0 What is colon cancer

The colon is the longest part of the large intestine and the lowest part of the digestive system. The colon makes up the majority of the large intestine, approximately six feet in length. The colon is an important part of the digestive system, and as such, it has a major role in helping the body absorb nutrients, minerals, and water. 

The colon also helps rid the body of waste in the form of stool through rectum. The last six inches or so of the large intestine are the rectum and the anal canal (Anus). Colon cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the colon. 

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last several inches of the colon. Together, theyre often erred to as colorectal cancers.

Colon cancer is quite common, being the third most common cancer in men and women in the U.S. About 150,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with colon cancer and colorectal cancer each year. These are the second leading causes of cancer deaths in both men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 53,196 Americans died from colon cancer in 2006 (the most recent year for available data).

What Exactly is colon cancer?

Cancer means out-of-control cell growth anywhere in your body, and colon cancer forms when this uncontrolled cell growth starts in the large intestine. At first some noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps form on the inner walls of the large intestine. If these polyps left untreated, they may grow into malignant colon cancers over time. So it is better to get them removed during colonoscopy. Colon cancer cells will invade and damage healthy tissues near the tumor causing many health complications.

After malignant cancerous tumors form, the cancerous cells may travel through the blood and lymph systems, spreading to other parts of the body. These cancer cells can grow in several places, invading and destroying other healthy tissues throughout the body. This process itself is called metastasis, which is a very serious condition that is very difficult to treat.

What are the causes of colon cancer?

No specific causes are identified for colon cancer. When the cells uncontrollably grow and do not die, it results in cancer. There are certain factors which increase the risk of colon cancer. They include:

• Genetics -20 % of colon cancers are caused by inherited mutations in the genes
• Polyps- Adenomas and inflammatory polyps may become cancerous.
• African-American race. African-Americans have a greater risk of colon cancer than do people of other races.
• Inflammatory intestinal conditions. Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease, can increase your risk of colon cancer
• Low-fiber, high-fat diet. Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a diet low in fiber and high in fat and calories. Research in this area has had mixed results. Some studies have found an increased risk of colon cancer in people who eat diets high in red meat.
• A sedentary lifestyle. If youre inactive, youre more likely to develop colon cancer. Getting regular physical activity may reduce your risk of colon cancer.
• Diabetes. People with diabetes and insulin resistance may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
• Obesity. People who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer and an increased risk of dying of colon cancer when compared with people considered normal weight.
• Smoking. People who smoke cigarettes may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
• Alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol may increase your risk of colon cancer.
• Radiation therapy for cancer. Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers may increase the risk of colon cancer.

Symptoms of colon cancer?

Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. It is common for people with colon cancer to experience no symptoms in the earliest stages of the disease. However, when the cancer grows, symptoms include:

• A change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool
• Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
• Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
• A feeling that your bowel doesnt empty completely
• Weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Iron deficiency (Anemia)

Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, theyll likely vary, depending on the cancers size and location in your large intestine.

Are you at risk?

If you notice any symptoms of colon cancer, such as blood in your stool or a persistent change in bowel habits. Talk to your doctor about when you should begin screening for colon cancer. Your doctor may recommend more frequent or earlier screening if you have family history of the disease. Where as, guidelines generally recommend colon cancer screenings begin at age 50.

If your doctor suspects you may have colon cancer, youll likely be erred to specialists who treat colon cancer.Those specialist physicians will request a complete physical exam as well as personal and family medical histories. 

Tests to detect (find) and diagnose colon cancer.

Fortunately colon cancer is both preventable and highly treatable when detected early. With screening colon cancer can be detected before symptoms develop. This is when the cancer is most curable. Physicians may conduct a series of tests such as, CBC and liver function test, digital rectal exam, fecal occult blood test, sigmodoscopy, biopsy, barium enema and colonoscopy. 

Diagnoses are usually made after the physician conducts a colonoscopy or a barium enema x-ray (lower G series). Only colonoscopy can see the entire colon. This is the best screening test for colon cancer.

Stages of colon cancer:

 If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, more tests will be done to see if the cancer has spread. This is called staging. CT or MRI scans of the abdomen, pelvic area, chest, or brain may be used to stage the cancer. Sometimes, PET scans are also used.

Stages of colon cancer are:
Stage 0: Very early cancer on the innermost layer of the intestine
Stage I: Cancer is in the inner layers of the colon
Stage II: Cancer has spread through the muscle wall of the colon
Stage III: Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
Stage IV: Cancer has spread to other organs outside the colon

Blood tests to detect tumor markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9, may help your physician follow you during and after treatment.

How is colon cancer treated?

Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, but the most common options for colon cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Treatments seek to remove the cancer and/or relieve painful symptoms that the cancer is causing.

Surgery
Stage 0 colon cancer may be treated by removing the cancer cells. This is done using colonoscopy. For stages I, II, and III cancer, more extensive surgery is needed to remove the part of the colon that is cancerous. This surgery is called colon resection.

Chemotherapy
Almost all patients with stage III colon cancer should receive chemotherapy after surgery for 6 - 8 months. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy. The drug 5-fluorouracil can increase the chance of a cure in certain patients.

Chemotherapy is also used to improve symptoms and prolong survival in patients with stage IV colon cancer. Irinotecan, oxaliplatin, capecitabine, and 5-fluorouracil are the three most commonly used drugs. Monoclonal antibodies, including cetuximab (Erbitux), panitumumab (Vectibix), bevacizumab (Avastin), and other drugs have been used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

You may receive just one type, or a combination of these drugs. There is some debate as to whether patients with stage II colon cancer should receive chemotherapy after surgery. You should discuss this with your oncologist.

Radiation therapy:
Radiation therapy is sometimes used in patients with colon cancer. It is usually used in combination with chemotherapy for patients with stage III rectal cancer. For patients with stage IV disease that has spread to the liver, treatments directed at the liver can be used. This may include: 

• Burning the cancer (ablation) 
• Delivering chemotherapy or radiation directly into the liver 
• Freezing the cancer (cryotherapy) 
• Surgery

Alternative Treatments

Although there is no scientific evidence to show that alternative treatments can treat or cure colon cancer, certain therapies can improve the quality of life of cancer patients. Activities such as art, dance and music can shift focus away from the disease and the treatment process, and help reduce stress. 

In addition, exercise and meditation can improve mood and appetite. Support groups are also a helpful resource for coping with colon cancer. Information on local groups can be found through organizations including the Colon Cancer Alliance, Cancer Care and the American Cancer Society.

Sources:

National cancer institute

MNT

Live scieces

0 Higher Vitamin D Blood Levels Help Prevent Colon Cancer

Just in case you needed more proof that low blood levels of vitamin D represent a significant health concern, researchers publishingin the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrate that small increases in the sunshine vitamin can add precious years to your life. For nearly a decade scientific evidence has been mounting to show that the vast majorities of adults (and many children) are grossly deficient in circulating blood levels of vitamin D.

Further proof is documented in the PLoS One journal to show the precise cellular mechanism that helps vitamin D dramatically lower the risk of colon cancer. The bottom line is simple: check your vitamin D blood saturation with an inexpensive test and make the necessary adjustments to live a healthier and longer life.

Doubling Average Vitamin D Levels Could Cut World Death Rate by Twenty Percent

Using epidemiologic studies, Dr. W.B. Grant of the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center in San Francisco found that doubling the serum blood concentration of vitamin D could increase average life expectancy by two years. Dr. Grant and his team identified the major diseases that responded to increased levels of vitamin D. They then compared mortality rates to six identified regions around the country, and contrasted serum blood levels of the sunshine vitamin with disease occurrence.

After compiling all the data, the researchers found that conditions and diseases responsive to vitamin D that account for over half of the worlds mortality include cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases and infections. It was determined that doubling the circulating level of vitamin D would lower the mortality rates of diseases that are sensitive to vitamin D by approximately 20 percent. Dr. Grant concluded“several ways to raise serum vitamin D include food fortification, supplementation and increased ultraviolet B exposure.”

Vitamin D Directly Correlated With Decreased Colon Cancer Risk

Researchers have known for some time that low vitamin D levels are associated with a significant increase in colon cancer cases, but have not understood the specific mechanism responsible. Now, scientists have discovered how a lack of vitamin D promotes DNA damage and colon cancer risk. Specifically, low vitamin D status instigates the development and progression of this devastating form of cancer.

Researchers have focused on a protein in intestinal epithelial cells called beta-catechin that normally helps epithelial cells bond together with other cells to form a protective barrier between the contents in your gut and the physical structure of your digestive tract. They found that when vitamin D is lacking, DNA synthesis is disrupted and beta-catechin builds up in cells, dramatically increasing the risk of colon cancer initiation.

There should be no doubt remaining that one of the most critical foundations to vibrant health is maintaining proper vitamin D blood saturation levels. Prevention is worth a pound of cure, so have your family physician run the simple and inexpensive 25 (OH)D blood test (alternatively, mail-in home testing is now a viable option), and be certain your level runs between 50 and 70 ng/mL to add years to your life and dramatically lower colon cancer and chronic disease risk.

0 8 Causes of colon cancer to watch out for

8 Causes of colon cancer to watch out for - There are so many types of cancer experienced by humans in the modern era. Quite often, the cancer is also due to a family history that was once also exposed to the same type of disease. So you can be more alert, here are eight causes of colon cancer as reported Coloncancer.about.com.

1. Age

Age is a major factor that supports the occurrence of colon cancer. Does that mean that age causes colon cancer? Not directly. Only just turned 50 years of age or older, one in four people has polyps that lead to increased risk of cancer.

2. Alcohol

Research has shown that alcohol increases the risk of colorectal cancer. So should avoid alcoholic beverages or foods that contain alcohol content.

3. Diabetes

A study published in the journal Gastroenterology found that insulin dependence contribute to the development of colon cancer. In general, people with diabetes 40% more likely to develop colon cancer than people who do not have diabetes.

4. Food

Foods high in fat and cholesterol (especially from animal sources) can lead to colon cancer. Eat foods low in fiber also has been associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.

5. Environment
Research has shown that the environment can play a major role in the development of colon cancer. Where you live, whos around you, what is your job, and even when you work all can affect your risk of colon cancer.

6. Genetics

Researchers estimate that about 25% of colon cancer cases have some sort of genetic link. Examples of the most common genetic cause of colon cancer include mutations to the FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) and HNPCC (non-polyposis colorectal cancer is hereditary).

7. Enteritis

Inflammatory bowel disease, often characterized by conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease, which can increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. In general, the longer a person has inflammatory bowel disease, the greater the chance of developing colorectal cancer.

8. Lack of exercise

Research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of colon cancer, including lack of exercise.

Here are eight causes of colon cancer to watch out for. Remember, prevention is better than cure!

0 Calcium May Cut Risk for Precancerous Colon Lesions in Some People

Consuming higher amounts of calcium may lower the likelihood of precancerous colon and rectal lesions in people who are at increased risk due to variations in two genes, a new study suggests.

High calcium intake did not affect risk in people without the genetic variations.

The findings may help explain inconsistent results in previous research about the link between calcium intake and the risk for these lesions, called colorectal adenomas, the researchers said.

They also said the findings may help identify patients who would benefit from calcium supplements or higher levels of calcium in their diet.

The study of nearly 6,000 people in Tennessee found that patients with the highest calcium intake had no reduced risk for colorectal adenomas if they had no variations in two genes -- KCNJ1 and SLC12A1 -- that are essential in calcium reabsorption in the kidneys.

Fifty-two percent of the study participants had variations in at least one of the genes and 13 percent had variations in both genes. There was a strong association between high calcium intake and a 39 percent reduced risk of colorectal adenomas in those with a variation in one gene. High calcium intake was linked to a 69 percent reduced risk in those with variations in both genes.

The risk of advanced or multiple adenomas was 89 percent for people who had a high calcium intake and had variations in both genes, according to the study, which is scheduled for Wednesday presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, in Washington, D.C.

The findings suggest that a person with variations in one or both of the genes will have an increased risk for colorectal adenomas if they consume less than 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day, said study author Dr. Xiangzhu Zhu, a staff scientist with the epidemiology division in the department of medicine at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn.

"These patients should increase their calcium intake to reduce the risks," Zhu said in an association news release.

The findings could lead to genetic tests to identify people who would benefit from higher calcium intake, the researchers said. Although the research showed an association between increased calcium intake and lowered risk of adenomas, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

0 Likes Eating Fish Minimize Risk of Colon Cancer

Likes Eating Fish, Minimize Risk of Colon Cancer | There is good news for fans of fish consumption. A recent study indicates, people who love to eat fish may have a lower risk of colon and rectal cancer.

This finding is an analysis of the results of 41 previous studies that have linked the consumption of fish in the diet and new diagnoses and deaths from colorectal cancer.

"People who rarely eat fish during this, would likely benefit health in many ways, after they increased the number of fish consumption, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, reproductive, and now colon cancer," said Dr. Michael Gochfeld, from the University of Medicine and Demtistry, New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

It is not yet known whether the benefits would be greater if the quantity of fish consumed is more.

Although this new study focused specifically on the consumption of fresh fish, the authors noted they could not determine what kind of fish should be consumed or how to serve it, since in previous studies is not explained.

However, according to Liang Dr.Jie of Xijing Hospital of Digestive Disease in Xian, China, which involved researching, said cooking temperature may affect the risk of colorectal cancer. He said there is evidence to suggest the consumption of meat and fish grilled or baked with high heat associated with cancer risk.

Assessment of Research

In his latest findings, Liang and colleagues collected data from 41 research studies that have previously been published between 1990 and 2011 that measure the amount of fish consumption and cancer diagnosis. The study includes a number of studies from the United States, Norway, Japan, Finland, and other countries.

Overall, regular fish consumption may lower a persons risk in kolorektar cancer, and death due to cancer by 12 percent.