Comments on: Rectal examination http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/ What's next along this river of life? Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:35:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Bernard http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-9009 Bernard Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:26:30 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-9009 The pathological diagnosis has come. <strong>It's confirmed to be an adenocarcinoma.</strong> The pathological diagnosis has come. It’s confirmed to be an adenocarcinoma.

]]> By: FireHorse http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8982 FireHorse Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:40:01 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8982 Colonoscopy is no fun but it truly is worse in your imagination than it is in real life. The one that one really has to be "afraid" of is barium enema, dat one is worse. Colonoscopy is no fun but it truly is worse in your imagination than it is in real life. The one that one really has to be “afraid” of is barium enema, dat one is worse.

]]> By: Sin Ling http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8956 Sin Ling Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:54:22 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8956 Wah so scary, wanna faint already... :( i dont want the patient to die... Wah so scary, wanna faint already… :( i dont want the patient to die…

]]> By: Bernard http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8950 Bernard Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:33:02 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8950 <strong>SK</strong>, it depends on the <strong>stage</strong> of the disease. The stage means the extent to which the cancer has spread. As a general rule: <center><table border="1" width="80%" cellpadding="5"> <tr><th>Duke's Stage</th><th>Spread</th><th>5-year survival rate</th></tr> <tr><td>Stage A</td><td>Involves only the innermost lining (mucosa)</td><td>90%</td></tr> <tr><td>Stage B</td><td>Involves the muscle layer or outer layer of the bowel</td><td>70%</td></tr> <tr><td>Stage C</td><td>Spread to lymph nodes</td><td>30%</td></tr> <tr><td>Stage D</td><td>Spread to distant organs, e.g. the liver or lung</td><td>10%</td></tr> </table></center> Therefore, early diagnosis means better survival. Note about cancer survival statistics: 5-year-survival is an objective way to quantify the <strong>prognosis</strong> of patients, i.e. what is the future outcome of the disease. So a higher percentage of patients live for 5 years after the diagnosis means the prognosis is better. Generally, colorectal cancer has a better prognosis (if detected early) than most other cancers in the gastro-intestinal tract. Therefore, early detection is something definitely worth trying to achieve. <strong>jonzz</strong>, it the body that God created for us. Everyone has the same manufacturer. Sometimes the model is a bit different but there's nothing so be ashamed about our body. SK, it depends on the stage of the disease. The stage means the extent to which the cancer has spread.

As a general rule:


Duke’s Stage Spread 5-year survival rate
Stage A Involves only the innermost lining (mucosa) 90%
Stage B Involves the muscle layer or outer layer of the bowel 70%
Stage C Spread to lymph nodes 30%
Stage D Spread to distant organs, e.g. the liver or lung 10%

Therefore, early diagnosis means better survival.

Note about cancer survival statistics: 5-year-survival is an objective way to quantify the prognosis of patients, i.e. what is the future outcome of the disease. So a higher percentage of patients live for 5 years after the diagnosis means the prognosis is better.

Generally, colorectal cancer has a better prognosis (if detected early) than most other cancers in the gastro-intestinal tract. Therefore, early detection is something definitely worth trying to achieve.

jonzz, it the body that God created for us. Everyone has the same manufacturer. Sometimes the model is a bit different but there’s nothing so be ashamed about our body.

]]> By: jonzz http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8944 jonzz Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:13:12 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8944 Hmm... it's so embarassing to go for a rectal checkup. Hmm… it’s so embarassing to go for a rectal checkup.

]]> By: SK http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8937 SK Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:21:31 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8937 What's the survival rate once the tumour is removed? A fren of mine's dad was diagnosed with colorectal ca n the ca removed a couple of years back. He's fine now but has difficulty controlling his defecation. What’s the survival rate once the tumour is removed? A fren of mine’s dad was diagnosed with colorectal ca n the ca removed a couple of years back. He’s fine now but has difficulty controlling his defecation.

]]> By: Bernard http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8922 Bernard Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:26:16 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8922 <strong>Judy</strong>, what happens to patients once diagnosed with rectal cancer depends on the way it presents. Usually a CT scan is performed, the patient is worked-up for general medical fitness and an operation is planned. The treatment methods for rectal cancer include: <ul><li>surgery, with or without a stoma</li> <li>radiotherapy</li> <li>chemotherapy</li></ul> <strong>Capt Picard</strong>, boldly go where no man has gone before. <strong>liling</strong>, the recommended screening for average-risk individuals is every TEN years starting from the age of 50 years. You are right... colorectal cancer is rising. Colonoscopy not only detects early cancer, it also <a href="http://www.bernardchan.net/2007/01/02/colorectal-polyps-screening-to-prevent-cancer/" rel="nofollow">prevents cancer by removal of polyps</a>. Judy, what happens to patients once diagnosed with rectal cancer depends on the way it presents. Usually a CT scan is performed, the patient is worked-up for general medical fitness and an operation is planned.

The treatment methods for rectal cancer include:

  • surgery, with or without a stoma
  • radiotherapy
  • chemotherapy

Capt Picard, boldly go where no man has gone before.

liling, the recommended screening for average-risk individuals is every TEN years starting from the age of 50 years.

You are right… colorectal cancer is rising. Colonoscopy not only detects early cancer, it also prevents cancer by removal of polyps.

]]> By: liling http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8919 liling Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:00:49 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8919 A yearly Colonoscopy is encouraged to all over 50 here in sg. Colon cancer is on the rise. What will happen to this patient? A yearly Colonoscopy is encouraged to all over 50 here in sg. Colon cancer is on the rise. What will happen to this patient?

]]> By: Jean-Luc Picard http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8917 Jean-Luc Picard Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:14:29 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8917 All very grisly. I look through my fingers. All very grisly. I look through my fingers.

]]> By: Judy Leese http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8915 Judy Leese Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:12:30 +0000 http://bernardchan.net/2007/03/01/rectal-examination/#comment-8915 Bernard, so what will happen to this patient now? Pretty scary stuff. Bernard, so what will happen to this patient now? Pretty scary stuff.

]]>