Colon Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer, also referred to as colorectal cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the United States. Colon cancer affects 6% of the population in the United States and the American Cancer Society reports 57,000 colon cancer related deaths per year. Both men and women are at risk. Colon cancer is the most preventable cancer because it ordinarily develops from pre-cancerous polyps in the colon which can be easily screened. ...
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Colon cancer, also referred to as colorectal cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the United States. Colon cancer affects 6% of the population in the United States and the American Cancer Society reports 57,000 colon cancer related deaths per year. Both men and women are at risk. Colon cancer is the most preventable cancer because it ordinarily develops from pre-cancerous polyps in the colon which can be easily screened. ...
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What Causes Colon Cancer?
We don’t know for certain what causes colon cancer. Majority (80%) of colon cancers are related to environmental causes particularly our diet. Some food may help protect us from colon cancer, while others may help it develop. There is growing evidence that a high fat and low fibre diet is related to colon cancer. On the other hand, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and produce high in fibre (such as cereals, brown rice/bread) may help prevent colon cancer. About 20% of colon cancer are related to heredity. ...
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We don’t know any specific cause for colon cancer. Factors that place a person at higher risk are obesity, high fat intake, low fiber diet, inflammatory diseases of the bowel like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, advanced age, or family history in a close relative.
Source: www.thecentertx.com
Though scientists are unsure of the exact causes of colon and colorectal cancer, some risk factors have been identified, including being over age 50, presence of polyps, a high-fat diet, family or personal history of colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn s Disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases, a sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, obesity, smoking and alcohol, growth hormone disorder and radiation therapy for cancer.
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The exact cause is unknown, but there are several risk factors involved, including: family or personal history of the disease, personal history of polyps, history of bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, diabetes, ethnic background, high fat diet, heavy alcohol use, smoking, lack of exercise, and obesity.
What are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer may develop the following symptoms : - Blood or mucus (or both) in the bowel movements - Unexplained changes in bowel habits lasting more than two weeks, such as constipation or diarrhoea or both - Persistent 'colicky pain' in the abdomen - Tiredness or paleness from anaemia Sometimes, symptoms appear only after the colon cancer has spread. On the other hand, in many cases these symptoms do not mean cancer, but tests may be needed to make sure. The older you are, the more likely that the symptoms could mean
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There are a variety of known symptoms of colon cancer including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation, blood in the faeces, or even a blockage of the bowel. However, the symptoms vary from case to case and some cases do not cause any symptoms at all, mentions , who has Cancer-Healer medicine to treat such cases.
Source: www.cancerhealercenter.com
How is colon cancer diagnosed?
Sigmoidoscopy (see above) or (the very similar) colonoscopy are used to visually examine the inside of the colon. Usually, a barium enema is used to take an x-ray of the shape of the inside of the bowel. Other techniques such as CT scanning or ultrasound can also be used to diagnose how advanced the cancer is.
Source: www.cancerhealercenter.com
How serious is colon cancer?
It's the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Ontario. 7,800 Ontarians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. 3,250 people will die from it. That's how serious it is! Visit www.coloncancercheck.ca from the Ontario Government.
Source: www.colonspas.com
What are the treatments for colon cancer?
Surgery is the treatment for colon cancer. If caught in the early stages, this is the only treatment needed and the patient resumes a normal life after the surgical procedure. For a patient with more advanced stages of colon cancer, chemotherapy after surgery will improve the possibility of a cure. Many new treatment options for advanced colon or colorectal cancer have been developed within the last five to ten years. It is important to talk with your doctor about the best treatment for each unique case. ...
Source: www.thecentertx.com
How is colon cancer treated?
The primary cancer in the colon is treated by surgical removal of the section of colon involved by the cancer. Usually it is possible to join the ends of the colon together. Very occasionally it may be necessary to create a colostomy where the colon comes onto the abdominal wall into a bag. Generally this is only necessary for cancers very close to the anus. In some circumstances, surgical excision is proceeded or followed by a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. ...
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How common is colon cancer?
In the United States, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men, after skin, prostate and lung cancer. It is also the fourth most common cancer in women, after skin, breast and lung cancer.
Source: www.thecheepcheeps.com
Colon (colorectal) cancer is generally considered the second or third most common cancer killer. Each year there are about 150,000 new cases and 58,000 deaths from colon cancer.
Source: www.rushhealthassociates.com
Who gets colon cancer?
Anyone can develop colon cancer, although it is more common in people over the age of 50. It occurs equally in men and women, however, compared to Caucasians, African Americans and people of Jewish ancestry have a higher incidence of developing this type of cancer.
Why should I be screened for colon cancer?
Colorectal cancer is preventable with timely and accurate screening of the colon and subsequent removal of polyps that are of a certain type and size. Medical research indicates it takes up to 10 years for a polyp to grow to a size that results in the development of an invasive, deadly cancer. Our technology allows us to accurately spot polyps years before they become dangerous. Screening of average-risk individuals, 50 and over, can reduce mortality rates of colon cancer. Both men and women are at equal risk. ...
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What is the best colon cancer screening test?
Colonoscopy is the only method that has a high sensitivity for all polyps, small and large, that can remove them at the time of the procedure. CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy (VC) is not endorsed by ASGE or the American Cancer Society because it can miss small or flat lesions. If an abnormality is seen during VC, a colonoscopic examination will still be needed to verify the finding or for polyp removal. ...
Source: www.screen4coloncancer.org
Colonoscopy is the only method that has a high sensitivity for all polyps -- small and large -- and that can remove them during the procedure. CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy is not endorsed by ASGE or the other GI Societies, because it can miss small or flat lesions. If an abnormality is seen during virtual colonoscopy, a colonoscopic examination will still be needed to verify the finding or for polyp removal. ...
Source: www.screenforcoloncancer.org
Colonoscopy is considered to be the "gold standard. " It is the only method that has a high sensitivity for all polyps, both small and large, and which presents the capability of removing them at the time of the procedure.
Source: www.medindia.com
What are the warning symptoms of colon cancer?
Unfortunately, when colon cancer develops, there are usually few , if any, early warning symptoms. In many cases, patients have had no symptoms at all - until it is too late. That is the problem. Colon cancer is really a silent disease. A colon polyp can be in your colon for many years, but there are no symptoms. Eventually, that polyp may turn into a small cancer, but there are still no symptoms. That cancer may grow larger and still cause no symptoms. ...
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In many cases, patients have no symptoms at all until it is too late. When a patient experiences symptoms of rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, weight loss, or a change in bowel habits, the cancer has become an advanced case. This is why doctors recommend periodic checkups of all adults before they have any symptoms. It is much better to prevent a colon cancer than to find one. Colon cancer is a silent disease. A benign polyp can show up in the colon for many years without causing symptoms. ...
Source: www.hawaiisurgerycenter.com
What is the best screening for colon cancer?
Colonoscopy is the “Gold Standard”. Stool testing for blood, sigmoidoscopy and barium enema are other options.
Source: www.aigmedical.com
What are the indicators of hereditary colon cancer?
The following characteristics may indicate that a person has a predisposition for a particular type of colon cancer known as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC): multiple cases of colon cancer in successive generations early onset colon cancer right-sided colon cancers presence of other HNPCC-associated cancers (endometrial, ovarian, stomach, urinary tract)
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Does colon cancer run in families?
There are two inherited conditions which carry a substantially higher risk of colon cancer. In Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, affected family members develop thousands of small benign growths, called polyps, in the large intestine. Before the age of 40, one or more of these polyps will develop into a bowel cancer. In Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (also called Lynch Syndrome), patients develop cancer of the bowels and other organs, usually at an early stage. ...
Source: www.cancerhealercenter.com
What are some of the Risk Factors for Colon Cancer?
Age (Colorectal Cancer usually occurs in people over 50 years old). High Fat / Low Fiber Diet (A common diet in North America). Genetic / Hereditary Disorders (Familial Polyposis, Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis).
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Where does colon cancer begin?
Colon cancer begins as small growths inside the colon, called polyps, which can be removed before they become cancerous.
Source: www.thecentertx.com
Is colon cancer a death sentence?
NO! Early stage colorectal cancer is a highly curable disease. As a matter of fact, over 85% of patients diagnosed with early stage colon cancer are cured.
Source: www.thecentertx.com
What are my chances of developing colon cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, not counting skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer among deaths caused by cancer. It is estimated that about 108,070 cases of colon cancer and 40,740 new cases of rectal cancer in 2008 will occur in the United States. Combined they will cause about 49,960 deaths.
Source: www.thecentertx.com
How can colon cancer be detected?
An exam to detect early signs of colon cancer, called a colonoscopy, is recommended for anyone over age 50. Some high-risk groups should start earlier. This diagnostic examination of the colon is done in the doctor’s office, with light sedation. Most patients don’t feel or remember the examination. If test results are negative, the exam only needs to be repeated every five to ten years.
Source: www.thecentertx.com
What is colon cancer screening?
"Screening" is a term used to describe a test for the early diagnosis of common cancers. Screening tests are ordered before symptoms develop. For patients with no family history of colon cancer, the current recommendation for colon cancer screening by the American Cancer Society is a colonoscopy at age 50.
Source: charlestongi.com
