Vitamin D - A New Protective Mechanism Against Colon Cancer

According to Ministry of Health and Consumption, colon cancer is the deadliest malignancy in Spain, causing over 25,000 deaths annually. Although progress is made continually in research and treatment, survival of patients with colorectal cancer are diagnosed in advanced stage of the disease has not improved significantly since many years. While it is accepted that the most effective against cancer in general and in particular colorectal cancer is prevention, campaigns in this regard have failed so far the desired results.
Vitamin D has been traditionally associated with the regulation of bone biology and the prevention of rickets. However, numerous recent studies support a protective effect of vitamin D against various cancers, particularly colon and prostate, breast and others. As Bert Vogelstein, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Johns Hopkins researcher Universitad the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of Maryland (USA) and Prince of Asturias Prize said: "Studies on the relationship between vitamin D3 (active of vitamin D found in the body), bile acids and colorectal cancer have significant implications for the prevention of colorectal cancer in the future "
Most epidemiological studies suggest that reduced concentrations of vitamin D in blood is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer, whereas those with concentrations in the highest rank have lower risk. These results have motivated a great interest in studying the action of vitamin D as a preventive agent against colorectal cancers.
The team of Prof. Alberto Munoz at the Institute for Biomedical Research "Alberto Sols" located on the campus of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, joint center of this University and the National Research Council investigates the action of calcitriol (vitamin D3) in human cells of colon cancer. In collaboration with the group led by Dr. Felix Bonilla at the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro move to human samples, taken from tumors taken from cancer patients, noting the current ethics rules, results in vitro in cell cultures and in experimental animals in order to elucidate the mechanisms and possibilities for use of calcitriol and vitamin D in preventing and perhaps treating this malignancy.
Today it is accepted that one of the initial and fundamental alterations in the vast majority of colorectal cancers is abnormal activation of a molecular signaling pathway called Wnt / beta-catenin. This occurs because the mutation of one of three genes: APC, or Axin CTTNB1/beta-catenina. The latest finding made by the group led by Alberto Muñoz published in the journal Carcinogenesis shows that calcitriol increases the expression of a gene called Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1). This gene is a natural inhibitor of the Wnt pathway / beta-catenin, and since this acts as an engine that initiates and promotes tumor progression, induction of DKK-1 may be relevant to its antitumor action. The authors have also shown a relationship between the expression of DKK-1 receptor and vitamin D in human colorectal tumors, and further, that DKK-1 has tumor suppressor activities in addition to inhibition via Wnt / beta-catenin.
These findings help explain the molecular mechanisms of action of vitamin D, and support its role in the prevention of human colon cancer and therefore the importance of maintaining adequate levels of vitamin multifunctional body.

Colonoscopy - What to Expect and How to Prepare For It

What is Colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is the internal examination of the colon and rectum by a colonoscope (a long, flexible tube about half an inch in diameter with a camera attached to the end), to evaluate symptoms of the colon (eg. Rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits and persistent abdominal pain), or to screen asymptomatic individuals who are at risk of colon cancer.
It can detect ulcers, inflammed tissue and abnormal growths in the walls of the colon.
Preparing for a Colonoscopy
For successful visualization of the colon and rectum, the bowel must be clean and free of accumulated faeces. It is thus very important that you follow the instructions for preparing your bowel, given by your doctor. Without proper preparation, the colonoscopy may not be successful and may have to be repeated.
The Colonoscopy
You will be given a pain reliever and some sedation, so that you will be relaxed and comfortable. You may be asleep during the colonoscopy or be unable to remember it following the procedure. You will be made to lie on your side with your knees drawn up towards your chest, and your doctor will pass the well lubricated colonoscope into your anus, gently guiding it through the rectum and into the colon. Small amounts of air will be pumped in to expand the colon for proper visualization of the colon walls.
Your doctor can remove growths, called polyps during the colonoscopy, and later send it to the laboratory to test for signs of cancer. Polyps are common and usually benign, however, most colorectal cancers begin as polyps, so they should always be tested.
Biopsies can also be taken from abnormal looking tissues in the walls of the colon. If bleeding occurs following biopsy or removal of polyps, it can be stopped via diathermy (an electrical probe) passed through the colonscope.
The entire procedure lasts about 30 minutes to an hour.
Following The Colonoscopy
You may be required to remain at the clinic for 1 to 2 hours after the procedure to allow time for the sedative to wear off. Cramping, bloating and passing of flatus (gas) is common following a colonoscope due to the air pumped in during the procedure.
You should contact your doctor if you have any of the following rare side effects:

• Fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Blood in your stools

Dr Ang C.D. is has been in medical practice for over 12 years. He graduated with an M.B.B.S. degree from the National University of Singapore in 1997 and subsequently completed his post-graduate diploma in Family Medicine.
He has had training in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery and Urology.
Dr Ang currently practices in a family clinic in Singapore, seeing a good mix of paediatric, adult and geriatric patients.
With the goal of providing local and international patients with a resource for specialist care in Singapore, Dr Ang has founded SingaporeDoc.com, a Web Directory of Specialists in Private Practice in Singapore.

Colon Cancer Prevention - What You Need to Know

More than 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer every year. According to the American Cancer Society most colon cancers occur in folks over the age of 35.
The good news is this cancer is very easy to prevent. Just remember if you experience any blood in your stools or any unusual changes in your bowel habits for more than a few weeks you should get it checked out. In addition, if you experience symptoms like unusual weight loss, fatigue, nausea, anemia or jaundice for more than a few days you need to see a doctor right away.
The simple fact is the key to beating colon cancer is early detection. Current colon cancer treatments are over 85% successful when diagnosed early. So this is important.
But I'm sure you'd agree, the best thing to do is prevent getting it all together. To do this all you'll need to do is make a few lifestyle and dietary changes.
* Eat a high fiber diet to keep your colon healthy and free of carcinogens. Think beans, whole grains, fruits and veggies.
* Drink more water. You know you're getting enough if you need to urinate about 5 times a day.
* Ease up on the alcohol. Studies show the more you drink, the more likely it is you'll get colon cancer.
* Avoid too much red meat. Limit your intake of beef, pork and lamb to once or twice a week.
* Make sure you're getting enough calcium and magnesium. These minerals help protect the colon from carcinogens. The best thing to do here is take a good high-quality supplement.
Also, it's good idea to do a colon cleanse a few times a year. This removes toxins and rejuvenates your colon. In addition it helps your body absorb nutrients more efficiently. To make this easier consider getting a high-quality colon cleansing product that contains bentonite clay.
The take-away here is to remember that a healthy person will not suffer from constipation and will have at least one bowel movement every day. Just following the simple guidelines listed here is not too difficult, will increase your energy, and most importantly, prevent colon cancer.

How to Start a Colon Cancer Diet

When we reach the age of 50, one out of four individuals that we know or might be acquainted with will develop colorectal cancer. This figure is high enough to get us alarmed to prepare for our uncertain future. No one would like to suffer such an unbearable disease when we reach our golden years, where possibly, eating can be the only one of our lives' greatest highlights.
A proper diet has always been a man's greatest preventative measure against developing serious or fatal diseases. Coupled with our knowledge of the benefits of a healthy diet and proper nutrition, how are we to start a colon cancer diet? Can this diet actually guarantee a life free from colorectal cancer? We will find out! Before we start, we have to understand that dieting has always been a misnomer for the diets that Hollywood actresses practice in order for them to look extremely bony or extremely sexy thin. We have to take note that dieting is comprised of a balance between the major food groups (go, grow, glow) to attain good health.
To begin starting and formulating our own diet, we must know the food that we are supposed to eat that shall aid our efforts in preventing colorectal cancer.
• It remains true that a high-fiber diet helps in colon cleansing, hence decreasing one's risk of developing colon polyps that may result in colorectal cancer in a matter of 10 years. This is the main reason why high-fiber diets will indirectly help us prevent the development colon cancer. Foods that have helpful high-fibers are fruits and vegetables, barley, bran, brown rice, whole-grain bread and whole-wheat pasta.
• Food high in folic acid will aid in reducing the risk of developing colon cancer as well as breast cancer. This finding was supported by the fact that incidents are associated with the polymorphism of a gene for methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, an enzyme involved in folic acid metabolism. The kinds of food that are high in folic acid include spinach, asparagus, broccoli and beets among many.
• Low-fat food should be taken more than red meats or charred meat since it increases the risk to colorectal cancer. These low-fat foods include fish such as tuna, lobster and other crustaceans, skimmed milk, cornflakes etc.
• Vitamin D and Calcium has also been found to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by reducing the formation of colorectal adenoma polyps. Vitamin D can be supplemented by taking vitamins while calcium can be found in dairy.
So as we start on our colon cancer diet, will we be assured that this diet can prevent colon cancer development? The answer still is, "No". Even if a person followed a strict regimen to prevent colon cancer, he may not be guaranteed that colon cancer development will cease to exist. This is due to the fact that diet is just one of many risk factors in the development of colon cancer. Other factors include heredity, age, environment, behavior, and pre-existing conditions such as Diabetes.
But in the end, we have to put this colon cancer diet in good light. Mainly because dieting and eating healthy can provide you a generally healthy body and the benefits of a colon cancer diet still outweighs the weak effect it produces as preventive measure against colorectal cancer. So, let's start our colon cancer diet now.

The Colon Cancer

The design of stepwise genetic modifiation in cancer is best highlighted by observations made in colonic lesions representing various phases of development to malignancy. Particular anatomical alterations are discovered commonly in early-stage adenomas, whereas others have a tendency to occur with substantial frequency only after the development of wide spread neoplasia. These modifications are in maintaining with the idea that serial phenotypic modifications must happen in the mobile for it to exhibit full malignant (wide spread and metastatic) properties. Two principal lines of proof assistance the model of stepwise genetic modifiation in intestinal tract cancer.
1. The uncommon familial syndromes associated with predisposition to colon most cancers at an early age are now recognized to result from germline mutations. Familial adenomatous polyposis is the end result of a mutation within the APC gene, which encodes a cell adhesion protein which has also been implicated within the control of -catenin, a potent transcriptional activator. Within the tumors that subsequently produce, the remaining allele have been lost. Similarly, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal most cancers is linked with germline mutations in DNA repair genes such as hMSH2 and hMLH1. These genes can also be affected in sporadic cancers.
2. The carcinogenic effects of factors known to be linked to an elevated risk of colon most cancers constitute the second line of evidence for the anatomical basis for colon most cancers. Substances derived from bacterial colonic flora, ingested meals, or endogenous metabolites such as fecapentaenes, 3-ketosteroids, and benzo[]pyrenes are mutagenic. Amounts of those ingredients can be reduced by low-fat and high-fiber diets, and several epidemiologic studies confirm that this kind of diets decrease the risk of intestinal tract cancer. Furthermore, because the chance of sporadic intestinal tract cancer in older individuals is mildly elevated in the presence of a good family background, there might be other inherited anatomical abnormalities that interact with environmental elements to trigger colon most cancers.
The sequence of genetic changes might not require to become exact to result in the improvement of an wide spread cancer, although there is mounting evidence that some genetic lesions tend to produce earlier, whereas other people may develop late in the course of the natural disease. All phenotypic changes can't be explained by a known anatomical abnormality, nor do all identified anatomical modifiation have a known phenotypic result. Nevertheless, the stepwise dynamics of genotypic and phenotypic irregularities is well set up.
The earliest molecular defect within the pathogenesis of intestinal tract cancer is the acquisition of somatic mutations in the APC gene within the normal colonic mucosa. This defect brings about abnormal regulation of -catenin, which leads to abnormal cell proliferation and the initial actions in tumor formation. Subsequent defects in the TGF- signaling pathway inactivate this important growth inhibitory pathway and lead to more tumor mucosal proliferation and the introduction of little adenomas. Mutational activation of the K-ras gene leads to constitutive activation of the essential proliferative signaling pathway, is common at these stages, and further boosts the proliferative potential of the adenomatous tumor cells. Deletion or reduction of expression from the DCC gene is common in the progression to wide spread intestinal tract cancers.
The DCC protein is a transmembrane protein from the immunoglobulin superfamily and might be a receptor for certain extracellular molecules that guide mobile development and or apoptosis. Mutational inactivation of p53 can also be a frequently observed step in the development of wide spread intestinal tract cancer, observed in late adenomas and earlier wide spread cancers, and prospects to loss of an essential mobile cycle checkpoint and inability to activate the p53-dependent apoptotic pathways. Identification of genetic irregularities within the development of colon cancer to metastatic disease is presently under investigation.
In parallel to these sequential irregularities in the regulation of mobile proliferation, colon cancers also acquire defects in mechanisms that guard genomic stability. These generally include mutations in mismatch restore genes or genes that prevent chromosomal instability. Mismatch restore genes are a family of genes which are involved in proofreading DNA throughout replication and consist of MSH2,MLH1,PMS1, and PMS2. Germline mutations in these genes cause the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome. Nonhereditary colon cancers develop genomic instability via defects within the chromosomal instability (CIN) genes. Defects in these genes result in the gain or reduction of large segments or whole chromosomes throughout replication primary to aneuploidy.
The stepwise acquisition of genetic irregularities described previously is associated with modifiation in the phenotypic behavior of the colonic mucosa. The earliest change in the development to colon most cancers may be the improve in cell number (hyperplasia) on the epithelial (luminal) surface. This creates an adenoma, which can be characterized by gland-forming cells exhibiting increases in sizing and cell number but no invasion of surrounding structures. Presumably, these changes are due to improved proliferation and loss of mobile cycle manage but prior to acquisition of the capacity to invade ECM. Additional dysplastic modifications such as reduction of mucin production and altered mobile polarity may be present to some variable degree.
Some adenomas may improvement to carcinoma in situ and ultimately to invasive carcinoma. An early function linked with disrupted architecture even prior to invasion occurs is the development of fragile new vessels or destruction of existing vessels that may trigger microscopic bleeding. This could be examined for clinically like a fecal occult blood determination employed for screening and earlier diagnosis of preinvasive and invasive intestinal tract cancer. It isn't known regardless of whether all wide spread colon cancers pass via a hyperplastic or preinvasive stage, and there is no information available for epithelial malignancies generally.
Additional functional modifications in the cell and surrounding tissue are also manifested in the preinvasive and wide spread stages. Once the basement membrane is penetrated by invasive malignant tissue, entry could be gained towards the regional lymphatics, and spread to regional pericolic lymph nodes can occur. Entry of cells into the bloodstream can result in distant distribute in the pattern that reflects venous drainage. Consequently, hematogenous spread from primary colon tumors towards the liver is common, whereas rectal tumors usually disseminate to liver, lung, and bone. Additionally to anatomic considerations, there may exist specific tropism of malignant cells mediated by surface proteins that cause the cells to preferentially home in on certain organs or sites.
Colonic epithelium is specialized to secrete mucus proteins and to get water and electrolytes. The upkeep of a tight luminal barrier, intracellular charge distinctions, and the capability to exclude toxins are additional specialized features. Some of these features are maintained within the progression to neoplasia and may lead to some specific phenotype of the malignant cell. One instance is the expression of a transporter membrane protein, MDR-1, present on a number of types of epithelium, such as the colon.
MDR-1 is recognized to trigger efflux of several compounds out from the tissue, presumably like a protective system to exclude poisons. In sophisticated colon cancer, this protein might lead to the relative resistance of this along with other tumor types to some variety of chemotherapeutic agents which are transported by MDR-1. In some instances, the activation of a latent gene encoding carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can result in measurable levels from the CEA protein in the serum of sufferers with localized or metastatic colon cancer as well as other adenocarcinomas.

Chemotherapy For Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second type of cancer associated cause of death in America. This disease is also referred as bowel cancer or colon cancer.
Cure for the cancer varies according to each severity case. Doctors usually use a combination of therapies that can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to successfully treat each specific case of colorectal cancer.
It surely means patient suffering from cancer of the large intestine when diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The cells of a colon or rectal polyp can eventually become abnormal, which could begin to damage healthy tissue of their colon and rectum resulting in a malignant tumor.
Doctor usually utilizes chemotherapy as additional supportive treatment to slow tumor growth, reduce tumor size and reduce the development of metastasis along with surgery. It can be recommended before or after surgery.
This cure involves the use of anticancer drugs to kill and eliminate abnormal cells. These drugs enter the bloodstream in order to eradicate cancer cells throughout the entire body.
But, this treatment is not the first option for treatment of colorectal cancer, especially in earlier stages. Another medical cure like a colonoscopy or a colectomy is more performed to either extract the malignancy itself or remove the diseased section of the large intestines.
Types of chemotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer are varies depending on the patient case, also the chemotherapy side effects. There are basic anticancer drugs that are regularly used with this form of the disease regardless of how chemotherapy is used.
Drugs like Fluorouracil are probably the most common, but you may also be given additional drugs like capecitabine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, leucovorin in variety dosage. The drug can be a combination of two to three of the five which are given intravenously over a course of weeks to months.

The Connection Between Colorectal Cancer and Asbestos

Cancers that affect the digestive system can be especially difficult to manage because they can interfere with your ability to process your food and absorb the nutrients that you would need to help fight the disorder. One such gastrointestinal cancer is colorectal, which can actually be divided into colon and rectal cancers. Currently, doctors and researchers are trying to comprehend the link between colorectal cancer and asbestos exposure.

The colon is the longest part of the large intestine, whose purpose is to absorb any nutrients that were not taken in by the small intestine. Additionally, the colon absorbs water from your food to help you stay hydrated. Colon cancer often begins in the cells lining the colon which make mucus and other fluids to help lubricate the passage of your food. Thus, when these cells become cancerous, they can form blocks in your intestinal system.

The rectum is the last several inches of the large intestine, right before the anus. This is where your body stores fecal matter before you release it. Additionally, the rectum packs the waste into a more solid form so that you can release your stool.

Although you may think of asbestos exposure as primarily causing lung cancer and mesothelioma, it can also affect these lower parts of your digestive system. The problem with asbestos is that once it is inhaled or ingested via air or water, it can permanently remain in your body. This is because your body is not able to process the carcinogenic fibers. As they pass through your system, they can become lodged in the tissue of the colon and rectum, causing the growth of cancer.

Doctors are now discovering that colorectal cancer is more prevalent in men who were exposed to asbestos, especially through the work place. Additionally, a person who develops the lung disorder called asbestosis has a higher risk of discovering colorectal cancer as well.

The other main problem with asbestos is that it was so widespread before the asbestos ban, which did not begin until the late 1980s. Even now, asbestos may still be present in many older buildings that were built before the phase-out. The reason for this is because asbestos is extremely insulating. As a member of the silicate family of minerals, asbestos is able to resist heat, electricity, flame, chemicals, and biodegradation. Additionally, asbestos itself is flexible and has high tensile strength. This makes it easy to add asbestos to other materials. Thus, it should come as no surprise that asbestos was once present in things like insulation, vinyl flooring, roofing tar and tiles, brake shoes, clutch pads, gaskets, and even fire doors.

People who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for many other cancers as well, not just colorectal cancer. Primary asbestos-related cancers include lung cancer and mesothelioma. If you or someone you know has contracted mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure, talk to an asbestos attorney from Williams Kherkher today to learn more about your rights.

Colon Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Understanding what the colon is and what its functions are will help us better identify colon cancer signs. The colon is a crucial component of a human's digestive system. Human beings rely heavily on their colons to help the body absorb vital nutrients, water and minerals.

Sometimes colon cancer is also known as colorectal cancer or large bowel cancer. Colon rectal cancer means having cancerous cells growing in the colon, appendix or rectum. These adenomatous polyps growths that resemble mushroom shapes are generally benign in nature but over time have the potential to develop into deadly cancer. It is one of the top leading cause of cancer related deaths in the Western countries. Knowing whether you have cancer without being diagnosed first is almost always a challenging task, therefore it is more helpful to keep a close eye on picking up the signs or symptoms of colon rectal cancer.

Learning more about the colorectal cancer signs and familiarising yourself with the symptoms can mean quicker identification of an underlying problem and therefore increasing your chance of catching it early. Often, when cancer is caught early, the patient has a much higher chance of achieving success in its treatment. Sometimes it may feel cumbersome having to go to the doctor for something that you are not sure about but like the old saying goes, "better be safe than sorry".

Early detection of some cancer growths could sometimes mean the difference between life and death. It should not be something that is swept under the carpet and be forgotten about. Whenever cancer is involved, nothing is ever simple. It is a complicated disease.

Colon rectal cancer signs and symptoms are generally divided into localised or regional cancer (which means the cancer spread is restricted to just a confined area), constitutional (which means it is affecting the whole body) and the most serious kind metastatic (which means the cancer has actually spread to other parts or other organs in the body and this would normally imply it is now in the blood stream). Localised cancer has a much higher success rate in responding well to aggressive treatment which means the patient will stand a good chance of beating the cancer.

Colon rectal cancer signs are often mistaken for other conditions such as irritation bowel syndromes, Crohn's Disease. Significant colon rectal cancer signs can include a sudden change in your bowel habits. If you develop diarrhoea or severe constipation, or if you notice a change in the consistency of your stool for more than two weeks in a row, consult your doctor immediately. Any constipation or digestive complaints should clear within five to seven days and should not last for more than two weeks. Sometimes these discomforts or symptoms can also happen to patients with digestive tract problems, that is why it is best to consult your local doctor as soon as you notice any abnormal bowel habits to allow time for the correct diagnosis.

If you are not experiencing haemorrhoids or are not suffering from Crohn's disease and yet you have rectal bleeding or notice blood in your stool, again this could be signs of colon rectal cancer. Other signs to watch out for are persistent abdominal pain, painful stomach cramps, pain with each bowel movement, constant fatigue and chronic bloatedness.

Colon Rectal Cancer Treatment

Being diagnosed with colon rectal cancer is a stressful time for anyone. Colon rectal cancer occurs when there are malignant cancer cells that develop and grow in the tissues of the colon. The colon is part of human's digestive system. Having a healthy digestive system is important to ensuring our overall sense of well-being. It is the hub where wastes are removed promptly out of our body and it is responsible for processing and absorbing all the crucial nutrients, vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water and minerals.

Not everybody falls into the high-risk group of patients who develop colon rectal cancer. Some people are more at risk than the others. The factors include someone who is at or over the age of fifty, someone who has a family medical history of colon cancer, a personal history of suffering from ovarian cancer, rectal cancer, endometrium or breast cancer, and a history of having polyps in the colon. Polyps are small pieces of bulging tissues in your colon.

Other risk factors include hereditary conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis. A medical history of ulcerative colitis which is finding ulcers in the lining of the large intestine or Crohn disease will also predispose you to colon cancer. Knowing these factors help us keep an eye on the health of our colon and make us more aware of the symptoms to watch out for.

Early diagnosis can often mean more effective treatment against colon cancer. So do not delay seeing a doctor if you notice a drastic change in your bowel habits, bloody stool, severe constipation, diarrhoea, thinner stool, sudden fatigue, vomiting, severe bloating and gas pains that just do not seem to go away. One of the reasons why you should always consult a doctor immediately after noticing these unusual and abnormal symptoms is because many of these symptoms are often also associated with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease.

It may take time for the doctor to get to the bottom of your condition and often with cancer, the sooner the correct diagnosis is given, the higher the chance you stand to beat this disease, time is indeed precious. Doctors could start with the standard physical examination to find lumps in your colon area and probe further into your health habits, family history of colon cancer and past illnesses. Faecal occult blood test is normally done for laboratory testing. Digital rectal examination can also be performed to help detect unusual growth in your rectum. Colonoscopy could also be used to look for polyps and abnormal areas. This procedure can remove a sample of polyps or tissues to test of signs of cancer.

Biopsy is normally conducted by a pathologist to check for cancerous cells. Colon rectal cancer can be generally defined in stage zero to stage four. The best treatment for stage zero colon cancer is local excision or a simple polypectomy. If the tumour is too big to be removed by local excision, then resection or anastomosis will be opted. Stage one follows the same treatment options. Apart from resection or anastomosis, stage two and three colon cancer may benefit from chemotherapy, radiation therapy or monoclonal antibody therapy after surgery. Stage four and recurring colon cancer will benefit from all of the above and for more severe cases may require surgery to remove parts of the other organs such as the liver, lungs and ovaries where cancer may have spread to and palliative therapy to relieve the symptoms rather than a cure.

There are many Colon Cancer Warning Signs which you need to be aware of, if cause early then colon cancer survivability is at it's greatest. Remember, if you experience something out of the normal then you need to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

What is a Colonoscopy?

I bet I can make a good guess and tell you what you are thinking of when you read the term colonoscopy. Well if you are really thinking, what would come to mind is the term "colon." As this usually is spoken of in conjunction with bowel movement and the rectum, you can decipher that a colonoscopy would then involve some form of procedure with this part of a body.

Additionally, making a deeper analysis, one can also break this word apart forming "colon" and "copy" which would then suggest some form of duplication or reproduction of a look-a-like! Well you are indeed on the right track!

Specifically, a colonoscopy is a process in which the colon and the rectum is examined visually. The term "copy" comes into play in this regard if you are able to decipher that as a picture of the colon is made, a duplicate is indeed formed. Exclusively, it is done by utilizing a flexible, thin span to place inside the rectum, making its way to the colon and receiving visuals of its inner walls by way of a camera. Normally, it is able to detect inflamed tissue, abnormal growths and ulcers within the colon. This is all in the effort to find out if colon cancer or any abnormalities are present.

The Procedure

A colonoscopy is usually carried out in a hospital or at an outpatient clinic. Right before the colonoscopy is done, the patient is given sedatives and painkillers with an injection in a vein. The patient is placed in a side position, often times on the left side with knees drawn to their chest. The anus is then checked for any blockages with the aid of a lubricated glove.

The colonoscope (also lubricated) is then inserted in the anal passage making its way to the upper colon until the appendix has been reached.

In cases where the colon needs to be opened more for this procedure, the doctor will pump air into the colon, tightly massage the walls of the abdomen and ask the patient to change their position (usually to the right side). Once a tumor or abnormality is found, a portion is taken by way of a biopsy in which treatment is obtained with the help of this sample. Air thereafter is allowed to escape the rectum so as to avoid painful and unpleasant feelings.
Other facts you may find useful about a colonoscopy is that in most cases it will not hurt if the procedure is done in the right way. Additionally, it is an important procedure that should be taken by all who have a family history of colon cancer or have experienced rectal bleeding.

Persons over the age of fifty years are usually encouraged to get a colonoscopy once every five years. If you are scheduled to undertake a colonoscopy, you will usually be given medication to cleanse your colon beforehand, making the doctor's work easier and examination much quicker!

If you or a loved one are facing Surgery For Colon Cancer, be sure to visit my site and read my article on Laparoscopic Surgery for Colon Cancer.

Colon Cancer - Your Whole Life Affected

Your colon is probably the most important part in you body, this is where all your nutrients are absorbed and where all your bowel is removed from your body. But if you don't not take care of your body or watch what you eat you will start to develop colon cancer.

Once you develop colon cancer its over for you. You could go to surgery and have them removed but there is no telling if they are going to come back and mostly likely there are going to if you don't start focus on turning your life around.

You are not only going to struggle day to day trying to use the restroom you are also going to have to struggle when you sleep, when you want to spend time with your family, and just enjoying life to the fullest and not to mention death.

You will start to fill depressed because you don't feel the same and cant do the things that you use to do before. You are going to have to schedule appointment after appointment after appointment just to check how you are doing. Do you really want to spend your days in an out of a hospital?

All of this can be avoided by doing some simple little things, yes it may not seem simple at first because you are so used to living a different way, but over time little by little it will only be natural to you.

Cook your food, don't go out to eat, you don't even have to work out just go for some walks anything that will help you stay fit and healthy. If you don't feel like doing this tell yourself that you have to do it for your family or whatever that will motivate you.

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CMS Sets Different Standards For CT Colonography?

n the February 2010 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine, Samita Garg, MD; and Dennis J. Ahnen, MD discuss at length about the decision of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to not cover computed tomographic colonography (CTC) screening for colon cancer.

The rationale for the CMS decision includes concerns about radiation exposure, miss rates for small polyps, detection of incidental extracolonic findings, variability in performance, and lack of evidence that adding computed tomographic colonography would increase overall screening rates. The authors discusses about these concerns and point out that these concerns are associated with other recommended and covered screening tests as well, and some where set only for CTC.

Radiation Exposure

Radiation exposure fron CTC is low (about 6-8 mSv per examination) and the cancer risk estimated is unclear. But Barium enema, which exposes to similar radiation dose is covered by the CMS for colon cancer screening.

False Negative Rates for Polyps

Even though studies have proven that CTC is less sensitive in detecting small polyps (≤5 mm in diameter) when compared to colonoscopy, the benefits of detection, removal and follow-up pof small polyps is uncertain. CMS accepted tests colonoscopy misses up to 25% of small polyps and 12% of polyps larger than 1 cm, sigmoidoscopy cannot see proximal colon while faecal colonoscopy misses almost all small polyps.

Extracolonic Findings

Seven to 16% of CTC detect extracolonic abnormalities leading to further testing, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment.

The USPSTF (2) concludes that "the evidence to assess the harms related to extra-colonic finding is insufficient, and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined."

A recent large study (19) reported that only 12% of 1169 patients who underwent upper endoscopy after negative results on colonoscopy that was performed because of positive results on fecal occult blood testing had a significant finding (such as arteriovenous malformation, ulcers, suspected Barrett esophagus, or esophageal stricture), and whether identification of these lesions is ultimately beneficial or harmful remains uncertain.

Variability in the Reliability of CTC

While it was pointed out that CTC is less reliable due to the variability in the results, the quality of colonoscopy in the United States varies greatly is also well established. Detection rates of serious adenomas (those larger than 1 cm in diameter) vary up to 4-fold (20). Also, colonoscopy complications vary by more than 10-fold.

Lack of Targeted Studies

Studies of CTC have not specifically targeted patients aged 65 years or older who are eligible for Medicare, but participants 65 years or older were included in the large CTC studies (8-10). But targeted studies of the other colorectal cancer screening tests in patients 65 years or older have also not been reported.

Higher Adenoma Prevalence

More adenomas in above 65yrs leads to higher follow-up colonoscopies but sigmoidoscopy can also lead to this.

Overall Adherence

The CMS argual that adding CTC to colorectal screening options may increase the number of participants who would accept screening is unproven seems to be a totally new standard that only CTC is expected to meet.

Cost efectiveness

Cost-effectiveness modeling seems to be part of a new and higher standard that may be applied to future colorectal cancer screening tests.

Finally the authors concludes that CTC is being held to a higher standard than the other colorectal cancer screening tests (like colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, faecal occult blood examination, Barium enema etc) that are currently recommended by the USPSTF and covered by the CMS.

Dealing With the Symptoms of Colitis

Colitis is a serious condition affecting many today. It is not only a painful and sometimes embarrassing health problem to go through, but it can also be life threatening if allowed to reach a cancerous state. Individuals are always encouraged to nip this illness in the bud before it reaches that stage. Talk to your doctor about methods of early detection so that treatment can be well underway before it gets worse. These treatments include prescription drugs and changes in one's diet. In the most serious of cases these treatments are done along with the surgical removal of the affected part of the colon.

Specifically, Colitis is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine, or the colon. Reasons for this occurrence include a poor blood supply - which inevitably contribute to diarrhea, dehydration, anemia and shock- infections, and autoimmunity of the body. Colitis usually results in diarrhea, dehydration, malnutrition, as well as a bleeding ulcer producing mucus and pus at intervals. Diarrhea causes the body to lose far more fluids than usual. Diarrhea is usually the symptom that is seen in every type of colitis known to man. Cramps and sporadic abdominal pains are also a common feature of this condition. Other signs include fever and chills, the constant urge to use the bathroom, and the presence of blood in one's stool.

Now as mentioned earlier, this occurrence can be quite embarrassing for the victim and often times requires a support system such as close relative and friends. This becomes a greater concern where in almost all cases of colitis, one's daily activities have to be changed to necessitate the demands of this terrible ailment. A great way in which help can be given to someone dealing with the symptoms of Colitis is by being available to them during tests and examinations of this disease. Such tests include examining the blood to check the factors that might lead to this condition, conducting a colonoscopy to scrutinize the walls of the colon and finally, by way of a computerized tomography that visualizes the colon and abdomen.

Many people suffering from colitis have gotten to the point that they have difficulty leaving the house. They never know when they'll have to find a bathroom. This can make work and travel very difficult. Helping a friend or family member discover that colitis is the problem and that there are ways to treat it can help them get their life back again. It is helpful to research and talk about treatment methods with the colitis sufferer, and to carry out proactive measures such as encouraging a doctor's visit for medicinal aids to the aches and pains (which people might easily mistake as just ordinary abdominal pains and diarrhea) and eating healthy foods that don't cause colon distress!

What is Colon Cancer and is it Treatable?

Most people have heard that colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the Western world. But most people don't have a good understanding of what it is or what causes it to occur. Many times in life, we learn so many complex things that the simple things we ought to remember from health class in high school seem like nothing more than a mystery to us. The problem is that quite often in our busy lives, we don't recognize symptoms and problems when they start to occur. Colon cancer is a good case in point. Simply put, the colon is the part of the digestive system that stores waste material to be excreted later through the anus via the rectum.

Colon cancer is also classified as large bowel cancer or colorectal cancer, which one can infer has something to deal with the rectum. In this sense, it involves the development of cancerous tissue abnormality in the colon, thereby affecting the rectum and the appendix. These tissue abnormalities are more commonly known as adenomatous polyps which frequent the inner walls of the colon and are similar in shape to that of mushrooms. As these polyps are seen as simple in the beginning, their development into malignant abnormalities is what is regarded as colon cancer. For this reason, colonoscopies are encouraged so that there can be an early detection of these polyps and can be removed before they cause more serious problems. Importantly, researchers have found that a lot of the cancers of the colon found their origin in polyps which were left to develop untreated over time.

The most dangerous thing about this disease is the fact that it causes damage to one's tissues and organs, the building blocks of the body. In this way, the liver and lungs may also be affected, halting the important digestive system and making it hard for the individual to breathe efficiently. This metastasis late stage process is the final sign that there is no coming back from treatment and that unfortunately, the result would be death.

Certainly, from this we cannot underestimate statistical reports that conclude that over 650,000 people die per year from this cancer, with the Western societies having the most frequent cases. It rarely takes place within Africa and Asia. Leading these statistics is the United States, which considers this disease as the fourth most common form of cancer as well as the third leading cause of death relating to cancer.

Other useful information for a person interested in the topic of colon cancer is the fact that it is treatable with surgery as well as chemotherapy in the more serious cases. Now I am going to leave you with something to think about colon cancer which was not mentioned earlier to pique your interest on further reading. In this way, more precaution and action can be taken if you happen to have this deadly disease. Genes along the chain of the colon are ultimately damaged with the development of this cancer, in particular the APC gene. What do you think the effect this will have on the body as well as children of these individuals? All the more reason to get preventative screenings early and often.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with colon cancer, find out more about bowel cancer surgery and colon cancer surgery recovery on my site.

Colonoscopy and the Prevention of Colon Cancer

I have said this before, but perhaps it bears repeating. Taking charge of your cancer is not just about what you do when you are diagnosed with it, but what you do to try to insure that you are not diagnosed with it. On a recent trip to my doctor for my annual physical, I pointed out to him that five years had passed since I had my first (and only) colonoscopy. He checked and sure enough I was right; so he ordered me to make an appointment and get it done.

Now let's be clear: I am no fan of colonoscopies, but actually the procedure itself is a piece of cake. It's the preparation for the procedure that is "yucky". For 24 hours prior to the procedure, I ingested only liquids, nothing solid. My doctor gave me a prescription for a concoction called Moviprep, which, when mixed with water and ingested, is designed to induce diarrhea to clean out the colon in preparation for the colonoscopy. Why is this procedure important and what does it have to do with colon cancer?

A colonoscopy is the official screening procedure for colon cancer. It is recommended for individuals age 50 and over. Over a lifetime of food intake, digestion, and subsequent expulsion from the body, an individual can develop growths called polyps along the walls of the colon. Polyps are common in adults and are usually harmless. However, most colon cancer begins as a polyp, so removing polyps early is an effective way to prevent cancer. If bleeding occurs, the doctor can usually stop it with an electrical probe or special medications passed through a scope into the colon. The doctor may extract a biopsy of any polyps in order to view it under the microscope to determine if cancerous tissue is present.

After an intravenous injection and an administration of anesthesia, I was rolled over on my left side and, approximately 20 minutes later, a nurse was calling my name, my doctor was telling me that the procedure went fine and that I was good to go for another five years. Two new words, however, were added to my vocabulary: diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is characterized by the formation of "pockets" in the lining of the large intestine. Diverticulitis is an acute stage of diverticulosis when the "pockets" have become infected or inflamed. Neither of these conditions is cancerous and can be treated with a gradual high fiber diet for diverticulosis and a low fiber diet for diverticulitis.

The bottom line is that a colonoscopy can detect precancerous growths and those growths can be removed before the development of colon cancer. Colon cancer is more than 90% curable if caught in its early stages, yet fear of the unknown prevents many from undergoing a simple procedure. Get rid of the fear and take charge of the prevention of colon cancer!

Colon Health Check - Self Test For Early Colon Cancer Detection

Colon cancer, also known as colonic or bowel cancer is quickly becoming a mass killer among us. It is the third most common cancer for both men and women and it is estimated that 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year in America. One of the biggest problems is early detection. There usually no symptoms associated with the early stages of colorectal cancer, making makes this type of cancer very lethal. Until recently, no self test kits were available for colon cancer early detection. Fortunately technology has advanced and now this is a very real option.

Screen Yourself with a Self Test Kit for a Home Colon Health Check

Before you rush to your doctor and embark on a series of unpleasant tests, such as a colonoscopy, you may consider a new alternative now available. It is possible to perform a colon health check for detection of early stages of colonic cancer by identifying fecal blood in the stool. In fact the American Cancer Society strongly recommends people test for fecal occult blood every year. Fecal occult blood indicates bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract which may be an indication of cancer.

Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract can also be caused by benign conditions such as hemorrhoids, polyps, stomach ulcers, rectal fissures and more. In any case this will be detected in the colon health check self test after which you would see a physician as soon as possible to determine the cause of the bleeding.

Who Should Take a Colon Health Check?

Testing for colon cancer is recommended to anyone over the age of 40 as well as for any one who is at high risk to develop colon cancer. High risk categories include:

People who have had colon or rectal cancer, breast, or reproductive tract cancer, anyone with benign intestinal polyps. People that have a family relation to anyone who has been diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer. African-American men and women.

Colon cancer is very real and can happen to anyone. It is recommended to self test your colon once a year, remember, one simple test every year can help save your life!

Early detection of colon cancer can save your life! Colon Health Check provides a promise to increase early colon cancer detection and is the first self test kit to be used in the comfort of your own home. There are many small lifestyle changes you can make to increase your chances against colon cancer including diet, exercise and colon cleansing.

How to Reduce the Risk of Colon Cancer

A clean colon is a happy colon, and the better care you take the lesser the risk of colon and colorectal cancer. For some, this disease may be connected genetically and therefore puts you at higher probability than others. However, proper preventative measures can help reduce the changes of being diagnosed. Simple practices, like taking time out for your health and eating the right things, can do a world of good for your intestines as well as your entire body. How can you reduce the possibility of colon cancer and ensure good results on colonscopies? Here are just a few things you should try.

Get more Vitamin D: a recent study from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer reports that high doses of Vitamin D can lower the chance for colon problems. Eating foods fortified with Vitamin D or taking daily supplements, and spending some time outdoors are great ways to get this important disease-fighting agent.

Get checked regularly: Starting around fifty, one should strongly consider a baseline colonoscopy if you haven't had one. Having an annual exam where a gastroenterologist inspects the inside of you large intestine can help catch anomalies early on, where otherwise they could grow into serious problems. Talk with a local gastroenterology specialist today about an appointment if you are eligible.

Eat Green: A diet rich in green vegetables and high fiber foods, especially broccoli, is instrumental in ensuring continued health. You may wish also to consult with your doctor about the proper colon cleansing foods to try, like wheatgrass and other foods designed to detox your system.

The more effort you put into taking care of yourself, the better the chance of living long without worries of colon problems.

Colorectal Cancer and Weight Loss Surgery

Severe obesity has been known to be associated with life threatening morbidities including Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, asthma, sleep apnea, hypertension and heart disease.

Epidemiological data have consistently demonstrated that there is an increasing evidence of a positive correlation between increased body weight and malignancies of the breast, pancreas, ovaries, esophagus and the colon. In fact, oncologists even suggest a more aggressive screening for cancers in the obese: especially for breast, uterine, and colorectal cancers.

So, is there an association between colorectal cancer and weight loss surgery?

Researchers believe that dysregulation of energy homeostasis is associated with colorectal carcinogenesis, with insulin resistance (the impaired ability to normalize plasma glucose levels inspite of adequate insulin reserves) being the core of these pathogenesis. The alteration of the patient's hormonal milieu due to weight loss therefore may result in a lower incidence of these cancers.

In a study of 1482 women with severe obesity, it was found that those who had not undergone bariatric surgery had a significantly higher cancer diagnosis rate (5.8 versus 3.6 percent) than did the patients who had undergone bariatric surgery. There is clinical evidence to suggest that obese women who undergo bariatric surgery experience as much as a 42 percent drop in the relative risk for developing a malignancy.

In a retrospective study, researchers compared 1,035 morbidly obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery with 5,746 patients with the same weight profile who did not undergo the operation. They found that the incidence of diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the first group was 70 percent lower than the second group. The study group also reported a significantly lower incidence of other malignancies in the first group.

Given that obesity affects the body in various ways, a single hypothesis cannot fully explain the result of weight loss surgery on the incidence of colorectal cancer. A possible explanation is that excess body fat is responsible for hormonal imbalances which constitute a major risk factor for colorectal malignancies.

The decrease in body weight, as well the increase in the distal small intestine hormone peptide YY (PYY), and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which are secreted by intestinal L cells consequent to weight loss surgery result in an altered metabolic milieu. The chronic low grade inflammation known to be associated with obesity decreases, as does the oxidative stress, resulting in protection from malignancies, including those of the colon.

It is therefore difficult to attribute the decreased risk for cancer to weight loss alone and multiple factors both pre- and post-bariatric surgery have to be evaluated before reaching a conclusion. Another important consideration when considering the impact of weight loss surgery on cancer risk is that diet and exercise have not proven very effective strategies for weight loss in the morbidly obese.

Researchers therefore maintain that even though there are no randomized case control trials to suggest that sustained weight loss through bariatric surgery decreases the risk of death from colorectal cancer, especially in men, who are most at risk for this, weight loss surgery could be protective for colorectal cancer as well as other obesity related malignancies.

Can Colon Cancer Be Prevented?

As the population continues to age more research is done on how to slow down the aging process and get more energy. Everybody wants to look and feel younger. Everybody wants to take better care of themselves.

One of the areas that is often neglected is the colon. My mother died of colon cancer a year ago and it seems that once she was diagnosed her health declined rapidly. Doctors have recommended that you begin annual screenings after the age of 50 but the truth is most people ignore this preventative care until its too late.

When my mom found out about her cancer she was in stage 4, which meant the cancer had already spread to her liver. What pain she endured.

I remember in one of our conversations she said, " I wish I had found out sooner". I wish she had too...

One lesson that I can take from her untimely death is the need for paying attention to my body and listening to my doctor. I also believe that everyone should take better care of their colons.

How do you that? To reach and maintain optimum health your body must successfully eliminate toxins and bodily waste. The colon, lungs, and kidneys are designed to cleanse your body by getting rid of toxins in your intestines, blood, and lymph systems.

The colon can host more than 60 varieties of bacteria that aid in digestion that can turn into disease if toxins are not properly eliminated. It is interesting to note that most people carry 7-10 pounds of extra waste. Can you imagine that? That would explain the bloating and lack of energy.

To get rid of this toxic waste talk to your doctor about colonic irrigation or a cleanse of some sort. I personally recommend Ultra Body Cleanse which has probiotics, natural herbs, and enzymes to help gently cleanse your body's internal organs. Colonic irrigation can be kind of pricey but the Ultra Body Cleanse will give you the same results for just a fraction of the cost. Either way do something to get rid of the waste. Your love ones are counting on you.

Tracie Davis is a successful internet marketer who takes pride in helping her clients attain optimum health and wealth. Not only is she knowledgeable in how to live a healthy lifestyle, she can also teach you how to make a serious income online.

Can Yogurt Fight Gastrointestinal Ulcers?

Recently, in a report presented at the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, it was revealed that there is a new yogurt which appears to have the ability to fight the bacteria responsible for gastritis and stomach ulcers.

In the report, which was based upon the result of human clinical studies, Japanese researchers claimed that ingesting the yogurt is comparable to the effects of innoculation by a vaccine for both conditions.

Yogurt Facts

Yogurt, a fermented milk product, has long been known to be a healthy source of calcium, protein and various other nutrients. Currently, many brands of yogurt contain probiotics (i.e., certain types of bacteria believed by many alternative and allopathic practitioners to have beneficial impacts on many digestive issues).

This new kind of yogurt may represent a unique approach to fighting stomach ulcers. It is perhaps the latest product in the ever growing, "functional food," market, which now generates some $60 million in annual sales. Indeed, stomach ulcers affect some 25 million people annually in the United States alone.

The study's coordinator, Hajime Hatta, a chemist at Kyoto Women's University, in Japan, had this to say: "With this new yogurt, people can enjoy the taste of yogurt, while preventing or eliminating the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers."

Researchers are hopeful that the new yogurt, which is already available in Japan (under the name "Dr. Piro"), Korea (under the name "Gut",) and Taiwan will soon be on the shelves in the United States.

Stomach Ulcers

Most stomach ulcers are now known to be caused by a bacteria, known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), or by overuse of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In the past H. pylori ulcers have been effectively treated and eliminated with antibiotics and acid suppressants; however, for millions of poverty-stricken people who suffer from H. pylori ulcers, such treatments may simply be unavailable.

Research has linked childhood H. pylori-induced ulcers to more serious health problems like malnutrition and impaired growth. Scientists have long been at a loss to find a more economical and accessible way of treating these bacteria.

IgY-urease

In the study, Hatta and colleagues point out that H. pylori appears to depend upon a protein known as urease to attach itself to and infect the lining of the stomach. The researchers used classic vaccine-creation techniques in their efforts to thwart the effects of the urease protein, injecting chickens with urease, and allowing the chickens to produce antibodies to the protein. The researchers harvested the antibody, IgY-urease, from the eggs of the chickens, postulating that the consumption of yogurt containing IgY-urease might help to prevent the bacteria from adhering to the lining of the stomach.

The study consisted of a group of 42 people, all of whom suffered from H. pylori ulcers, who were segregated into 2 groups, one group was fed 2 cups daily of untreated yogurt and the other group was fed yogurt containing the antibody. At the end of the 4-week study, urease levels in the latter group had decreased significantly.

Yogurt and Ulcers

Ultimately, although the yogurt appears to be somewhat less effective than antibiotics in treating H. pylori ulcers, it is certainly more accessible and can be eaten every day. The antibody has no effect upon the taste of the yogurt.

Researchers cautioned, however, that since yogurt is a dairy product that also contains egg yolk, those with an allergy to dairy or eggs should not consume this new "anti-ulcer" yogurt. Furthermore, unlike antibiotics, which once taken, can permanently eliminate the problem, the yogurt must be eaten on a consistent basis. So, it would appear that unless an individual wishes to avoid use of an antibiotic, it might well be more beneficial to partake of the permanent solution than to commit to use of a product for the duration of one's lifespan.