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Rectal cancer

Help and support

Trusted places for information, practical help and someone to talk to, for you and the people close to you.

If you feel unwell during or after treatment, use the 24-hour number your hospital team gave you (often called the acute oncology or chemotherapy helpline). Otherwise call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

Your team is your first stop

Most people with rectal cancer have a colorectal clinical nurse specialist (CNS), who is often also their key worker: the person to contact between appointments. They know your case, and they can explain things again, chase results and point you to the right help.

  • Get their name and direct number and keep it somewhere easy to find, like your phone or your purse or wallet.
  • Ask for a Holistic Needs Assessment. This is a chance to talk about everything that’s worrying you, not just the cancer: money, work, family, sleep, how you’re feeling. You’ll agree a care plan together.
  • Ask about getting ready for treatment (sometimes called prehabilitation): being more active, eating well and stopping smoking can help you recover.
  • If you might need a stoma, you should meet a stoma nurse before surgery. They mark the best place for it on your tummy and show you how to look after it.
  • After treatment, ask for a treatment summary, and a copy goes to your GP. It sets out what was done, what to look out for and who to contact.

Questions you might want to ask

Pick the ones that matter to you, write down the answers, or ask if you can record the conversation. It’s fine to ask the same question twice.

  1. Can you show me where the cancer is, and how big it is?
  2. What stage is it, and what does that mean for me?
  3. What treatment do you recommend, and why? What are the other options, including doing nothing for now?
  4. Will I need radiotherapy or chemotherapy before or after surgery?
  5. Will I need a stoma? Is it likely to be temporary or permanent?
  6. How will this affect my bowel, bladder and sex life afterwards?
  7. Could treatment affect my fertility, and can anything be done about that first?
  8. How long will I be in hospital, and how long until I’m back to normal activities, driving or work?
  9. Is “watch and wait” or a clinical trial an option for me?
  10. Who do I call if I’m worried, and what number do I use out of hours?

The explorer can help with the first few: ask your doctor or nurse to set it up and show you.

Reliable information

  • NHS: Bowel cancer

    Symptoms, tests, treatment and living with bowel cancer, which includes rectal cancer. In Scotland see NHS inform; in Wales, NHS 111 Wales.

  • Macmillan: Understanding rectal cancer

    A free, detailed booklet to read online, listen to, or order in print. Clear and well reviewed.

  • Bowel Cancer UK

    The UK’s bowel cancer charity, with information on every stage of treatment and recovery, events and an online community.

  • Cancer Research UK: Bowel cancer

    Clear information on stages, treatment and research.

Someone to talk to

Stomas

Your stoma nurse is the best person to help, before and after surgery. These charities are run by and for people living with a stoma.

If you have an ileostomy, drink plenty and tell your team quickly if your bag is filling much more often than usual, or you feel very thirsty, dizzy or weak. That can be a sign of dehydration.

Life after surgery

  • Changes in bowel habit (LARS)

    Many people have more frequent, urgent or unpredictable bowel movements after an anterior resection. This is called low anterior resection syndrome. It often improves, and there are treatments that help, so tell your team.

  • Just Can’t Wait toilet card

    A free card (plastic or on your phone) that helps you ask for urgent use of a toilet in shops, cafés and other places.

  • Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

    A lanyard or pin that quietly tells staff you may need a little extra help or time.

Sex, body image, bladder changes and fertility are common worries after pelvic surgery and radiotherapy, and your team won’t be surprised if you ask. Macmillan’s booklet and Support Line also cover them.

Money and practical help

  • Free prescriptions in England: people having treatment for cancer, or its effects, can get a medical exemption certificate. Ask your GP, hospital doctor or nurse for form FP92A. Prescriptions are already free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Benefits, grants and work: Macmillan’s money advisers can check what you’re entitled to on 0808 808 00 00.
  • Carers: family and friends looking after someone can get advice and support from Carers UK, Maggie’s and Macmillan.
  • Hospital parking and travel: ask your hospital about free or reduced parking and help with travel costs during treatment.

Research and clinical trials

Ask your team whether there is a trial that might suit you. You can also search UK studies on Be Part of Research, the NIHR’s trial finder.

Words you may hear

Anal verge
The opening of the back passage. Tumour heights are measured up from here, in centimetres.
Anal canal and sphincters
The last few centimetres of the bowel, surrounded by the rings of muscle that keep you continent.
Rectum
The last 12 to 15 cm of the large bowel, where poo is stored before you go to the toilet.
Mesorectum
The fatty envelope around the rectum, containing blood vessels and lymph nodes.
CRM (circumferential resection margin)
The distance between the tumour and the edge of the mesorectum, the line the surgeon cuts along. A “clear” CRM means the tumour is not close to it.
TNM staging
T is how deeply the tumour has grown, N is whether lymph nodes are affected, and M is whether it has spread elsewhere (metastases).
EMVI
Extramural venous invasion: the tumour has grown into small veins outside the bowel wall. It can affect which treatment is advised.
MDT
The multidisciplinary team: surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and nurses who meet to agree the best options for you.
Neoadjuvant treatment
Treatment before surgery, such as radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy, to shrink the tumour.
Watch and wait
If treatment makes the tumour disappear, some people can avoid surgery and have close check-ups instead.
TME
Total mesorectal excision: removing the rectum together with its fatty envelope in one piece.
Anterior resection
An operation to remove part or all of the rectum and join the bowel back together. “Low” means the join is close to the anus.
APE or APR
Abdominoperineal excision: removing the rectum and anus together, with a permanent colostomy.
Anastomosis
The join where two ends of bowel are stitched or stapled together.
Stoma, ileostomy, colostomy
An opening of the bowel onto the tummy, with a bag to collect waste. An ileostomy uses the small bowel; a colostomy uses the large bowel. A “loop” stoma is usually temporary.
LARS
Low anterior resection syndrome: changes in bowel habit after an anterior resection.
CNS
Clinical nurse specialist: an experienced nurse who supports you through diagnosis and treatment.

Contact details were checked on 13 October 2026. Show Me Where isn’t connected to any of these organisations and doesn’t get anything for listing them. If a link or number is wrong, please let us know.