Low anterior resection surgery involves removing portions of the colon containing cancer cells and connecting the remaining parts of the colon, leaving only healthy cells and tissue. Rectal cancer patients may undergo resection or removal of part or of the entire rectum (the last 6-8 inches of the large intestine), which can lead to a collection of symptoms known as Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS).

Low anterior resection syndrome can occur after resection surgery to the lower part of the colon. After the resection or removal of the part of the rectum containing cancer cells, your surgeon will perform an anastomosis, or “hook up,” of the colon.

Anastomosis means that the two remaining ends of the large intestine and the rectum are sewn or stapled back together, resulting in a shorter colon, which leads to the symptoms that make up LARS.

LARS refers to several related symptoms that patients may experience post-surgery. The symptoms are different for everyone, but could include:

Many survivors report symptoms of lower anterior resection syndrome can interfere with daily living and reduce their quality of life. While some patients report that these side effects improve over time, some experts believe that if symptoms exist at one-year post-surgery (or stoma closure), they are likely to continue to exist 10 years later.

There are ways to manage LARS, but finding the right regimen can be challenging, as management is extremely individualized: What works for one person may not work for another. Here’s a list of some ways people manage:

Making changes to your diet may help prevent urgency and incontinence. Here are some to consider:

One of the best resources for patients living with LARS is the Facebook group Living with Low Anterior Resection Syndrome. In this group, patients tell-all about side effects, products that help LARS symptoms, routines like irrigation, and more.