Health Guidance

In the United States alone, 1 in 17 people will develop colon cancer. The colon spreads from your anus to your small intestine. The small intestine is about 4 feet long and twists and intertwines around other organs in the body. It digests and absorbs nutrients and helps to expel waste out of the body. Because the colon lies so close to other structures in the body, if colon cancer is left undetected, it can easily spread through the walls to adjacent structures such as lymph nodes and organs. Eventually, it can spread to organs that are farther away like the lungs.

Cancer occurs when cells transform and grow abnormally. This type of unhealthy growth overwhelms healthy cells and tissues by taking away the oxygen supply, nutrients, and space. This is why it is so important that cancer is detected at an early stage. Prognosis is better if the cancer is caught earlier rather than later.

Causes
As with any other type of cancer, the exact cause of why the cells begin to transform to unhealthy levels is unknown. Most forms of colon cancer are caused by clusters of these abnormal cells on the inside wall of the colon. This form of cancer usually occurs before the patient turns 40, but not always. Continue reading ‘Learning More About Colon Cancer’ »

For years, medical researchers have tried to determine if a link exists between coffee consumption and cancer of the colon. But it appears that the question has been put to rest – at least for the moment.

A study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concludes that people who drink a lot of coffee every day – even four cups or more – have no higher chance of developing colon cancer than those who drink no coffee at all. Continue reading ‘Does Coffee Increase Your Risk for Colon Cancer?’ »

Often, colon cancer begins as a small cluster of cells known as “colon polyps.” While benign at first, some of these polyps may become cancerous over time. Doctors routinely perform a colonoscopy to check for polyps once a patient is over 50 and they may advocate the removal of polyps, if found. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent polyps from turning cancerous, doctors say that early colonoscopy screening and a healthy lifestyle are the best ways to beat this deadly cancer.

There are many important risk factors for cancer of the colon that makes someone a good candidate for colon cancer screening. Age is one factor, as about 90% of people diagnosed with this cancer are over 50. People are also more at-risk if they have ever had colorectal cancer, polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, acromegaly (a growth hormone disorder) or radiation therapy as part of another cancer treatment. Some studies have shown that a greater risk exists for people who eat diets low in fiber and high in fat/calories, or diets high in red meat/processed meats. Obese individuals and smokers have an increased chance of developing and dying from this type of cancer too. As with most health conditions, genetics also play a role in many cases. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer Polyps’ »

Colon cancer usually begins as a small polyp that attaches to the wall of the intestines. Not all polyps become cancerous but some do. If it is detected while in the early polyp stage, it can be easily treated by removal. This is why colon cancer screening is so important.

Cancerous polyps may not cause any signs or symptoms. These are usually detected through screening tests like a colonoscopy. As it spreads and grows, symptoms can develop. One sign of the disease could be a change in your bowel movements that lasts longer than two weeks. This could be either diarrhea or constipation. You may notice blood in your stools. You might experience abdominal cramps, pain, or gas. You may feel like your bowels do not empty completely. There could be unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer – Symptoms, Risks and Treatments’ »

The earlier you can detect cancer, the better the prognosis will be. As with any other form of cancer, the early stages are the easiest to treat and possibly cure. Later stages of the developing disease can spread and cause many more problems, making it harder for the doctors to treat. The importance of early detection cannot be stressed enough by medical professionals.

Cancer cells are cells that have transformed and are growing abnormally. They can cause lumps, masses, and tumors in the body. They can grow extremely large and spread to other areas of the body. If you catch them in the “small” stages, it is more likely that the cancer can be surgically removed or treated with great results. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer Prognosis’ »

Colon cancer effects 7% of Americans and can be devastating. There is no known cure for colon cancer so early and frequent screening is necessary. The majority of cases begin as simple non-cancerous clusters of cells which are known as adenomatous polyps. While these polyps are benign, over time they can develop into colon cancers.

Adenomatous polyps themselves can be small and create very few or no symptoms at all. This is why screening is so important – once your doctor notes the presence of polyps he can remove them to prevent them turning cancerous.

But what if you have not had a screening? How do you recognize the symptoms of colon cancer? The first thing to note is that a lot of people with colorectal cancer have no symptoms at all in the disease’s early stages. When symptoms do appear they can vary greatly based on the cancer’s location and size. Continue reading ‘Do I Have Colon Cancer Symptoms?’ »

The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel). Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers.

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last 6 inches of the colon. Together, they’re often referred to as colorectal cancers. About 112,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer annually, and about 41,000 new cases of rectal cancer are diagnosed each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Most colorectal cancers begin as a polyp (say “pahl-ip”). At first, a polyp is a small, harmless growth in the wall of the colon. However, as a polyp gets larger, it can develop into a cancer that grows and spreads.

Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer – Common Causes of Colon Cancer’ »

Age: Everyone can have colon cancer, fifty year old people and older are more vulnerable. Why? As people age, the cells don’t repair damages as well as younger people, and genetic mutations within the colon tissue may cause cells to have excessive growth activity.

Gender: Men and women can develop cancer of the colon, but men are a little more likely to get colorectal cancer.

Ethnicity: In the U.S., cancer rates are higher among Japanese-Americans, African-Americans, and non-Hispanic whites compared to other ethnic groups. Continue reading ‘Risks of Colon Cancer’ »

Awareness of genetic and other risk factors is important, because there are very effective means now available that could prevent most colon cancer morbidity and mortality. Cancer genetics was among the earliest clinical applications of the techniques of molecular biology. Advances in understanding the genetic basis of human diseases creates opportunities to make diagnostic and prognostic assessments based upon various types of analyses of variations in an individual’s DNA. A easy way to prevent colon cancer is early detection & colon cleaning to maintain colong health..

Molecular diagnosis involves the testing of DNA or RNA within a clinical context. The functions of nucleic acids and their encoded protein molecules are determined by the linear sequence of their monomers. Although the proteins they encode develop complex three dimensional functional conformations as linear peptide chains become enfolded into helical or pleated sheets or higher-order structures, the simple primary amino acid sequences determine the ultimate structure and function. In modern molecular biology research, it is now much easier to obtain long nucleic acid sequence information to deduce the sequence of proteins rather than determine them directly. The functional effects on the encoded protein of any mutations or sequence variations can then be discovered. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer – Is it Genetic?’ »

The colon is the digestive part of our body where the waste materials are stored. The colon extends up to the rectum which is adjacent to the anus. The chord between them forms the large intestine. Tumors are developed in the inner walls of the large intestine, resulting in colon cancer.

Colon cancer referred to as colorectal cancer is not a contagious one. The main causes for this cancer are; high fat intake, from a colorectal cancer affected family member, ulcerative colitis. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer Causes and Treatment’ »