What is Your Risk for Colon Cancer?
The colorectal cancer is any cancer which affects the last section of the digestive system (usually the two points or the rectum. The majority of cancers of the two points develop starting from the polyps (fleshy growths) in the intestine. The majority of these polyps are non cancerous but all polyps can become cancerous. If the untreated mitten cancer in these polyps deviates at the two points and in the worst cases from other sectors from the body too.
Unfortunately it is not known what causes these polyps to embellish cancerous cells, but there are a certain number of risks associated with cancer that affects the colon. Age is an important risk factor ;with more than three quarters of cancers of bowels occurring in the people who are more than 60 years of age.
Nutrition is another significant risk factor of cancer of the colon with the excessive consumption of the red meats and alcohol and low fiber foods all related to the development of this cancer. Other factors which increase your risk to contract this cancer include family antecedents of the disease, inflammatory diseases of the intestines, and lack of physical activity.
If cancer develops it is often accompanied by a certain number of symptoms. These symptoms of colorectal cancer are often low key in the beginning but become all worse than cancer develops. Some of the symptoms are directly associated with the growth of cancer and include the abdominal pain, the bloody stools, the changing movements of bowels and the rectal bleeding.
The rectal bleeding is in particular one of the most common symptoms; thus if you note any bleeding of this sector which consult your doctor immediately. Other less obvious symptoms include the not explained loss of weight and excessive fatigue.
Moderate and regular exercise can appreciably reduce the risk of colorectal cancer; exercising to cut your risk for this cancer by 40 percent, Change your diet and know what you consume. Many people do not realize how important a fiber is when you try to remain in good health.
Preventative colon cancer checks ups – annual colon screenings is recommended to help to detect colon cancer early. This means tests that look at polyps that may have formed and attached themselves in your intestine. . The most common test is sigmoidoscopy, with barium or a virtual colonoscopy. The doctor is this test removes suspicious polyps and has those biopsies to make sure they are not cancerous. Most polyps are harmless but this type of detection can find colon cancer in its earliest stages and improve treatment outcomes.. These anomalies can be detected and removed early. You can improve your survival of colon cancer by as much as 80% with early detection. You begin these tests with at approximately 45, and then have one every 5 or 10 years.
Diet and lifestyle – that is not any doubt that your lifestyle can increase the cancer risk. The incidence of cancer c (colorectal cancer) is very frequent in the places where people have these risk factors: physical inactivity, excessive catch of calories from of grease, protein, and sugar, alcohol abuse, consumption red meat including sausages and hot-dogs. Reciprocally, the physical-activity and the consumption in the fruits and the vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, curly kale, cabbage, and berries of various sorts containing the antioxidant micronutrients would reduce the colon cancer risk or of its reoccurrence
. news was reported by scientists of institute of Dana-Farber Cancer in a pair of studies announced in a journal of the clinical oncology in August 2006 shows even moderate exercise will reduce your risk for colon cancer. Adding more fruit and vegetables and walking are some of the most positive steps you can take to reduce colon cancer.
Genetics. -The colorectal cancer like many of the common cancers can run in the genetic code of families. The study of genetics in cancer is among the many areas of clinical research that is helping physicians gain insight into factors not related to lifestyle. The advances by including the /understanding the genetic base of the human diseases creates new opportunities for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation for people who are at risk for cancer on the basis of heredity.
Age- if you think of the beginnings of colorectal cancer occur after 50 you will be surprised to find this is not always true. Though the methods of detection improved and there was a decline in this type of cancer in the people above age 50, the recent studies indicated that this type of cancer increased in the people between the ages from 20 to 49 by 5.9%.
Treatments
the surgery is the most common treatment for cancer of the colon with the process trying to extract the cancer cells by removing polyps and the diseased part of the intestine. r. Chemotherapy (the use of the anti-cancer drugs) and the radiotherapy (the use of the radiation of high energy radiates) are sometimes treatments of colorectal cancer. But drugs and radiation are generally used to help to narrow the number of cancer cells before the surgery and then to reduce the risk of cancer returning after surgery.
Chemotherapy is the more frequent treatment used to deal with the colorectal cancer. During this therapy the doctors will decide what drugs can best kill and stop the spread of cancer cells. Some of the common drugs are listed below.
Adrucil
It is a type of drug which is used to keep the cancer cells from breeding. This is used to address only colorectal cancer but also cancer of rectum, the stomach,
Eloxatin
This drug is used to kill cancer cells that may occur in the colon and other areas in the body. It is often used with other chemotherapy drugs.
Leucovorin
this drug fights colorectal cancer at molecular levels. It seeks to change the molecular structure of the cancer cell rendering it harmless.
Life style changes are the best thing a person at risk for colon cancer can do Simply adding fiber by means of fruits and vegetables to your diet and walking will go a long way to reducing your risk.
What is Colon Cancer & Treatment
If you fall into that category, then hopefully the information that you receive here will put you at ease, as well as inspire you to find out
more from the vast storehouse of information that is available.
What is cancer?
Briefly, it is brought about when cells in our body do not mature. A normal healthy cell has a specific function to perform in the body. These immature cells are not performing their proper function, and so remain undeveloped. They then begin feeding on the body, stealing nutrition in an attempt to grow, and thus become cancerous. How quickly they grow out of control, causing the spread of the cancer, is dependant on the strength of an individuals natural defenses against these cells.
Every day, every one of us is exposed to innumerable cancer-causing agents. It has been established that approximately 70 to 80 percent of all cancers occur as a result of the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink, as well as lifestyle and environmental factors. Approximately one third of deaths from cancer are related to dietary factors. Our bodies have natural defense mechanisms to battle these ‘agents’, but in many cases, because of neglecting proper nutrition and exercise, and abusing our bodies by loading them with even more harmful agents, then these defenses are weakened or overwhelmed, and cancer begins to gain a foothold in the body.
Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer as it’s sometimes known as is cancer which starts in the digestive, or gastrointestinal (GI) system. A colon’s primary responsibility is to process food into energy and remove all waste materials. As with any cancer, the disease begins when cancerous cells begin to grow out of control compared to normal, non-cancer cells. Every cancer is different depending on where it occurs, so colon cancer will generally progress at a different rate, cause different
symptoms, and respond to different medical treatments. Although there are some specific treatment methods for the different body areas affected, there are some basic principles, which are common to all cancer forms. .
Perhaps you’re reading this article because you are suffering form cancer right now, or perhaps you know someone else who is. Maybe you’re just looking for information to help avoid it in the future. Whatever your circumstances are, I urge you to imprint the following statement deeply into your mind – Cancer Can Be Conquered! However, with the rapid advances that have been made with modern medicine, as well as the rediscovery of ancient natural therapies that are built upon good nutrition and sound principles of daily living, it can be stated with confidence. I’ll say it again – Cancer Can Be Conquered.
The first victory over colon cancer is it must be made on the battlefield of the mind. It is here that fear seeks to control and overwhelm you. I would encourage you to make a firm decision to stand up against this giant of fear, and to reach beyond it to find hope and faith. There is a statement that is made that says, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’ So, the first step to being set free from the enemy of fear is to find out the truth concerning cancer. The lie has for too long been that cancer is the end of the road – incurable.
The truth is just the opposite. Realize that and set yourself free from the numbing fear of cancer that wants to defeat you. Say that you are more than enough to fight against it. Make a firm decision that you are going to defeat with you will power.
Most of the time, colon cancer spreads slowly over a period of years, and colon cancer can effect any section or layer of your colon. The key to have a good prognosis with colon cancer is to catch the disease early. If a doctor can find and remove a colon cancer polyp in the early stages, then there is a much better chance of recovery. Risk factors of colon cancer include age, family history, smoking, ethnicity, diet, lack of exercise, alcohol, and history of other bowel disease. If you are in an at-risk category, then it is important to get a colon cancer screening test. If you are unsure with you fit the profile, talk to ask primary physician first.
Our supplementary diets have a positive effect. They are natural and have no side effects. We should also be positive in that certain foods greatly strengthen and aid our built in immune system in the ongoing battle against our healthy body cells. We should be negative in that there are certain foodstuffs that have been shown to be harmful, and to greatly speed up the growth and spread of cancer cells. It thus becomes imperative that we learn what foodstuffs are immune boosters, and which ones weaken it.
Besides our diet, the next major contributing factor to consider is the environment we are living in. More and more vehicles are being produced, and more and more factories built, pumping out toxic gases into the atmosphere, causing a subtle build-up of toxins in our
bodies, wearing down the ability of the immune system to cope. Unfortunately, we have very little control over these environmental effects, other than to relocate to a safer
environment, which is not always possible. This then makes it even more vital for us to build up our immune systems with the right foods, and supplementary minerals and vitamins.
One last consideration to take note of is that any cancer is more easily defeated if caught in its early stages. Therefore it is very important to have regular medical check-ups, even if we are feeling fine. Then too, learn what are the telltale symptoms for the various cancers, and at the first evidence of anything suspicious, get it checked out by your doctor.
Colon cancer has become the 3rd most common form of Cancer in men and 4th in women and is the second leading cause of death among cancers. If it is left untreated, it can spread and affect other parts of the body, such as the liver and lungs, causing new tumors to form in these organs. This process of the cancer spreading is called metastasis. Once metastasis sets in, the chances of curing the cancer completely are slim.
Therefore early detection is key to making a full recovery. The removal of benign (non-cancerous) colon polyps can prevent colon cancer. Colon polyps initially appear in benign form. Over time, benign colon polyps can undergo chromosome damage to become cancerous. There is no definitive cause for colon cancer, but diets high in fat are believed to play a role in the formation. Other factors include a family history of colon cancer, polyps in the large intestine and ulcerative colitis. A history of breast cancer may also slightly increase the risk of colon cancer.
Colon cancer, in most cases has no symptoms. Symptoms for the potential of colon cancer, however, may include; diarhea, less frequent bowel movements, blood in stool,
abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, anemia. Screening tests are the most effective way of catching colon cancer early, allowing for improved chances of successful treatment.
Men and women over the age of 50 and those with identified risk factors, are urged to undergo regular screening to prevent and to allow early diagnosis of colon cancer. See the doctor to identify potential risk factors and to develop a strategy for early screening.
If detected early, colon cancer can be properly treated. Which makes it vitally important for any who experience symptoms to see a physician as soon as possible. If left entreated, the chances of surviving colon cancer diminish greatly.
By keeping a healthy life style and good eating habits, you can prevent developing cancer of the colon even before this becomes a problem. You might also want to try and check your family history for cases of colon cancer and adopt a healthier diet in order to make sure you will avoid this problem in the future.
Colon cancer treatments are varied and you can choose from a series of traditional and alternative methods of dealing with this condition. Here at our center we provide you with the natural dietary supplements which has no side effects and are cured with confidence.
There are many cases of colon cancer today, with significantly more people being diagnosed with this potentially deadly disease below age 50 than previously. Colon cancer used to be considered a disease of the elderly, but nowadays many younger people are diagnosed with this kind of disease. This is more because of unhealthy lifestyles such as eating habits, lack of exercises and many other factors. People tend to consume junk food and any other foods that are over-processed and contain high fat and sugar. This allows the chemically-laced food to sit in colon for longer time and lead to the cancer disease.
Several ways to keep your colon healthy:
1. A balanced diet will supply your body with sufficient nutrition: balance in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. It will be better to get all these nutritions naturally by consuming healthy foods such as: fresh vegetables and beans, fish, fruits, seafood and milk. Taking daily supplements also will help.
2. Reduce intake of over-processed foods, especially fried foods because these foods contain of high fat that is dangerous to health. You can also choose organic foods that are higher in nutrition. Avoid sausage, hot dogs, ham, and many of which contain salt, sodium nitrites and sodium nitrates, which play big role in leading to colon cancer.
3. Do exercise at least 3 times a week is adequate to maintain your stamina and health. If you have any disease, it would be wise to consult with your doctor what exercise suits your current condition.
4. Adequate water is essential to your body and will help to clean your system by gently washing out offensive bacteria and germs that can harbor in the colon and lead to illness or problems.
5. Colon cleansingColon cleansing method has been so popular as an option to keep your colon healthy. Consult with your doctor if you wish to take this method.
6. Visit your doctor and have an annual medical check-up to prevent diseases.
Colon cancer
Cancer is one of the most threatening health conditions in the world. In the last few decades, case of patients who are diagnosed with cancer has been on the rise, which is attributed to changing lifestyle patterns that increases exposure to cancerous materials. Apart from rising case of cancer, it has been noted that new forms of cancers have been recorded. Colon cancer is one type of cancers that cause more than 655,000 deaths in the world every year. Colon cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in United States (Weitzel, 2009). It has also been ranked as the third largest cause of cancer related deaths in developed world. Colon cancers are cancer growths in colon, rectum, or in the appendix. It is more prevalent in old people. Colon cancer can have negative effects on the elderly patients unless they get necessary treatment and social assistance (Baron et al., (2005).
Social work can play a grater role in alleviation of effects of colon cancers among elderly.
Colon cancer is scientifically referred to as colorectal cancer. It is also referred to as large bowel cancer. It mainly include cancerous growths on the colon, rectum, or in the appendix. Colon cancer emanates from adenomatous polyps mainly found in the colon (Weitzel, 2009). Adenomatous polyps are mushroom-shaped, that are benign in nature, although some of them develop into cancer over a period of time.
Invasive colon cancer is usually confined to colon wall. These cancerous cells are in stage I and II and can be cured through surgery (Baron et al., (2005). However, if they are left untreated, they usually spread within a short period of time to other regions mainly growing in lymph nodes.
By this time, invasive colon cancers are usually in stage III. Colon cancer in stage III can also be treated but treatment is not that effective (Weitzel, 2009). Only 73% of the cancerous cells can be cured either through surgery or through chemotherapy.
If left untreated at this stage, colon cancer cells moves to stage IV. At state IV, colon cancerous cells metastasize and grow at distant sites (Weitzel, 2009). In most cases, colorectal cancer usually spread to the liver which mainly causes jaundice and abdominal pain. This is the last stage in cell growth and it is not curable. However, the life of the patient can be extended mainly through chemotherapy. It has also been noted that in some cases, surgery combined with chemotherapy can cure the patient.
Colon cancer can occur at any age (Weitzel, 2009). However, research evidence shows that the risk for colon cancer increase with age and double every ten years after one attains the age of forty years. Colon cancer is mainly described as a disease of the elderly since more than 75% of individuals with colon cancer are aged 75 years and above (Baron et al., (2005). Median age for diagnoses of cancer stands at 72 years. In the United States, the incidence of cancer is 35/100,000 (Weitzel, 2009). This means that 1 in every 20 people are likely to suffer from colon cancer in their lifetime. However, research evidence shows that older patients are under-represented in clinical trials which imply that it has become difficult to understand the comparison between prevalence in older adults and young people.
Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancers varies depending on the part of the bowel which is affected by the tumor and whether the cancerous cells reaches stage IV and metastasizes to other body parts (Ades, 2009). However, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose colorectal cancers because these symptoms usually occur in other body parts. Local symptoms occur when the tumor is close to anus (Baron et al., (2005). Therefore, they include constipation, diarrhea, tenesmus, lower gastrointestinal bleeding, mucus, bloody stool, and many others. Sometimes, the cancer may develop into a large tumor that may obstruct the lumen leading to bowel obstruction. This leads to constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and other symptoms. Perforated or distended bowel leads to peritonitis. Constitutional symptoms occurs when there advances (Weitzel, 2009). For example due to bleeding patients may experience iron deficiency anemia leading to fatigue, palpitations, weight loss, and others. Symptoms of cancer may also include metastatic symptoms like jaundice, pale stool, and others which cancer spread to the liver.
Colon cancer takes many years to grow and hence early detection can be tricky although it increases the chances of cure of the condition (Cummings and Bingham, 1998). Colon cancer is usually diagnosed through colonoscopy. However, there are many methods that are employed in screening of cancer. These include digital rectal exam (DRE) using gloved finger inserted in the distal area, fecal occult blood test (FOBT) which tests blood in the stool, and endoscopy (Weitzel, 2009). Endoscopy mainly involves sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. However, there are other screening methods like double contrast barium enema (DCBE), virtual colonoscopy, standard computed axial tomography, and others which are used in testing colon cancer.
Course of Illness, Lifespan and Family-focused Intervention
Colon cancer is one of the most complicated health conditions that affect old people. Due to the weakness of their body symptoms, they are at an increased risk compared to other population groups owing to these factors. When diagnosed with the condition, old people are likely to get into deep crisis on managing their life and they are more likely to become dependant on their family members and friends for care. When diagnosed with the condition, old people enter into a crisis period before they can accept that they have the condition. This phase can be worse for the patient especially if they don’t have other people to support them by their side (Marshall and Altpeter, 2005). Emotional disturbances and may lack of social support may easily led to aggravation of the disease symptoms and hence patients will enter into a chronic stage. This is a dangerous phase and if not taken care of, patients can easily die from the condition. However, if they have good care after the diagnosis of the condition, they can easily recover from the initial crisis. If an elderly person has someone who can take good care of the patient, they are in position to seek medical advice and hence recover faster compared to when they do not have anyone to take care of them. The terminal phase is the worst phase that patients have to deal with. At terminal phase, patients suffer pain and need constant attention and care. This phase may present challenge for the patient and caretakers and in case of older people, they may be taken to a nursing home or an elderly home where they are taken care of. Terminal phase in coronary cancer is challenging phase even for patients since they understand that they are going to die.
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