What is the importance of a rectal exam?

Patients often report that finger palpation is painful and ask if other methods can be used instead of it. This is a good idea, but it cannot be done yet. According to the current medical level and the development of science and technology, there is no instrument that can reach the feeling of human finger diagnosis, and it cannot replace finger diagnosis yet. Finger palpation is the most direct, convenient, and economical method of examination with the highest level of diagnosis, the lowest rate of misdiagnosis, and the least pain. Since it is so important and necessary, it requires that pain be minimized. It is important to achieve doctor-patient cooperation during the examination. The doctor is required to move gently and not too roughly, and the patient is asked to actively cooperate, relax mentally, and breathe deeply or through the mouth so that the anus is relaxed and the sphincter is not tense. The examining doctor puts his finger on the anal opening and rubs it lightly for 2-3 times to make the patient adapt, and then puts the index finger slowly into the anus so that the pain can be reduced. Finger palpation can directly or indirectly understand the condition of the rectum and can detect early rectal cancer, prostate cancer and gynecological tumors. Eighty percent of colon cancers occur in the sigmoid colon and rectum, some of which cannot be felt, but there is blood in the finger sleeve, which can also indirectly reflect the possibility of colon lesions. Therefore, finger diagnosis is a necessary and essential examination method.