hill, UK) · MS Surgery · MBBS (Accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England). Not a substitute for individual medical advice.