Chances of cure/prognosis
As with many other types of cancer, the chances of cure depend strongly on the stage of the disease. If rectal cancer is detected very early, often in the course of a preventive examination, the chances are good that there are no metastases yet and that surgery can be performed to remove the entire tumor. The later the cancer is discovered, the less good are the chances of recovery and the prognosis.
Especially if metastases already exist and the tumor is already very large, often only palliative therapy is possible. As mentioned above, life expectancy depends entirely on when rectal cancer is discovered. In the beginning, when the tumor is still very small and there are no metastases yet, life expectancy is often still very good and it is said that about 90% of patients survive the next 5 years. (In the case of cancer, a 5-year survival rate is always calculated). As the disease progresses, life expectancy also decreases.
Prophylaxis
There is no definite effective prophylaxis. However, one can or should try to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible. A lot of sport and a balanced diet, as well as avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can reduce the risk of rectal cancer. In addition, regular screening is indispensable if you want to be sure to detect any disease as early as possible.