Preventing Colon Cancer

Most of the time, we give little thought to the idea that we may be setting ourselves up for colon cancer. We don’t drink enough water, or eat the right foods - and our colons are filling up with disease ridden excess waste and rotting fecal matter without us even realizing it.

In fact, most people don’t think about colon cancer until they either have it or someone they love has it.

The first step to preventing colon cancer is understanding what the risk factors are. Knowing that you are at risk will help motivate you to take the necessary steps to prevent it. Even if you are at high risk for colon cancer, there are steps that you can take to decrease your risk.

Age is one of the biggest factors. While young people can also get colon cancer, people over fifty are at the highest risk. Those who have a family history of cancer, as well as women who have had breast cancer, uterine cancer, or ovary cancer are at high risk. Your diet can put you at risk. If your diet is high in fat and calories, and low in fiber, you are at high risk for colon cancer.

Other risk factors include polyps on the wall of the colon or rectum and ulcerative colitis. If you have had either of these conditions, you will most likely develop colon cancer later on. People who have IBD, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or Crohn’s Disease are also at high risk.

As with any other illness or disease, it is ideal to prevent it instead of waiting to do anything until you actually have it. Prevention is easier than curing a problem. The first step in prevention is to get regular screenings. In many cases, the only sign of colon cancer is polyps that are in the colon. Finding and removing these polyps early helps to prevent full blown colon cancer.

You may also need to make dietary changes. Lower your intake of fat and calories, as well as your intake of meats and alcohol. You should increase the amount of exercise you do as well. Experts also recommend that you stop smoking, and use dietary supplements to ensure that you are getting enough minerals and nutrients.

You should get five servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium, and folic acid each day. It is important to maintain a healthy weight as well. The use of baby aspirin each day is also recommended.

Another good way to prevent colon cancer is to cleanse your colon annually. This can now be done in a gentle manner, with the use of oral products.

Annual colon cleansing, increasing your water intake, and making dietary changes will all help to prevent colon cancer. However, you should also get regular screenings to make sure that no polyps have developed. When colon cancer is detected early, it is the most curable form of cancer that there is.

.
Steven Godlewski is a self-made millionaire and is currently working with Life Force International products. He has an extensive background in nutrition as well as other health related fields. For more health-related articles and a FREE bottle of Liquid Vitamins see their website at: www.pillfreevitamins.com

The Relationships Between Diet And Colon Cancer

The colon is part of the body?s digestive system. The digestive system removes and processes nutrients (vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and water) from foods and helps pass waste material out of the body.

The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines. The first 6 feet of the large intestine are called the large bowel or colon. The last 6 inches are the rectum and the anal canal. The anal canal ends at the anus (the opening of the large intestine to the outside of the body).

Being age 50 or older is actually the number one risk factor for colon cancer. But other things impact colon cancer development, too. For example, studies indicate that all of these factors can contribute to colon cancer: alcohol, smoking, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity.

A diet high in animal fat and low in dietary fiber, which is the typical American diet today, has been linked to colon cancer. A review of the relationships between diet, exercise, and colon cancer suggests that diets high in vegetables and regular physical activity are the most significant factors in reducing the risk of colon cancer. Strong evidence shows that physical activity can reduce the risk of colon cancer by up to 50 percent. Some scientists hypothesize that fiber (from vegetables) might bind to potential carcinogens and cause them to be excreted before they can cause harm; other suggest that, in enhancing the movement of material through the GI tract, exercise or high-fiber diet reduces the time that carcinogens have to come in contact with colon cells. Other scientists suggest that high levels help protect the GI tract and delay the development of stomach, colon, and rectal cancer. Alternatively, the breakdown products of fiber produced by colonic bacteria, including acids that lower colon pH, might make carcinogens inactive.

Although these logical reasons point to a beneficial effect of fiber, a major study of women fails to support the protective effect of dietary fiber against colorectal cancer. However, a recent study of 400,000 men and women across nine European countries shows as much as a 40 percent reduction in risk.

.
Colon Cancer Center

What Puts You At Risk Of Developing Colon Cancer?

There are several known factors that increase the risk of a person developing colon cancer. These factors can be split into two categories: the ones that you can have control over and the second category those that you have no control over.

What you eat can make a difference in developing colon cancer. As you can see, this is a factor that we have some control over. Studies have shown that eating fat or fatty foods increases the risk of developing colon cancer. Furthermore, if your diet does not contain the necessary amount of fiber, then you are at risk of developing colon cancer as well. So, believe it or not, diet is a factor when talking about colon cancer. You should try to avoid those foods that have a lot of fat in them, although I know they are so tasty. If you care about your health and also want to lower the risk of colon cancer, you will!

Environment is also another risk factor for colon cancer. You can say that this factor is somewhere between those two categories. Studies have shown that people that live in industrialized countries are more at risk of developing colon cancer. The actual cause of getting colon cancer is not known, but because the majority of people that suffer from colon cancer live in these areas, then you can safely say that environment is one of the risk factors.

Age is also a risk factor when it comes to colon cancer. Unfortunately, we have no control over this factor. This is probably one of the most important factors in developing colon cancer. Because we have no control over it, all we can do is try to detect colon cancer when we approach a certain age. If found in it’ s early stages, colon cancer can be cured. This is the reason why, doctors advice people over fifty to have colon cancer tests every year.

Another risk factor on the list of factors that we have no control over is family history. If there is colon cancer history in your family, then you are more at risk of developing colon cancer as well. Furthermore, if there is also history of polyps or bowel disease, then that puts you at risk of having colon cancer too. In these cases, doctors usually recommend screening for colon cancer earlier than in other colon cancer risk people.

.
For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about colon cancer diet or even about stage3 colon cancer

Support For Those With Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, affecting over 150,000 men and women every year. But there is hopeful news for those who are concerned about colorectal cancer.

There is a resource available to help someone diagnosed with colorectal cancer take more control over his or her treatment decisions. It also provides information about the latest treatment developments.

The booklet-”Frankly Speaking About New Discoveries in Cancer: Special Focus on Colorectal Cancer”-is created by The Wellness Community, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones.

The booklet includes the most current treatment information for people affected by colorectal cancer, as well as advice on how to work with your health care team to make treatment decisions. Readers will also learn effective strategies to manage side effects, find emotional and social support and live well with colorectal cancer.

To Get The Most Out Of A Second Opinion, Experts Suggest The Following:

• Have a complete copy of your medical records sent ahead.

• Write down the questions you have ahead of time.

• Bring a friend or family member to help you take notes.

• Think about whether or not enrolling in a clinical trial makes sense for you.

.
To order a copy of this free booklet, please call 888-793-WELL or visit www.thewellnesscommunity.org.

Screening For Colon Cancer

There are many methods to detect colon cancer, even tissues that seem suspicious, thus lowering the risk of developing colon cancer. If this type of cancer is detected in its early stages, the 5 year survival percentage in colon cancer patients is about ninety percent.

This number drops to almost sixty percent if tissues around your colon cancer have been affected. When distant portions of your body have been affected by this cancer, the survival rate is less than ten percent. So, you see why detecting colon cancer in an early stage is a must.

Even if there are several methods of detecting colon cancer, some of them are more used than the others.

One of the most common methods of screening is the rectal exam. Your doctors inserts a finger into your rectum to detect any abnormalities. This method can detect certain polyps and even colon cancer, but unfortunately it is limited to your rectum area alone.

Fobt is another test that is made to detect colon cancer. It was some controversy in the past concerning this test. Some said that the results of this did not reduce the rate of deaths caused by colon cancer. Nowadays, it has been proven otherwise. Studies showed that by the findings of this test alone, the number of deaths cause by colon cancer was reduced bu almost 20% . When doing this test, patients have to take home a kit, take 3 consecutive samples of bowel moments and than send the kit to a lab. Blood found in the stool is a big colon cancer sign or of polyps, that may turn into colon cancer.

Colonoscopy is another common method used to detect colon cancer. A lighted tube is inserted into your rectum, giving the doctor the chance to examine your entire colon. During this screening procedure most of the patients are under sedation. If polyps are discovered, they can also be removed, lowering the risk of developing colon cancer.

The barium enema is another of the methods used to detect colon cancer. This enema is done to increase the quality of x-rays that will be taken after. This way, if you have any polyps in your colon or suffer from colon cancer, doctors will be able to tell right away.

There are also some other methods to detect colon cancer or polyps, but they are not as common, for one reason or another.

.
For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about metastatic colon cancer or even about colon cancer treatment

Treatments Used In Colon Cancer

People with colon cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and also immunotherapy for some patients.

The most common colon cancer treatment is surgery which is applied in the early stages.

In this case the doctor can use a colonoscope to remove the cancer. A resection is the standard procedure of surgery which consists in an incision in the abdomen, then remove the tumor and finally the colon is reconnecting with healthy piece.

In chemotherapy the regimens for colon cancer treatment can vary, but fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin are usually used.

Generally radiation are not good for people, but there are cases when radiation therapy are used.So in that case people with colon cancer can receive radiation therapy. The radiation therapy may be received before surgery to shrink the tumor, after surgery to help preventing the tumor from coming back, or instead of surgery to destroy cancer cells in tumors that can’t be surgically removed.

To treat colon cancer the most common type used is external radiation. This treatment is quick but frequent a few minutes a day, five days a week for many weeks.

Immunotherapy is an option for the people with colon cancer, because using this therapy make a person’s body immune to the type of cancer that has. This therapy is still in the experimental stages. The persons who hasn’t seen results from standard therapies like surgery, chemo and radiation may try this therapy.

Even there are many people who suffers from colon cancer many treatments and operations has been experienced. In this way people could cure faster.

.
For greater resources on colon cancer or especially about colon cancer diet please visit this link www.colon-cancer-center.com/colon-cancer-diet.htm

Treatment Is All Colon Cancer Stages

Colon cancer is the type of cancer that usually has no symptoms. If colon cancer symptoms do appear in a person, it will be a little too late, because he/ she is probably in a very advanced stage of colon cancer.

This is the reason why, most of the doctors recommend screening at least one a year.

Colon cancer has five stages. Each colon cancer stage actually shows how far the cancer has spread. There are many ways to diagnose a colon cancer case, even in its most advanced stage. Colonoscopy, barium enema and even a digital rectum exam can tell a doctor if indeed you are suffering from colon cancer or polyps.

First stage in colon cancer is stage 0. In this colon cancer stage you can think of yourself as a very lucky person, because it can be cured. In this colon cancer stage, the disease has not spread beyond your colon or rectum. Treatment in this case is surgery. The part of your colon that has been affected will be removed. If you have a larger tumor, a resection might be the proper treatment for your colon cancer case.

The second colon cancer stage is known as stage 1. In this case, the cancer has not spread beyond the colon, but the cancer has grown through a few layers of your colon. Resection is the used treatments is this colon cancer stage. No further treatment is necessary.

Stage 2 is the next step in colon cancer. This time the disease has gone through the walls of your colon and affected the nearest tissues. In this colon cancer stage, the lymph nodes have not been reached yet. Resection is the only known treatment if you find yourself in this colon cancer stage. However, the rate of recurrence is very big in this case, so your doctor might also use radiation therapy. Chemotherapy can also be used in this colon cancer stage.

Next is stage 3 colon cancer. This is thought as an advanced stage. The lymph nodes are now affected by the disease. Other parts of your body have not been yet affected when suffering from stage 3 colon cancer. Sectional surgery is the right treatment at this point. Chemotherapy is then used to reduce recurrence. Radiation therapy can also be used in this colon cancer stage.

The last and most serious colon cancer stage is 4. In this case, the disease has reached as far as the lungs, ovaries and liver. When you have reached the stage, surgery is only used to relive the symptoms or prevent any further complications. In this case, the colon cancer can not be cured or even removed through surgery.

.
For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about colon cancer or even about colon cancer symptoms

Tests To Detect Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is thought to be the second most common type of cancer, after lung cancer. The presence of polyps in the colon lead to colon cancer. There are several ways to detect colon cancer, all tests done at your doctor’ s office.

The presence of polyps in your colon should not be so frightening, because the majority are benign. However, in time, they can lead to colon cancer. Studies have shown that people that have their polyps removed lower the risk of developing colon cancer. To detect these polyps and even colon cancer can take as less as five minutes.

One of the tests that your doctor can do to detect if you have colon cancer is flexible sigmoidoscopy. This test is very useful because with it’ s help doctors can detect colon cancer in the early stages, thus reducing the risk of death. Doctors can also tell if you are at risk of developing colon cancer with the help of this test, thus being able to prevent it. However, this test is not very suitable when it comes to hereditary cases of colon cancer. If you suffer from such a case, it is best that you use colonoscopy as a way of detecting colon cancer. Flexible sigmoidoscopy can be done without the help of sedation and this colon cancer test only takes about five minutes. This test can detect as much as seventy percent of all colon cancer cases and the number is even higher when it comes to detecting polyps. When having this test to detect colon cancer, you will fell no discomfort at all. The biggest advantage when using this test is that it can find colon cancer in its early stages and so your changes of
getting cured are very big.

The second procedure that one can have to detect colon cancer is colonoscopy. This is still the leading procedure when it comes to reducing the risk of colon cancer. More than ninety percent of all people that use this test reduce considerably their risks of developing colon cancer. This is also a very good procedure when it comes to biopsy or the removal of your polyps. Although the other test seems a little better when it comes to colon cancer, this is the most used and it also gives very good results.

In conclusion, a few minutes of your time can mean the difference in developing colon cancer or not.

.
For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about colon cancer treatment or even about metastatic colon cancer

Regular Vegetables Discovered To Work Against Colon Cancer

A small study revealed that quercentin and curcumin wich are extracted from onions and curry could have a big impact on colon cancer, reducing it significantly.

Five persons were chosen for this study that appeared in August. All five of them had a hereditary disorder called familial adenomatous polyposis that is the cause for the appearing of colon cancer by creating hundreds of colorectal polyps. Ussualy this is treated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The problem with these drugs are their side really bad side effects like internal ulcers and bleeding.

During the six months the study lasted, each of patients received daily 20 mg of quercetin (extracted from onions) and 480 mg of curcumin (extracted from curry). After this period it was found that the colorectal cancer cells dropped significantly. The number of polyps decreased by 60 percent while the average size of polyps by 51 percent. At one patient the number of polyps increased in the first phase because he didn’t listen to the rules set by his doctors but, but after he started listening to the advices the number of polyps decreased immediately.

For the first time it was shown that curcumin has a similar effect as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing the amount of polyps. Although the effect is similar curcumin is way better because it has minimal side effects.

By simply adding onions to a regular diet a pacient would ingest the quantity of quercetin needed to control the numbers and size of polyps, but the amount of curcumin you could ingest eating cury wouldn’t be enough. That’s why researchers advise using curcuming supplements for an effective cancer treatment.

Although the results where pretty convincing a larger study is required before curcumin and quercetin supplements could be introduced in regular cancer treating.

.
For greater resources on colon cancer or especially about metastatic colon cancer please visit this link www.colon-cancer-center.com/metastatic-colon-cancer.htm

What Are The What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is commonly referred to as bowel or colorectal cancer, and is the name given to cancerous growths in the rectum, appendix and colon in ether benign or malignant form.

Cancer of this type is usually benign, however not always. Cancer of this type is usually identified through colonoscopy and treated by therapy followed by chemotherapy.

Rather than wait until you have colon cancer, it is best to have regular screenings to check. Although this is the safe option, for many people it is not practical, or they may have even started to experience signs after having had a recent screening. One thing you can do would be to do regular colon cancer testing, by using instant home test kits that can give early warnings for signs and symptoms of colon cancer.

This guide does not constitute medical advice, so should you be worried about the possibility of having colon cancer it is best to check with your doctor. If you are experiencing on of the following symptoms then it is most likely that you are merely worrying, however it is still best to check. If you are experiencing all of the problems mentioned below then you should be more concerned and should certainly ensure that you get them checked out. Being able to identify a cancerous growth early is the best way to ensure that you are going to be okay, so as soon as you start to experience problems is the best time to consult a medical practitioner.

Toilet Habits

Because colon cancer is in the area close to your bowel you can expect your toilet habits to be somewhat different. If you are going to the toilet more or less this could be an indicator that your body is adjusting to a growth in the area.

Your Stool is Shaped Differently

Because the passage way through which your stool usually passes through your body may be blocked, it is possible that it will a thinner shape as a result.

Stomach Cramps

Bloating may be caused by an obstruction in your bowel. In later stages of colon cancer you can expect to experience more pain in this area, because the growth may start to pierce the bowel wall.

Blood in your Stool

Blood may be in your stool if you have colon cancer. In some cases this blood may be nearly invisible if it has had time to dry, or be bright red depending on where the tumor is. An instant fecal occult blood test can help you to determine if here is blood in your stool. In many cases a bowel tumor can be found in different parts of your body, with the rectum being the most likely place for you to be able to see red blood. It is worthy of note that there are other reasons why this could occur, it is also the case that even although there may be blood in your stool the tumor will not be bleeding consistently.

Weight Loss

Unexplained weight loss is a common side effect of colon cancer, and one which you should not put down to being a coincidence if it is happening at the same time as other symptoms such as toilet related problems that you have been experiencing.

.
This article is written by Christy Berger. A longer version of this article can be found along with other home testing and early disease articles at Colon Cancer Early Signs & Symptoms and How to detect Colon Cancer Early. You can also read some more signs and symptoms of Colon Cancer in the frequently asked questions about colon cancer testing.

Next Page »


Recent posts on BlogLion:

25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Now ( 2008-06-30 22:27:32 )

Using Spy Tools to Detect Infidelity ( 2008-06-30 22:24:52 )

Goal Setting Secrets of the Real Life Indiana Jones ( 2008-06-30 22:04:30 )

Pitting the news vs the old ( 2008-06-30 21:58:59 )


Previous blog: Tommy Brown
Next blog: Charlie West Turnbull