Many patients go abroad for the diagnostics and treatment of rectal cancer. In developed countries, medicine is generally better and oncology is well developed. The modern Cancer Centers are well equipped and employ the best specialists in the world.
Early diagnostics of cancer abroad
One of the purposes of the examination is the detection of rectal cancer at the initial stages in people who do not have clinical symptoms of the disease. Obviously, any type of cancer is much easier to treat at the initial stage, when the tumor is still small and does not spread any metastases. This not only increases the person's chances to get rid of the disease completely, but also decreases the number of colon cancer treatment techniques, which are required for the complete cure of a malignant tumor. As a result, the time and financial costs, physical suffering of a person and the risk of complications are reduced.
For example, a small rectal tumor can be removed during minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. In this case, the patient does not require chemotherapy for rectal cancer or radiation therapy, but if the disease is detected at the advanced stages, even if the pathology can be successfully cured, the operation will be more extensive. A person will have to recover after it for a long time. The doctors additionally carry out chemotherapy for bowel cancer, as well as use other methods to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Thus, the fact that the tumor must be detected as early as possible is undeniable. It is possible in the case of rectal neoplasms. A person just needs to go abroad for cancer or gastroenterological screening.
Here are some methods for the early detection of a rectal tumor:
- digital rectal examination;
- fecal occult blood test;
- rectoscopy (colonoscopy is more common as it can detect polyps or neoplasms of the large intestine at the initial stage).
The main screening method remains colonoscopy. During this examination, the doctor inserts a tube with a camera into the intestine and examines its walls from the inside. The diagnostics can detect polyps or small malignant tumors. The polyps must be removed because they are a precancerous condition. Sometimes it is possible to detect the initial stages of the disease during the examination, the colon cancer treatment in this case will not be complex and it will be very likely to be successful.
Establishment of the diagnosis
The rectal cancer can be diagnosed in the following cases:
- the patient visits a doctor in the case of complaints of symptoms (for example, anal hemorrhages or foreign body sensation in the rectum);
- the doctor accidentally detected a palpable tumor in a digital rectal examination;
- detection of the fecal occult blood;
- endoscopic rectal screening served to detect a tumor.
Endoscopy is the main diagnostic technique. It allows the doctor to detect the tumor, see it through a video camera. The endoscopic examination methods can have different names, depending on how far the tube can move along the intestine. In Europe, the doctors usually use colonoscopy, which allows them to examine the entire large intestine. In Western medicine, rectal cancer is not established in a particular nosology. Instead, they use the term colorectal cancer, since it can occur in any part of the intestine.
A biopsy is a procedure, which involves tissue sampling for histological examination. This is important not only for statement of fact of a malignant tumor, but also for the determination of its histological type. The doctor should know what cells the neoplasm consists of. Based on this, he predicts how aggressive the cancer is, how fast it will grow. The types of surgery, the necessity for cancer radiation and the type of chemotherapy depend not only on the spread of the tumor process, but also on the histological type of a neoplasm.
Confirmation of the diagnosis
Once a biopsy sample is obtained, the doctors will make genetic testing. Some types of tumors require a special approach to treatment. In modern clinics, the obtained samples are checked for changes in the BRAF, KRAS and NRAS genes. If they have mutations, standard chemotherapy for cancer cannot be performed. The cells are also tested for MSI and MMR (microsatellite instability). Additionally, the changes in the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 genes are examined as well. The results of these tests affect the colorectal cancer treatment tactics and chemotherapy regimen.
The tumor spread can be assessed using the imaging tests. They help to understand how far the cancer has spread, which organs are involved, whether metastatic foci are present in the nearest lymph nodes, distant organs and tissues. For this purpose, the best hospitals in the world carry out the following tests:
- CT scan;
- endorectal ultrasound scan;
- endorectal MRI;
- Chest X-ray;
- PET;
- angiography.
All these methods allow the doctor to establish the stage of rectal cancer, plan treatment, determine the optimal surgical tactics.
Diagnostics abroad with the Booking Health company
To undergo the diagnostics abroad, you can book a diagnostic program through the Booking Health service. On our website you can see the medical facilities that you can visit, the costs for colon cancer surgery or a course of radiation therapy. We will help you to organize your trip to one of the best clinics in the world. Our work is distinguished on the Internet by a thousand positive reviews from grateful customers. You can read some reviews on our website. You can even see them, since the reviews are recorded in a video format. We provide the following benefits:
- Selection of the best Medical Center, which specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of rectal cancer.
- Reduced cost of medical procedures due to the absence of overpricing and additional coefficients for foreign patients.
- Booking the appointment on the convenient dates for you.
- Preparation of the examination program taking into account previously performed diagnostic procedures.
- Establishment of direct communication with your attending physician.
- Monitoring of all stages of the diagnostic or treatment program of rectal cancer.
- Control of cost for all procedures, your invoices, return of unspent funds.
- Buying and forwarding of medicines.
- Organization of additional diagnostics or treatment of rectal cancer.
- Communication with the clinic upon treatment completion.
We will provide all the necessary services. The employees of the Booking Health company will book a hotel and airline tickets for you, will meet you at the airport and take you to the clinic by car.
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