Patients with a history of rectal cancer treated with an anterior resection preformed at MSKCC (tumor at or below 12cm from anal verge) with restoration of bowel continuity ≥1 and ≤ 5 years. (Patients may also have had procedures to construct neo-rectums including j-pouch, coloplasty, and end to side anastomosis).

Patients ≥ 21 years of age.

Presence of anterior resection symptoms by patients own assessment. These symptoms may include any of the following: incomplete evacuation, clustering of bowel motions, frequency of bowel motions, unformed stool, excessive flatus, or incontinence of flatus and/or feces.

Rifaximin and Placebo in the Treatment of Bowel Dysfunction After Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer

What this study is about