Symptoms and Different Stages of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the preventable cancers and its symptoms are not easily identifiable. The colon cancer, when diagnosed, is usually at the advanced stage. It is also necessary to be informed about the symptoms of colon cancer as it would help you to take care of your health.

There are many symptoms and these symptoms cannot be identified in the early stages of cancer. Hence, it is highly recommended to opt for regular health checkups once an individual attains the age of fifty.

The symptoms are classified into two types. They are Local and Systemic symptoms.

The local colon cancer symptoms are diarrhea, constipation, changes in bowel movement and frequent gas pains or cramps. The systemic colon cancer symptoms are jaundice, anemia, unexplained fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and jaundice.

It is necessary to consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms mentioned above. This will help you to do the necessary tests and also prepare yourself before doing these tests.

The different stages of colon cancer are described here:

• The first stage is the stage 0 i.e. is the earliest stage. This stage can be described as the findings of a group of abnormal cells in an individual's colon. This stage is just the beginning of cancer and is not dangerous to the individual's life.


• The next stage is the stage I when the cancer has spread outwards beyond the inner tissue layer that exists on the wall of the individual's colon.


• The stage II is divided into Stage IIA and Stage IIB. In stage II A, is the cancer spreads to the middle layers of the tissue in the walls of the colon and the surrounding tissues. Stage IIB occurs when the cancer has spread into the organs in the region or into the abdominal wall.


• In stage III, the cancer spreads to the other organs of the body and requires aggressive treatment such as chemotherapy, surgical resection and other medical therapies.


• In the stage IV, this cancer spreads to other organs such as liver or lungs.

Chemotherapy is recommended for treating the stage III and stage IV along with the biologic therapies. It is sometimes also recommended for the stage II.

Ignoring Colon Cancer Warning Signs Could Cost You Your Life

Colon cancer warning signs should not be looked at lightly. As we get older, it's crucial to know about and be able to distinguish colon cancer warning signs. Many colon cancer warning signs are not evident in the early stages and being mindful of the problems could prove vital to a better medical prognosis.

Cancers of the colon and rectum are most frequently discussed collectively under the name colorectal cancer, but its more common name is colon cancer. Cancer happens when abnormal cells develop out of control on the wall of the colon. In some cases, symptoms may be from a condition other than cancer, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and occasionally diverticulosis.

In the colon andrectum, this exaggerated growth could cause precancerous polyps(adenomas, or adenomatous polyps) to take form in the lining of your intestine. Over a long period of time (spanning up to several years) a few of these polyps may become cancerous. In later levels of the disease, cancerous polyps may get through the colon walls and disperse to lymph nodes and additional organs.

Once you have warning signs of any illness you had better visit your physician for diagnosis.

Some very early cancer symptoms are:

* Blood in your stool or darkened stools

* Change in bowel habits, either loose stools or constipation

* Pain in your stomach or pain during bowel movements

* Feeling exhausted when you have had adequate rest

Possible symptoms later on are:

* Pain in the lower abdomen area

* Feeling very tired

* Infrequent cramps along with difficult bowel movements

* Sickness if you are undergoing certain drugs or having radiation treatments

Cancer of the colon is generally not visible to the naked eye, but if you are aware of your health conditions, you could use early cancer symptoms to your advantage. Among the early warning signs of cancer is trouble in passing stools. Known as constipation, it is thought to be a very early warning sign of cancer in your body.

Colon Cancer Stages

Colon cancer has five stages, and there are different treatment options for each level. The first stage, known as Stage 0, involves only the lining of the colon, which is also referred to as mucosa. At this stage, polyps, or benign tumors, can be removed when a colonoscopy takes place. Once they are removed, the chance of them recurring does not exist.

Stage I is present when the cancer spreads past the lining to the walls of the colon or rectum. The polyp that has not been treated becomes a tumor, and reaches the wall of the colon or rectum. Treatment options can include a surgical procedure to remove the cancerous part of the colon.

When the cancer reaches tissue that surrounds the colon, but does not reach the lymph nodes, there is a Stage II colon cancer present in the body. When cancer spreads from one part of the body to another like so, it is called metastasis. A resection surgery can be used for treatment at this stage. At this point, the five-year survival rate is dropped at a dramatic rate to 60 percent.

Next, there is Stage III colon cancer. This is when the cancer spreads to reach the lymph nodes, but not to other organs in the body. Treatment must be more aggressive than the earlier stages. This includes a surgical resection of the colon, chemotherapy and medical therapies.

When cancer spreads to other organs along with the lymph nodes, there is a Stage IV cancer of the colon. It can spread to the lungs and liver, among others. Treatment for this stage will include radiation, along with the other mentioned treatments. Recurrent cancer means the cancer comes back after treatment. Checkups are necessary to make sure the cancer does not come back, and to treat it early if it does.

3 Colon Cancer Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore!

There are 3 particular colon cancer warning signs that are very important. They are signs you should not ignore at all.

Why are they important? Here's why... A tumor that forms in either your colon or rectum normally grows quite slowly. Because of its slow growth, it doesn't show any sign or symptom for a long period of time.

What happens more often than not is... when colorectal cancer is diagnosed, it is already at its advanced stage. This is unfortunate because colorectal tumor at stage 4 is extremely difficult to treat. It requires more than 1 treatment and the survival rate is poor. So, what signs should you look out for? Be aware of the following colon cancer warning signs like...

Persistent Fatigue

Fatigue is described as the physical feeling of extreme tiredness or weakness. It can mean other medical conditions but if it is persistent, it can mean cancer. It is one of the signs of late stage cancer of any type.

However, in colon cancer, fatigue can be an early symptom. In fact, it can be your only symptom.

How does this happen? Fatigue is caused by occult bleeding inside your colon or rectum. Occult bleeding is invisible -- something you can't see. Fatigue is also a symptom that is first noticed by you and nobody else. Thus, fatigue is a very important symptom. See your doctor if you feel very,very tired for more than a week even after going on a vacation.

Persistent Diarrhea

Persistent Constipation

Both are unusual changes in your bowel habits. Why are they considered as unusual changes?

Here's why...Let's say you move your bowel once a day regularly everyday. But now you move it either 2 to 3 times daily or 2 to 3 times in a week. This is abnormal particularly if diarrhea or constipation happens persistently.

What does persistent diarrhea or constipation mean? Persistent constipation alone means there might be a tumor at your rectum which is located next to your anus. A rectal tumor will cause an obstruction against the stool. You will experience difficulty in moving your bowel. Persistent diarrhea and constipation that occur alternately mean a tumor at the left colon which is the descending section.

Why is this so? The left section of the colon has a narrower circumference compared to the right section. The stool is semi-solid and the tumor if situated at the left section typically wraps around the colon. This leads to diarrhea and constipation.

These are just 3 of the signs you should be aware of. There are other important colon cancer warning signs -- such as the color of your stool -- you should know about.

Bowel Cancer Symptoms

Early detection of this form of cancer is somewhat difficult to diagnose since the symptoms associated with it are similar to those which occur in the case of routine abdominal ailments like an irritated bowel or Diarrhea. Bowel Cancer or Colon Cancer is a cancer affecting the large intestines or colon and rectum in humans However, the human body does give certain indications when something is wrong. Same is the case here.

When there is discomfort of any kind, look for the following:

* Blood in the Stool - This is one sure shot indicator of something being wrong inside. It clearly hints at the stomach and intestinal tract right till the rectum. Associated indicators may be rectal bleeding, (which may be construed as a result of Piles), or the stool itself being reddish. This may also indicate the early stage of the cancer.

* Diarrhea - Eating wrong, overindulgence and eating unhygienic food normally causes diarrhea. However, the human body has inbuilt mechanisms to get rid of the infection with normal medicine. In case this infection shows no signs of abating even after about three weeks, it needs to be investigated by a GP for the more serious cause.

* Persistent Change in Bowel Habit?- An increased frequency in bowel movement coupled with looser stool for a long duration. More important is to look for pus and blood in the stool. The stool may also show thin stool rather than normal size.

* Constipation - As the cancerous cells keep growing, they tend to start blocking the bowel. As a result there will be persistent pain on the abdomen. This may be accompanied with vomiting and a feeling of bloating in the area of the belly button.

* Pain and Discomfort - Normally, when there is flatulence or stomach cramps, there is pain in the abdomen. In case of bowel cancer, the symptoms may flare up and pain may accompany during actual bowel movement also.

* Anaemia - As the cancer cells grow, they cause internal bleeding which takes place during the bowel movement. As a result there is continuous loss of blood resulting in weakness, fatigue and breathlessness.

* Weight Loss - This is a common phenomenon in mostly all forms of cancer. This is one of the initial symptoms, in addition to blood in the stools, diarrhea and persistent abdominal pain.

* Fullness - A feeling of fullness makes a person want to pass stools in a short time from the last visit but no bowel movement takes place.

There are other oncological diseases which may give similar symptoms and it is also not necessary that any or all of the symptoms mentioned above immediately point towards Bowel Cancer. However when in doubt, it is better to consult your GP and get to the root cause.

3 Symptoms That Might Tell You That You Have Colon Cancer

Colon is a muscular, tube-shaped organ located at the lower part of your digestive system. It makes up the main portion of the large intestine. The organ has a key role in helping the body taking in nutrients, water, and minerals. It also helps in removing waste of the body in the form of stool.

Colon cancer is the growth of malignant tumor in the tissue of the colon (in the inner wall of the organ). It is somewhat different from rectal cancer, which is located at the last few inches of the colon (rectum). When left untreated, colon cancer can eventually spread to distant organs all over the body.

Although colon cancer may have numerous symptoms, in the early stages of the disease many suffering from colon cancer experience no symptoms. When the symptoms appear, they tend to vary, depending on the location and size of the cancer in the large intestine. Unfortunately the symptoms of colon cancer are not always obvious. For that reason, it is important for you to learn what the cancer symptoms look and feel like, so you can be aware of the disease for your long-term health.

It is important to note that most of colon cancer cases start as small, noncancerous clumps of cells known as polyps. By time some of these polyps could become cancers. That is why doctors often suggest regular screening tests after the age of 50. This is a way to promote early detection of colon cancer by recognizing polyps before they grow as cancer.

There are 3 symptoms that might tell you that you have colon cancer:

1. Abdominal, bowel and rectal discomfort

Persistent abdominal discomfort, including cramps, gas, pain, constipation, or diarrhea is the commonest symptom of colon cancer. Be careful if you often have a feeling that your bowel does not completely because the cancer can be the cause of the condition. In addition, a change in bowel habits, which includes rectal bleeding and a change in stool consistency, might tell the development colon cancer.

2. Anemia and fatigue

Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia showed by low iron in your red blood cells, or low red blood cell along with extreme tiredness or fatigue is often a strong sign of severe diseases. In fact, fatigue is among the commonest side effects of colon cancer and its treatment. It usually comes on all of a sudden, does not come from exertion or activity, and is not lightened by rest or sleep. Cancer-related fatigue is frequently described as "paralyzing" and may remain after treatment is complete.

In case of cancer, fatigue is likely because the cancerous cells competing for nutrients. Deficiencies of nutrients make the body lacks of energy and feel tired most of the time. Also, lower number or red blood cells leads to severe fatigue due to lower oxygen supply they can carry to the whole part of the body.

3. Loss of appetite leading to unexplained weight loss

If you lose weight due to great loss of appetite while you are not dieting or attempting to lose weight, then you should be careful. That could be a red flag of colon cancer. The discomfort and pain caused by a tumor can bring loss of appetite, which in turn will lead to weight loss. When weight loss happen, it could be an indication that a tumor is generating chemicals that are boosting metabolism of the body.

The loss of appetite related with cancer is also because a tumor growing toward the end of the colon may bring a sense of fullness. It is when body senses that there is something unusual present by the exit. In other words, the body may see the tumor as a stubborn part of waste, so the sufferer acquires that "need to go" sensation, which cannot be relieved as long as the tumor is there.

When most of these symptoms appear, do not hesitate to talk with your doctor. It is time to make an appointment with your doctor immediately to discuss the situation and to arrange for tests so that the root cause of your symptoms can be understood. Remember that you should not be afraid of colon cancer screening and there is nothing to be embarrassed about it. If needed, you can always ask the doctor to schedule for follow-up tests.

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 Cancer Survival Statistics - What You Didn't Know About Cancer!

Colon cancer was one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S in 2005. 72,000 men and 69,000 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. About 26,700 and 26,200 died from colorectal cancer. It is a disease that is very common in today's world, but the good news is that the survival rate has been going up for the last 20 years.

The reason for this is better health care, faster treatment and modern advances. Doctors believe that colon cancer could almost be completely prevented if people went to regular screenings such as a colonoscopy. Today many new techniques for screening are being discovered, they are less intrusive and take less time, so going on routine screenings is easier than ever.

The average survival rate for patients that have been struck by colon cancer is:

62% in Austria

43% in Europe

68% in Korea

62% in the United States of America

It also depends on which stage the cancer is caught. The earlier the stage, the better your chances of survival. For example, if the disease is caught at its earliest stage, all that is needed is a small incision to remove the growth and you're done. At its earliest stage, the survival rate is above 95%. Getting regular screenings is crucial to discovering the disease in time and increasing your chances of survival.

It is said that if Americans were screened regularly, it would save about 25,000 lives each and every year. You can also decrease the chances that you will get cancer by eating healthy foods and living a healthy life.

A Little on Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is certainly not a topic anyone wishes to discuss and yet it is something we must be informed about. Why, well because if it is caught early, it's almost always treatable and because when it is not, it can get extremely serious. Reported cases of Colon Cancer are more common these days and some say this is because the word is getting out to folks that after age 40 they need to have routine check-ups every five years. Others say it is because of our societies deteriorating diet.

Indeed, scientists are not exactly agreed on what causes colon cancer, but they are convinced by the statistics on how to prevent it through proper diet. So what should you eat? Well, consider this folks with low in fiber diets who eat a lot of meat, fatty foods, carbs and highly refined foods are much more likely in getting colon cancer. So, chill-out on the fatty foods, do not eat all meat and add fiber to your diet, this greatly reduces your risks.

Those in the highest risk of getting colon cancer is amongst folks whose family has a history of polyps or cancer of the colon or rectum. If your family has such a history be sure to start your routine check-ups at age 40 and notify your doctor of this concern. Folks living in the United States and Europe have much greater statistics for getting colon cancer, and Africans and folks from Chile have the lowest.

Here is the good news, 50% of those who have been treated for colon cancer are still alive 10 years later, and this is very good considering that usually only folks over 40 will have colon cancer. Please be thinking here and ask your doctor about it.

Colon Cancer Survival Rate - Know Your Chances

Doctors have a proper way of discussing with the patients the prognosis or outlook of their diseases. Patients or anyone who is infected with a dreaded disease like cancer of the colon may want to know the statistics of people being able to make it past the deadly sickness, or as more properly known, colon cancer survival rate. Most of the time, statistics are based upon a percentage of patients and their 5 year struggle against cancer of the colon. This ratio is based upon people who lived beyond 5 years upon discovery of the malignant tumor.

There are also people who lived beyond 5 years and have been cured of the dreaded cancer disease.

For doctors to get the 5 year survival statistics, a list of people treated at least the past 5 years are compiled and given as a resource for doctors all around the whole world. There are a huge improvement in colon cancer survival rate in the past few years due to the improvement in treatments and ways of detecting this type of cancer.

Survival statistics do not generally mean the possible outcome of a patient's disease, for this was previously recorded outcomes of people who have had cancer of the colon. There are a lot of contributing factors that may affect ones colon cancer survival rate. There are times that the grade of cancer or the genetic changes in ones malignant cancer cell can be a major factor in one's survival chances. Another factor is how the malignant cells respond to the treatment being given. We should remember that survival statistics are just rough estimates on the stage of the cancer you are in. This does not generally mean that if you have a stage 4 colon cancer you will have a huge chance of not surviving for there are a lot of factors that may affect your survival statistics. A doctor would only use these rates to assess the type of treatment you may need in order to be healed.

Colon cancer survival rate differ from stage. As the damage of the malignant cancer cells start to expand to the rest of the body, the chances of one to survive drops down a whole lot of percentages. A stage one colon cancer survival rate at today's time goes up to as high as 90% and drops down to just 70% when it reaches the second stage. Stage 3 survival rate is just ranges from 40-58% and drops down to 10-20% at its final phase.

Prevent Colon Cancer

What You Can Do to Prevent Colon Cancer

There are several things about your lifestyle and health that can lead to colon cancer so it is important to know what they are and how to prevent it if at all possible. By simply changing the way you eat or cutting out an unhealthy lifestyle habit you can significantly reduce your risk of getting one of the most common types of cancer, especially as you age. Here are several things every person can do to prevent getting it and none of them require a huge or as drastic a change in your life.

Regular checkups are perhaps the most important step in preventing colonic cancer because it is your first line of defense in catching it before it becomes a bigger issue. With regular screenings doctors are better able to find trouble spots or what could be cancer causing polyps, which are easy enough to remove before they have time to allow cancer cells to grow and spread. This is one of the easiest colon cancer preventing measures you can take and it is absolutely essential to catching and diagnosing the problem as early on as possible.

Another big thing you can do to prevent colorectal cancer is to maintain a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet, regular workouts and maintaining a healthy weight. The food you eat, especially those high in cholesterol and fat add to your risk of getting colon cancer. A fiber rich diet is also crucial. At the same time maintaining a healthy weight will also lead to a lower risk of colon cancer, and with a healthy diet this factor will be easy to maintain. The third and final colon health tip regarding your health really ties it all together, and that is to workout regularly, which should be a part of maintaining a healthy weight anyway. In general though obese individuals run a greater risk of getting cancer than those who are slightly overweight or maintain a healthy body weight.

For those who are regular smokers you may be surprised, or not, to find out that smoking is a huge factor when it comes to colon cancer in particular. When you smoke you are depositing a wealth of carcinogens into your body is then unable to flush out. Polyps, which are known to cause cancer when they are not removed grow a lot faster when an individual smokes than they do in an individual who has not smoked or who has quit smoking.

Simply doing these few things can greatly decrease your chances of getting colorectal cancer, and they are also good for you. If you ever believe yourself to present with any symptoms associated with colon cancer though, you should seek a doctor's appointment because the sooner it is recognized and diagnosed the better your chances are for treatment and survival. This is especially important if you have a history of cancer in your family.

Do You Know What Causes Colon Cancer?

I am sure you have heard of colon cancer, but do you know what it is and do you know what causes it? Colon cancer - also known as colorectal cancer - is the unrestrained expansion of cancer cells on the inner lining of the colon. Now if you forget what a colon is (which is normal, since we all aren't medical students), it is simply the part of the large intestine that extracts moisture from one's digested food before it is excreted. A common ailment in Western societies, this type of cancer has taken the lives of many, resulting in broken distraught families.

Now let's take a closer look at what causes this terrible disease. Notably, we owe this knowledge to the biochemist Dr. Warburg who discovered the cause and prevention of this type of cancer. He states that plainly, colon cancer is caused by the lack of oxygen reaching the colon cells of the body. Developing later in this process are adenomatous polyps which also turn cancerous and in effect worsen the patient's health. These polyps are seen on the inner walls of the colon. In addition, there are ways in which the lack of a healthy lifestyle can also increase the likelihood of developing colon cancer, which usually affects both men and women before the age of 40 years. These include smoking, which is a serious risk factor as it not only affects the lungs of the body, but many other systems as well. Obesity is another risk factor due to the fact that having a low oxygen level is prevalent in persons who are overweight. It therefore stands to reason that if a person can maintain a balanced oxygen level suitable for a healthy body and mind, then they can also decrease their risk of having a cancerous colon. This should be supplemented with a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

There are also risk factors associated with genes. In essence, adenomatous polyposis syndromes often run in families, making it much easier for a descendent to develop a cancerous colon, especially in cases with a first-degree family member with this illness. These risk factors are propelled even further if more than one relative have had the battle with colon cancer, developing it at an early age. Once the presence of colon cancer has been diagnosed, there are important additional factors which may increase its impact on the human body. Colon cancer cells use sugar as a source of energy to survive within the body and if a lot of sugars are part of the diet, then it can only pose more health problems to the patient.

All in all, there is a bright side to this grim picture; colon cancer - even though it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the Western world - is treatable, and more importantly, preventable. Even for those individuals who are at risk because of family history, they also can take preventative measures to decrease its chances of occurring. The best thing you can do is to always know your status, live a healthy lifestyle, and stay on top of your healthcare!

All You Need To Know About Colorectal Cancer

Most of the cancers which affect the colon and the rectum develop from the lining of these two large intestine elements and are known as adenocarcinomas. The cancer at first looks like a small swelling on the inside surface of the colon or rectum and then it develops forming a tumor, expanding to all the colon's layers and affecting the local lymph nodes. In its last stages the colorectal cancer spreads towards distant organs like liver or lungs affecting them too.

It seems that mostly the western population is affected by this disease. Women seem to develop colon cancer more frequently then men who develop rectal cancer more often. The persons aged more than 40 are at risk and those who are 60 or 70 are more likely to have this disease than others.

Scientists have not found out exactly why this disease occurs but they believe that if you follow a diet that is rich in proteins and fats and low in fiber you might develop cancer. Also, having a family history of colorectal cancer and breast or uterus cancer could be a risk for you. Drinking alcohol is also a factor that leads to cancer. If you have polyps on the inner wall of the intestine and you leave them untreated they can transform into malign tumors (meaning that cancer had occurred). Also, people who suffer of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can develop this disease too.

There are some symptoms which could announce that cancer is installing, but they also appear in other diseases. Some of the symptoms are: seeing blood in your bowels, alternation of diarrhea with constipation, and low abdominal pains. Bloating can be present and feeling tiredness and vomiting can occur too. In most of the intestinal cancers, losing weight is present. The loss of weight is made in a short period of time and even though for some people it might be considered a blessing, this is not a good thing, because it means that the tumor blocks the bowel somewhere inside the intestines. If the tumor is situated at the end of the colon or in the rectum it might give you the feeling that you still have to go to the bathroom even if you just went. Some people might even refuse to sit down as this act can be painful.

Diagnosing colon cancer is made by performing some tests. The stool is being tested to see if blood can be found in it. Sometimes a digital rectum examination can be performed by the doctor. The rectal and colon screening is made by sigmoidoscopy, which uses a tube with an optic camera to see what is inside the large intestine. Also, blood tests are needed to measure the level of carcinoembryonic antigen which might indicate the presence of a cancer.

As soon as the colon cancer is discovered the doctors will decide upon the best therapy measure for the patient. In early stages the cancer can be treated only by surgery which removes the tumor and the local lymph nodes. In more advanced stages of the cancer chemotherapy is needed after surgery to be sure the cancerous cells have been removed totally.

There are some cases in which the rectum and a part of the colon need to be removed and so the patient will remove the stool by an opening created in the abdominal wall which is connected to a colostomy bag.

Colorectal Cancer (Colon Cancer) - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Cancers arising in the colon and rectum are called colon cancer or colorectal cancer, and are usually believed to have developed from polyps. Colon cancer is very common in the Western world but is rare in Asia and Africa. Diets high in fat are believed to predispose humans to colorectal cancer whereas diets high in vegetable and high fiber foods help reduce the risk. Ulcerative colitis highly increases the risk for colon cancer. Genetic factors are also an important risk factor in this disease. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, anemia, breathlessness, change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, red or dark blood in stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps and bloating. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the standard line of treatment for this condition.

The Ayurvedic treatment of colorectal cancer is aimed at treating the main cancer, preventing or reducing its spread to other parts of the body and improving overall survival. Medicines used in this condition are: Arogya-Vardhini, Kanchnaar-Guggulu, Yograj-Guggulu, Triphala-Guggulu, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Mahamanjishthadi-Qadha, Panchamrut-Parpati and Saarivasav. Medicines which act on the 'Ratka' and 'Mansa' dhatus (tissues) are useful in this condition. These include medicines like Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Triphala (Three fruits), Nimba (Azadirachta indica) and Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica). Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Triphala (Three fruits), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa) and Dashmool (Ten roots) are also very useful in this condition.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Bhrungraj (Eclipta alba), Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Suvarna-Parpati, Abhrak Bhasma and Heerak Bhasma are used to improve the immune status of the body.

Treatment needs to be taken for prolonged period to get good results. In combination with modern therapy, Ayurvedic treatment can reduce the tumor size, prevent or reduce the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, improve the immune status of the body and prolong survival. All patients need to be under the regular care and supervision of an Oncology team.

The Best Way to Prevent Colorectal Cancer

Most colorectal cancer is considered sporadic, meaning it occurs in people with no family history of the disease. So, we can blame a lot of things on our family, but usually colorectal cancer isn't one of them. It is more likely to occur as people get older. In general, both men and women at average risk of colorectal cancer should begin screening tests at age 50.

Beginning at 50 years of age, persons at average risk for colorectal cancer should be screened with fecal occult blood testing annually and or flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, colono scopy every 10 years or double-contrast barium enema every five to 10 years. Testing stool samples for genetic alterations that occur in colorectal cancer cells may help doctors find evidence of cancer or precancerous polyps. In some patients, genetic testing can guide screening and may be cost-effective. Genetic testing should be considered, especially in large families with many at-risk members; in such situations, genotyping may be more cost-effective than repeated endoscopy.

Approximately 25% of cases are attributed to two types of colorectal cancers: familial and hereditary. Familial colorectal cancer accounts for about 20% of cases and hereditary colorectal cancer accounts for the remaining five percent. You should discuss beginning earlier screening if you have a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a strong family history of either, a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. Genetic counseling and genetic testing for families who may have a hereditary form of colon cancer, such as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

Since most colon polyps and early cancers are silent (produce no symptoms), it is important to do screening and surveillance for colon cancer in patients without symptoms or signs of the polyps or cancers. Screening tests are used to look for disease in people who do not have any symptoms. Although there are good colorectal cancer screening tests, not enough people have them done. The majority of colorectal cancers would likely have been avoided if the people had only undergone regular and appropriate screenings.

Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. Some cancer prevention trials are conducted with healthy people who have not had cancer but who have an increased risk for cancer.

Prevention of colorectal cancer: Although the exact cause of colorectal cancer is not known, it is possible to prevent many colon cancers with the following:diet and exercise. It is important to manage the risk factors you can control, such as diet and exercise. Nevertheless, it appears that increasing the fiber content in the Western diet would be useful in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer. You can start today to train children in cancer prevention habits, remembering that it's never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes for yourself as well.

Bowel Disorders - Various Types and Common Symptoms

There are many different bowel disorders affecting adults and children, males and females alike.  They come in a variety of different forms and affect people differently.

Bowel problems affect our bowels which consist of the large and small intestines.  Bowel disorders all affect different parts of the intestines.

Some Common Bowel Disorders and Their Symptoms

- IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a very common disorder in the United States.  Characteristic symptoms include chronic abdominal pain which is not localized in one area, bloating, stomach discomfort, and altered bowel habits such as constipation or diarrhea.

- Ulcer - Ulcers are crater-like sores that can cause mild to severe pain.   Some common symptoms include a burning or gnawing pain that is localized in the upper abdominal area, pain that is either relieved or worsened after eating, nausea, loss of appetite, weakness, tiredness, weight loss, vomiting, and sometimes blood in the stool.  Any bowel disorders that include blood in the stool should be addressed immediately by a doctor.

- Crohn's Disease - This is an example of an inflammatory bowel disease and can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract.  Some of the more common symptoms can include abdominal pain, weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea.

- Colitis - This bowel disorder includes inflammation of the large intestines (colon). Some common symptoms include tenesmus (constant urge to have a bowel movement), abdominal pain that comes in waves, diarrhea, chills, fever, blood in stool, and other signs of infection.

- Gastroenteritis - These are very common bowel disorders.  Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the intestines and/or stomach lining and can often be caused by viral infection. Common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, etc.

- Colon Cancer - Colon cancer is very common although these symptoms can be due to a variety of other bowel disorders so a doctor's diagnosis is necessary to be sure.  Some common symptoms include tenesmus, changes in bowel habits, reduction in stool's diameter, bright red blood, increased mucus in stools, black and tarry stool, etc.

Risks 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.

Worldwide: Colon cancer rates are highest in Northern and Western Europe, Australia and North America, and are lowest in Africa and Asia. One of the most obvious clues is that, diet is related to colon cancer risks. Immigrants who come from a region with a lower rate of colon cancer (for example Japan); to a region with a higher rate of colon cancer (like the United States.); end up mimicking the higher cancer rate after the first and second generations. If this disease were completely genetic, then we would not see such risk shift.  The following types of people are considered to have higher risk for colon cancer:

• If a child, sibling, or parent has polyps or cancer of the colon, then a person has 2 to 4 times the risk (based on studies by Memorial Sloan-Kettering and Columbia University).


• A family history of uterine, breast, liver, ovarian, or stomach cancer also may increase the probability.


• A past history of polyps may triple the risk.


• Your risk of developing this cancer also increases by thirty percent if you have had chronic inflammatory conditions, like Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis for 8 years or more.


• As mentioned by the Harvard Health Letter, individuals with at least one 'first degree' relative (father, mother, child, or sibling) who had colorectal and endometrial or ovarian cancers; can have higher genetic predisposition to this disease. They should get early screening and possibly more often compared to the general population.


• A person who smokes often or with sedentary (having a little physical activity level) lifestyle has more risk for colorectal cancer.


• People, who don't have genetic or other specific factors or symptoms putting them at high colon cancer risk, are automatically regarded as having average risk if they reach age fifty. The chance of an average risk individual developing dangerous colorectal cancer is 1 in 19.

A Clean Colon Is the Body's First Line of Defense

Number one risk factor for colon cancer is age. Importantly, colon cancer is also one of the most curable forms of cancer. It has been well demonstrated that if colon cancer is caught in the earliest stages, the cure rate could be increased to 90%. Although colon cancer is among the most common forms of cancer, the number of new cases and the number of deaths attributed to the disease have declined in recent years due to improved screening and diagnostic techniques.

Diet and exercise play a huge role in prevention of colon cancer and other health related problems. Colon cancer prevention can help make colon cancer the number one preventable cancer. In the area of prevention, researchers are looking at the effects of curcumin (found in curry), resveratrol (found in red wine), ginger and the Mediterranean diet on the growth and development of colon cancer. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may play a role in cancer prevention. Cancer prevention is a lifelong plan including smart choices in our day to day lives. The Colon Cancer Prevention Program is open to all men and women over age 18 and is based in a newly renovated space conveniently located off the main Health Center lobby.

Diet may shield against two leading cancer killers. Diet is a factor, with red meat and animal fat topping the list of offenders. Studies have shown that a diet high in fat and calories and low in fiber can contribute to colon cancer. Dietary supplementation with 1500 mg of Calcium or more a day is associated with a lower incidence of colon cancer. A high fiber (vegetables) and low fat diet, regular exercise, maintenance of normal body weight and cessation of smoking are also beneficial. Though it is best to get one's vitamins from healthy diet, a recent study did show that women taking the RDA of Folic Acid and Vitamin B6 had a 70% less likely chance of colon cancer. Balanced and proper diet along with herbal cleansers will cleanse the colon over long periods of time but those with serious conditions need to take quick action.

A clean colon, that has a healthy balance of intestinal flora, is the body's first line of defense. Do whatever you can to lead a healthy lifestyle - including eating healthy foods, staying physically active, getting regular checkups and paying attention to your environment. Maintaining a healthy colon is one of the single most important steps you can take to detoxify your body of accumulated toxins and waste. This collaborative effort can help to generate widespread awareness of how to prevent the disease through a healthy lifestyle and regular screening. The benefits of conducting a colon cleansing have been lauded as long as I can remember (long time) as a means of eliminating accumulations of lingering waste from the digestive tract and leaving the body more healthy. In addition to flax seed, the psyllium in MetaCleanse encourages healthy elimination without chemical stimulants or laxatives and provides a daily source of dietary fiber to help maintain regularity.

Exercise has a strong protective effect against colon cancer, as does hormone replacement treatment in women. Exercise daily, keeping in mind that it is important to not overextend yourself while cleansing. Exercise stimulates movement through the bowel and reduces the time the colon is exposed to harmful substances(carcinogens) that may cause cancer. Studies have also found that exercise may increase colon cancer survival rates. I eat right, exercise 5 days a week, drink the minimum 8 glasses of water a day, and the first ingredient I read on a label is not the calories, but how much fiber it contains.

Natural colon cleanse is the most popular colon unclogging method today. Alternatively, several colon cleansers are packaged and supplied as part of a cleansing system that contains the colon cleansing components as a capsule or liquid that is taken with a glass of water plus nutritional shakes or snacks that have been formulated to complement the activity of the primary cleanser.

Need For Colon Cleansing - The Symptoms of Unhealthy Colon

The first thing that needs to be established is that an unhealthy and malfunctioning colon doesn't only affect one's digestive system; it actually takes its toll on the whole body.

The primary function of the colon is to remove excess wastes from the body. This mainly involves the excretion of feces that needs to be eliminated to ensure that the body is able to function effectively, without any unnecessary hindrances. However, an unhealthy colon means that it is likely that the excretion of the feces is hampered, causing a build up of unwanted toxins in the body. These harmful toxins remain in the body and are circulated in the bloodstream which makes the body react. This is the point where people start getting sick.

Although it may begin with a simple allergic reaction or a series of loose bowels, these toxins continue to accumulate over time. Unless they are removed, they can lead to more severe conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease. Even worse, these toxin build ups are also known to have ties with the development of grave illnesses such as colon and bowel cancer.

The Symptoms of Unhealthy Colon

There are a lot of ways to tell if one's colon is unable to get rid of the body's wastes effectively. It is necessary to learn and understand these symptoms in order to realize the need for a colon cleanse as soon as possible. Here are a few tell-tale signs that simply demand a detoxification program.

People that have unhealthy colons usually wake up sluggish and tired despite the fact that they've had more than 7 hours of sleep. The inability to lose weight is also a problem for these individuals even though they stick to healthy, low calorie diets. Skin problems such as pale skin with spots or acne are also common among this type of people. They may also experience irregularity in their bowel movements and have stools that are either liquid or have paste-like consistencies. Unhealthy colons may also cause bad breath and body odor even if best hygienic practices are done.

If two or more of these symptoms are present, then it may be time for a colon cleanse.

The Causes of Unhealthy Colon

Although there are dozens of different reasons why people tend to have unhealthy colons, one of the main reasons is a bad diet. Unhealthy diets are usually constituted by low levels of fiber. The lack of fiber in the system leads to blockages and feces that are moved at an irregularly slow rate. Fiber is needed by the body because it is indigestible and easily goes through the digestive system. It works like a broom that sweeps the bowel and excretes it together with the feces.

Low fiber diets may eventually lead to a build up of internal sludge in the colon. This gluey harmful substance takes up so much space and causes so many blockages that nothing is able to pass through. This then usually results to constipation. A healthy body will have high levels of fiber that act as magnets that take with them any unnecessary wastes out of the entire system.

The question now is how to ensure that the colon is clean. The answer is a combination of a high fiber diet and a simple colon cleanse procedure.

Colon Cancer: Three Cancer Attacks and He Became Cancer-free After Herbs

After years battling with cancer, Yap was declared cancer-free on 5 August 1994. I had the privilege to meet with Yap on 18 March 1999. You can view our conversation in the video section of our website: http://www.cacare.com. The following are excerpts of what Yap said.

I had three cancer attacks. One was in the colon, 15 years ago. The second one was at the rectum 10 years after my first. As a result I had to wear a colostomy bag throughout my life. And then came the third cancer attack -- behind the prostate gland. Immediately after my second chemotherapy, the cancer came back again. The doctor told me he could not do anything; he could not give me radiotherapy because the cancer was just behind the prostate gland. Also, after three operations he could not operate on me again. He could only give me chemotherapy.

I wondered and ask the doctor, "I have just finished my chemotherapy and you are asking me to take another dosage of chemotherapy. It means that the cancer cells could not be bothered with the chemotherapy?" The doctor agreed. So I went back home refusing, of course, to take the chemotherapy.

I was contemplating how to die with dignity. Cancer patients always die miserably, in pain all over the body. Also, sometimes even morphine cannot reduce the pain. In my case, I know that chemotherapy did not help especially after my second attack.

Question: You have been battling with cancer for so many years. What did your doctor say? Do you have any other avenues?

I almost gave up hope. My doctor could only give me chemotherapy again which he agreed would not have any effect on me. Knowing this, I turned to the rodent tuber, initially, not because I believe in it. In fact, my first impression was it was very repulsive. Fortunately, my wife believes in it and she would cling to any straw. I became even more sceptical after learning that it is only a plant. This friend of mine who gave me the rodent tuber, had lung cancer himself. His doctor found him to be inoperable because the cancer had spread to every part of the lung. So, they stitched him back without doing anything. He was supposed to have died after four months. He did not die.

Instead he was recommending the rodent tuber to me. He gave me the rodent tuber himself, and my wife believed in it. Since there is nothing to lose, I just drank the juice. It was not tasty. When I took the rodent tuber, somehow the cancer pain I had disappeared almost immediately. I was thinking if I were to take it everyday, I could die with dignity.

I took the rodent tuber quite reluctantly in the beginning ... until two weeks later -- I realized it had some scientific basis. I decided I had nothing to lose except to try. I went back to my doctor and ask for chemotherapy and together took the rodent tuber -- this is more as a revenge trying to kill the cancer cells before I was killed by them! And after that somehow, the cancer never appeared again.

In the beginning, I took the rodent tuber juice three times at 50 grams per day. Then, I could not even lift the "pounder". At that time, I was half my present size. My weight was about 90 pounds. Now, I am 155 pounds. I always insist and I always tell everybody: what have we got to lose?

Question: People are sceptical about this. When you take the rodent tuber, it may interfere with the chemotherapy. You said that you were taking rodent tuber at the same time you were on chemotherapy. Did that interfere with your treatment?

I took both together. At that time I could not be bothered whether it would interfere with the chemotherapy or not. Chemotherapy alone was not effective. What else could I do to keep myself alive?

Question: When you finished with the chemotherapy, did you continue with the rodent tuber?

Oh, yes. From medical perspectives -- after the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy -- there is practically nothing else for the cancer patient. If the cancer still exists, that means we are waiting to die.

At least now, we have this rodent tuber which is relatively not so poisonous. I have been taking this for two to three years. I took the juice three times a day for a few months. After that I reduced it to twice a day -- .taking it very religiously for eight and half months. Then I went for a medical check-up and fortunately, the cancer had disappeared.

The doctor was obviously very pleased about it. I went to Australia for another medical examination -reconfirmation -- and the doctor in Australia confirmed that I was free of cancer.

After one and a half years of close combat, I was declared cancer-free on 5 August 1994. Everything was worth it. I share my victory with you.

Cancer is normally regarded not only as a disease but also as a death sentence. How can we cling on any hope when everything seems hopeless? Many people, when faced with such an agonizing experience, usually give up. They find it pointless to continue living. A quick death is more merciful. I refused to accept defeat. Life was too precious to be destroyed by the enemy within. I had to fight cancer physically, emotionally and psychologically. And I won.

Note: As of this writing Yap is still active and healthy, living a cancer-free life.

Extracted from the author's book: Cancer Yet They Live!

Check it Out - Colon-Rectal-Cancer

The colon rectal cancer is many a times referred to as the colorectal cancer or either the large bowel cancer. It is mainly ascribed to the retard growth of the cancerous cells in the colon or the rectum and is the third most common sub category of this particular disease that claims the second highest number of fatalities in the West.

A frequent cause is believed to be the presence of the adenomatous polyps in the rectum or the colon. Although largely benign; it displays a strong risk of development into cancer over the passage of time, with multiplication in risks with an increase in age. Patients who have a family account of a disease of this genre are more exposed to this menace.

Based on extensive research its symptoms can be classified into two chief categories namely , the constitutional symptoms and the metastatic symptoms. albeit the commencement of this disease is accompanied by vague symptoms such as weight loss and exhaustion; which might not develop fully until the cancer has progressed into its later stages. Nevertheless other symptoms involve change in bowel activities and the appearance of the stool that is accompanied not only by rectal bleeding and abdominal and bowel pain. The later stages might reveal a smelly discharge.

If this genre of cancer is feared a pathologist should be consulted at the earliest for timely diagnosis and medical treatment. Post diagnosis, respective treatment is metted out to the patient, which may range from surgery and chemotherapy to radiotherapy. Corresponding blood tests and rectal examinations follow. Since this disease might take several years for development a timely detection increases the opportunities for cure. In spite of this once diagnosed and treated the chances of a relapse are greater amongst individuals once given treatment.

Bowel Cancer - Risk Factors - Part 2

In my last article I talked about some of the risk factors for bowel cancer and indeed, for other types of cancer as well.

The main risk factor is age.

- 83% of people who get bowel cancer are over the age of 60 yrs.

- Poor diet.

- Lack of exercise.

- Smoking.

- Being over the age of 50. (risk increases with age)

- You have a family history of bowel cancer.

- If you have ever had Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis.

- If you have previously had polyps called Adenomas in your bowel.

- Alcohol consumption.

- Obesity.

We've covered the first three, let's now look at the remaining ones:

Smoking. Highly addictive, this being the reason why even the most intelligent people do it despite the adverse publicity it receives. Along with excessive use of alcohol, smoking would have to be the biggest, legally self inflicted, threat to anyone's health known to humankind. You may not get cancer because you smoke, however new research shows it increases your risk level significantly.

Risk increases with age. We've talked about that in my previous article. Just be aware, the older you are the higher the risk factor.

A family history of bowel cancer can be a risk factor under some of the following circumstances.

A close family relative is a father, mother, brother or sister and are sometimes referred to as first degree relatives.

- If you have one relative with this disease on one or both sides of the family it increase your risk.

- If you have one elderly relative (over 60yrs) who develops bowel cancer this is not significant.

- There is a risk that parents can pass on faulty genes that would make the child at high risk. This usually happens when two people from the same side of the family have bowel cancer.

- In another scenario, the risk is increased if one close family member develops bowel cancer below the age of 45yrs of if there is a separate case of bowel cancer and womb cancer on the same side of the family.

- About 75% to 80% of bowel cancer patients do not have relatives with this disease.

If you have had or have Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis there is a greater risk of developing bowel cancer. The reasons are not entirely clear but the information is. If you have either of these two conditions you should be screened regularly.

What is Crohn's disease?

- It's an inflammatory disease of the digestive system which may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. The precise cause is unknown.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

- Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the rectum and colon. These are referred to as ulcers. Ulcers form where inflammation has killed the cells that usually line the colon As a result, the ulcers bleed and produce pus. Inflammation in the colon also causes the colon to empty frequently, causing diarrhoea.

What is an Adenoma?

- They are a collection of growths and can grow from many different organs.

- They are benign, though over time can become malignant if not removed.

- Even though they are benign, they can cause serious problems by compressing tissue around the local area and producing hormones in an unregulated manner.

If you are diagnosed with the above, get the best medical advice possible regarding treatment and an ongoing regime of regular checkups.

Alcohol consumption.

Excessive alcohol consumption is regarded as a significant contributing cause of bowel cancer. It is recommended that no more than two standard drinks for males and one for females be consumed in any one day.

Obesity.

Obesity has been linked to bowel cancer. It has also been found that people who are obese are less likely to get an accurate diagnosis with a colonoscopy due to the increased difficulty in cleaning out the bowel sufficiently for a clear picture. In this case some polyps may be overlooked.

It is also worth noting that people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer due to their condition. It's not known why at this stage.

Natural Health - The Cough and the Colon

There are so many different reasons for coughing - such as allergens, colds, flu or other infections, and in severe cases tumors in the lung or cancer.

There are also varying characteristics to coughs such as tight and dry, or loose and productive. Sometimes the types of coughs will give an indication of the problem, but unless one has good diagnostic testing the true underlying problem may be a mystery.

An area of the body that can contribute to coughing that is often overlooked, and rarely tested for complaints of coughing, is the colon.

When someone's colon is sluggish or difficult to empty, such as in constipation, or if they have a problem with candida (which is an overgrowth of yeast due to an imbalance of bacteria in the gut) then the body can often respond with a cough.

It helps to understand how this works by understanding that one of the functions of the respiratory system is elimination. When the primary eliminatory organs are not working at their optimum (ie - colon), then the other elimination organs kick in to help (ie - skin, lungs).

As a former colon therapist I can recall the many clients that I had who were receiving colon hydrotherapy and experienced great improvements in their breathing, sinus problems, and coughing.

Another helpful tip for understanding this connection is that in Chinese Medicine the Lung and Large Intestine share the same meridian. So, it is often seen in that health model, a clearing up in one of those organs when the other is balanced out.

Here are some "Simple Solutions" that you can do at home for your coughs (along with addressing your colon if you think that could be a contributing factor):

Home Made Cough Syrups (three recipes)

Recipe One

--Lemon juice or a small amount of water with drop of lemon oil

--honey

--tiny dash of cayenne

Recipe Two

--1/2 c. honey

--1 tbsp. chopped garlic

--1 tsp. horseradish (fresh prepared)

Mix well. Take 1 or 2 teaspoons as needed. If mixture is too hot,

add more honey to taste.

Recipe Three

--1 c. molasses

--2 drops ginger essential oil

--2 drops peppermint essential oil

Mix all ingredients together.

Use 1 teaspoon at a time, every 4 hours.

Dry Cough Tea

--2 drops lemon

--3 drops eucalyptus radiata

--1 tsp agave

--4 oz. hot water

Sip Slowly

(Some of these might help address your colon too!)

Stopping the Spread of Colon Cancer - Hope in Treatment

Whenever you have been diagnosed with colon cancer your physician will wish to order various examinations and tests to check the degree or what they call the "stage" that it has progressed to. Naturally, as with any cancer, the earlier it's discovered the less problematic it will be to treat. Your medical prognosis will depend upon factors such as whether the cancer is in the lining interior of the colon, or has disseminated throughout the body and into additional organs.

Your doctor will additionally base your medical prognosis upon whether or not the cancer has caused a blockage in your intestines. Your physician will also wish to order assorted blood tests to check blood levels of a specific factor. This factor shows up in your bloodstream at distinguishable levels dependent on how far the cancer has progressed. So before advocating any type of treatment your physician will rely to a great extent on your generalized health, whether the cancer has recurred, and what degree the cancer has progressed to.

Staging is what physicians refer to when the examinations that are carried out to find out the degree that cancer has progressed to. You can anticipate the physician to perform a CAT scan, which has a look at the interior of the body by taking pictures and in a few cases they'll likewise inject a dye to see the interior organs more clearly. The doctor will in all probability also will like to perform a lymph node biopsy. This biopsy removes a few of the malignant cells and they are then viewed under a microscope. Additionally, expect a complete blood count (CBC) to be performed. This will give the physician a great deal of very important information regarding your white and red blood cells and platelets. It also shows to the doctor the levels of CEA that reside in your bloodstream. CEA is discharged into your bloodstream from malignant cells just as well as from normal cells, however, if higher amounts than normal of CEA are found, the doctor can arrive at additional conclusions supported by that information.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will in all likelihood be performed so that all of the cancerous cells may be viewed. A chest x-ray perhaps will be done to see the organs and bones within the chest cavity. Surgery might likewise be scheduled to remove any neoplasms that may be present. These are each required tests that have to be performed so your doctor can fully realize the maturation of the colon cancer and address it to the fullest of his ability.

Metastatic Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer that is affecting close to 100,000 Americans every year. Many of these patients are diagnosed with a form of this cancer known as metastatic colon cancer. This means that the symptoms can only be diagnosed when the disease is in the advanced stages. This makes it difficult for doctors to treat it properly. Yet, there are patients that have been able to live for many years after the diagnosis.

Metastatic colon cancer means that the cancer cells have moved beyond the colon tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Doctors say that the first area to be infected is the lymphatic system. Once it reaches this part of the body the cancer cells will move to other organ cells of the lungs and liver. Other organs may also be infected.

Patients who have been diagnosed with colon cancer should know that there are several treatments available to them. They must consider all of their options and seek immediate treatment even if they have discovered the cancer in one if its earliest stages. Studies show that 20 to 30 percent of patients who are treated for metastatic colon cancer have the ability to survive for many years after they have been diagnosed. That chance to live longer is increased when you have treated it and keep it from reaching your liver and lungs.

The hardest thing for patients who have been diagnosed is that it is so difficult for doctors to diagnose when it is in its early stages. The disease usually becomes more evident and easier to find when it is more advanced and sometimes when treatment options can be useless. That is why it is important for people to do what they can to prevent this disease.

So how are we to prevent colon cancer? The first thing that you need to look at is the lifestyle that you have. Your risk for colon cancer increase if you smoke or have a bad diet. It is important to avoid fatty foods that can clog your arteries and stick mainly to foods that are nutritious and fibrous for your body.

Smoking is one of the biggest factors that is related to cancer so it should always be avoided - even second hand smoke. Your weight is also a large factor that is partly connected to your diet. People who are obese can have some of the worst symptoms of colon cancer.

It is important to begin screening for this disease when you reach the age of 50. You should then make regular visits every ten years after that unless your doctor says otherwise.

Main Symptoms of Cancer

Symptoms are the indications by the body that there is something wrong. These refer to the physical feelings undergone by the sick person. They may or may not be visible. The signs of an illness can be diagnosed by the doctor or the medical practitioner. Just one symptom cannot diagnose a particular disease but can lead to an investigation and help can be provided before the disease flairs up.

Cancer is a disease that can affect ant part of the body ranging from the glands, blood, bone, muscles, organs, and skin. It is basically an uncontrolled division of cells that cannot be regulated by the body. As an enemy within the body it ravages each cell while spreading its deadly tentacles, affecting healthy tissues and cells. The symptoms of cancer depend upon its origin and size of the tumor and its spread.

In some types of cancer the specific symptoms do not appear until it has reached an advanced stage. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body then there may be a variety of symptoms. In brain cancer, if a tumor is formed the size of a speck also, there may be variety of symptoms as it may push against a nerve or a blood vessel that might be affecting a particular portion of the body.

As the cancerous tumor continues to grow, the intensity of the symptoms may increase manifolds because it may start pushing the adjoining organs and tissues leading to discomfort.

The specific symptoms may be localized to a certain extent depending upon the area of spread of cancer. Generally all cancers have some common symptoms and specific symptoms related to the affected area of the body. These symptoms are common to other diseases also and the medical practitioner can be misguided on the diagnosis of the disease. Sometimes symptoms are ignored because they seem insignificant and temporary. However the earlier cancer is diagnosed the better you have a chance of stopping it from spreading further.

Some symptoms may not be a sign of cancer but in any case they need medical attention. The general symptoms range from weakness, fever, weight loss to dizziness and backaches.

Fever is a common symptom of cancer as it shows that the body is fighting an infection. Persistent fever shows an advanced stage of cancer specially leukemia. Sudden weight loss of more than 15 pounds without any explanatory reasons can also be a sign of cancer related to stomach and lung or even the digestive system. Weakness and fatigue are also an indication of cancer due to weight loss and blood loss in some forms of cancers. Skin cancers produce symptoms like darkening and yellowing of skins.

While the localized and the particular cancer symptoms may differ as to the region they have affected. Any change in the normal functioning of the organ can be a reason for cancer check.

o Change in excretory system : constipation , piles , change in stool formation, passing of blood in stool or urine, pain during urination can all be symptoms of colon cancer , prostrate cancer and bladder cancer.

o Passing of blood: any unusual amount of blood that is passed while coughing, with urine, stool or major vaginal bleeding are not normal. They are signs of lung cancer, rectal, kidney, uterine cancers, and stomach cancer.

o Chronic Ulcers: Oral ulcers and sores that have not healed on the penis and inside the vagina may be cancerous.

o Formation of lumps: Any formation of lumps in the body whether in the skin, breast, testicals, glandular lumps that have grown in size show an early signs of cancer. Warts that have grown in size.

Even a minor symptom of any disease should not be ignored. Prevention is always better than cure.

Colon Cancer Treatments - The Three Most Common Procedures

If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer, then your next step is to think about treatment. Treatment options vary and will be determined by the stage of colon cancer and the location of the cancer. Your oncologist will be able to give you the best advice on which treatment option is right for you. This article is going to explain three of the most common treatments for colon cancer. Keep reading to gain a valuable education.

Surgery is a Standard Treatment for Colon Cancer

Surgery to remove all sections of the bowel that has been affected by cancer is a common treatment in all stages of colon cancer. There are three types of surgery that can be used to remove the cancer. They are:

1. 
   Local excision. This is reserved for cancer that is found in the early stages. The doctor will simply insert a tube into your rectum and advance it into the colon. He will then be able to cut away the cancerous part of the colon. If a polyp is involved, he can remove the polyp this way also. This is a fairly simple surgery and requires no incision.





2. 
   Resection. This is used if the cancer in the colon has become quite large. The surgeon will make an incision into the abdomen and remove part of the colon that is affected by the cancer. He will also remove small sections of healthy tissue that surrounds the diseased section of the bowel. Lymph nodes near the colon may be removed so they can be examined to determine if the cancer has spread. The surgeon will then sew the two healthy ends of the bowel together.





3. 
   Resection and colostomy. Depending on the what part of the colon is affected and how much of the colon is involved, the surgeon may be unable to sew the healthy ends back together. In that case, one end of the bowel will be brought through a hole that is made in the abdomen. This is called a stoma. The patient will then need to wear bag over the stoma because the waste is now being expelled through the stoma. This is called a colostomy. Many people are able to lead normal lives after a colostomy.

Radiation to Treat Colon Cancer

Radiation can be high energy x-rays or other forms of radiation that is used to kill off cancer cells or to keep them from growing. Radiation may be given externally or it may be given internally through needles, seeds or catheters that are placed near the cancer. The way radiation is used is determined by the location and the size of the cancer.

Chemotherapy Treatment for Colon Cancer

Chemotherapy drugs can be used to kill cancer cells or to stop them from spreading. Chemotherapy can be injected through the vein or ingested through the mouth in the form of pills. It can also be injected directly into the area that is affected by the cancer such as the abdomen or the spine.

All of these treatments may be used alone or in combination with each other. A lot of patients that have surgery to remove part of the diseased colon will have chemotherapy or radiation to kill of any traveling cancer cells.

Colon cancer can be cured if caught early enough and contained. Stay in tune to your body and get regular check ups.

Whilst every opportunity has been take to ensure that all information is correct and up to date at time of writing, it is not meant to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please always consult your doctor or health care specialist if you are in any way concerned about your health.

Prostate and Colon Cancer: Secrets to Healing and Understanding

This article will tackle the cause of two pandemic forms of cancer, cancer of the prostate and colon cancer. Scientists have determined that prostate cancer is an epidemic so vast that nearly one autopsy in two of older men reveals the presence of this cancer. Fortunately, this cancer is usually so slow growing that most men die of other causes, even as the cancer grows slowly within the prostate gland. Yet deaths by prostate cancer and the debilitating effects of prostate surgery still affect thousands of families today. In addition, nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate afflicts millions of American men with such symptoms as painful and frequent urination. As a therapist who specializes in discovering the underlying causes of disease, I have discovered, once again, the reasons for this pandemic can be found in the cultural habits of our society.

First, let's ask the obvious question: what is the prostate's job in a healthy individual? Although prostate conditions including cancer usually show up as problems with urination, the prostate gland is mainly about sex. The prostate's job is to mix sperm with its own liquid secretions to produce semen, then through contractions associated with male orgasm, it propels this semen into the penis. When I have worked with men who have any prostrate condition I nearly always find that these men feel subconsciously frustrated and often guilty about their sexual behavior. Each case has unique elements. Therefore I will not claim that it is always one particular feeling or trauma. But my experience is that it always is about sex.

One client feels guilty about years of being unfaithful to his wives. Another feels remorse over years of visiting prostitutes, and having meaningless sex. Still another feels badly that he had sex with a wife he didn't really love. So far I have not met any man whose prostate is complaining because it didn't get enough sex. While I can't rule out this possibility, it seems that wasting of one's procreative life force is the issue which is locked into the prostates of most of my clients. (Incidentally, I always use open ended questions, and never use direct suggestion or leading questions in my work with cancer patients in order to minimize the influence of my own beliefs on the subconscious minds of my clients. In addition, when I began this research, I had no clue as to what might be found in the prostates of my clients)

This discovery of loose sexual behavior among the vast majority of my prostate clients is consistent with the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s, in which sex went from being a form of recreation reserved exclusively for married couples, at least theoretically, to becoming a free for all. The Playboy philosophy, birth control, and the hippie and women's lib movements combined to create unprecedented opportunities for men and women alike to spread their seeds to the four winds. While I too had the chance to celebrate and enjoy this new freedom, it is our prostate glands, concerned with such "obsolete" concepts as romantic love, families, and children that I have discovered are in rebellion among so many men today.

As a hypnotherapist it is my job to listen to this prostate gland in a way that the client has never done. Indeed most clients are shocked to discover this throwback to conservative values living inside their bodies. Sometimes tears of remorse, dedication to a new lifestyle, even acts of atonement performed for women can help heal this condition. At other times, committing oneself to seeking a loving partner, even to reaching out to ones lost or grown children has proved valuable. I really don't know what my client's prostate needs to heal itself ... but fortunately that prostate always does.

Another kind of cancer epidemic is colon cancer. Well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the why of this epidemic either. We know that the colon is the place where waste is produced, and the water we need is pulled out. I have occasionally found unprocessed waste emotions in the colon, including anger, of which the client is often in denial. One client of mine who suffered severe ulcerative colitis screamed at me in a purple faced rage "Damn it! I am NOT angry!!" when I attempted to point out, very politely, what I was feeling from him. Even residual traumas from toilet training can be found in there sometimes.

But the culturally common causes of colon cancer I have found is connected to the diet and lifestyle choices pursued by most Americans. All of these eating habits have been scientifically proven to have debilitating effects on the colon: large amounts of animal fat in the diet, too much melted cheese and white flour products, all of which stick like glue to the colon walls, where they rot and produce inflammation, too little vegetable fiber, including the raw roughage like lettuce and carrots that clean the colon like a bottle brush, and too little water. (okay, how many of you really drink the 8 glasses a day minimum recommended by doctors?) Also critically dangerous to the colon is our lifestyle choice of sitting for most of every day on our sedentary butts. Remember that as a species homo sapiens evolved to spend many hours every day in physical movement.

So any proposed solution to this epidemic requires a radical revision of our diet and lifestyle. Fortunately the services of a clinical nutritionist and hypnotherapist can be combined to make the transition to a healthy diet and lifestyle much easier. Hypnosis can help build motivation for exercise and can help strengthen our new dietary choices. It can also help uncover and heal the emotions that are stored in the colon. Combined with the latest in medical treatments, such methods offer far more promise for recovery than we could have hoped for 20 years ago.

Risk Factors in Bowel Cancer

Most of us flirt with the risk factors for bowel cancer. How many of us don't exercise enough; eat the wrong foods and have bad habits such as drinking and smoking that are not conducive to good health? How many of us are stressed in our high powered lifestyles and don't seem to have enough time to exercise or prepare healthy meals?

So what are the risk factors for bowel cancer and what can we do about them.

The main risk factor of bowel cancer is age.

* 83% of people who get bowel cancer are over the age of 60yrs.

* Poor diet.

* Lack of exercise.

* Smoking.

* Being over the age of 50. (risk increases with age)

* You have a family history of bowel cancer.

* If you have ever had Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

* If you have previously had polyps called adenomas in your bowel.

So, if 83% of people who get bowel cancer are over the age of 60 years and I'm well under that, I'm safe, right? Not exactly, there's still17% left who get bowel cancer below that age and some in their 20's.

So what to do? For a start, if you are approaching 60years old, book yourself in for a colonoscopy. Who knows they may find nothing, on the other hand they may find something that can be dealt with before it gets serious. For those younger, be vigilant and look for any signs and symptoms that may manifest themselves.

Fortunately bowel cancer is fairly slow in developing; unfortunately it doesn't show symptoms until it's developed. Therefore, the earlier you go to the doctor, if any symptoms do occur, the better for your long term survival.

Poor diet, something a lot of us suffer from. Whether it be fast food for convenience sake or those yummy snacks we eat when we are probably not even hungry, it doesn't matter, they take their toll. For a start this type of food will probably be high in fat or processed to death. Take your pick, neither is good. Fresh vegetables and fruit are a good start on the road to good eating habits. Plenty of fibre and water to get the flow going is another plus on the road to good eating habits. There are plenty of books on the subject, go out and find them and educate yourself.

Lack of exercise, another pastime we often ignore, especially when we are asleep in front of the TV. You don't have to be a marathon runner to exercise. Walking is extremely good for you.10,000 steps a day is fantastic. Get yourself one of those step counters and clip it to your belt and see how much you walk in a single day. Some will be pleasantly surprised and some will be disappointed. The good thing is it's a simple way to define and reach your goal. Be good to yourself and use the stairs, walk the dog, walk to the shops and leave the car at home. Do any sort of walking to get your 10,000 steps and you are heading toward the healthy zone.

My next article will finish off the risk factors we started in this article.

Type 2 Diabetes - Is Colon Cancer More Common in Diabetics?

A study published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science in October 2011 should encourage people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes to get colonoscopies.

Investigators at Samunsung Medical Center, Sugkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, Korea, looked at the records of 3,505 Type 2 diabetics who had colonoscopies for colon and rectal cancer from 1995 to 2009 and compared them with the records of 495 non-diabetic patients.

Eleven hundred and thirty-six polyps were recorded among 509 diabetic patients. Of the polyps found in the people with Type 2 diabetes:

• 8 per cent had the potential for becoming cancerous, compared to


• 6 per cent in the non-diabetic participants.

Fortunately, the use of metformin or aspirin did not increase the number of polyps seen. Males who were older than 65 years of age with Type 2 diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) of over 25 were at risk for having more than 3 polyps with cancerous potential.

Like all cancers, cancer of the colon is uncontrolled cell growth. Cancers can cause:

• bleeding,


• pressure on other tissues,


• obstruction, and can give off


• inappropriate hormones and other potentially deadly molecules.

Worldwide cancer caused 13 per cent of deaths in 2008. Colon and rectal cancer was one of the most common, accounting for 610,000 deaths. Deaths from cancer are expected to rise to 11 million worldwide in 2030.

Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Eating a high fiber diet and regular checkups can prevent its formation. When cancer is present, surgical removal can be curative if done early.

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:

• diarrhea,


• constipation,


• feeling of fullness after bowel movements,


• narrow stools,


• rectal bleeding,


• gas pains,


• bloating,


• abdominal cramps,


• weight loss without explanation,


• tiredness,


• anemia,


• nausea, and


• vomiting.

Colon polyps with the potential for becoming cancerous are called adenomatous. Polyps are removed when they are found and examined under a microscope to discover whether they are adenomatous.

For healthy people, screening colonoscopies are recommended at the age of 50 and every 7 to 10 years thereafter. If an adenomatous polyp is found and removed, the next colonoscopy should be performed in 5 years. If an adenomatous polyp is found and there is a family history of colon cancer, the patient should be rechecked in 3 years. (Colonoscopy can also reveal flat lesions called nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms, which can also evolve into cancer).

Given the higher risk of adenomatous polyps in people with diabetes, should they be checked more often? Discuss the possibility with your doctor.

Colon Cancer Treatment - The Best Treatments For Colon Cancer

It seems like a lot more people are being diagnosed with colon cancer these days. Maybe it has to do with the population getting older, but there probably a lot of behavioural reasons as well. Another condition that seems to be on the rise is constipation, which over years can't be a good thing. If we're going to discuss the best treatments for colon cancer, we should probably go over the worst ones too.

Put up your hand if you've heard of these...chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. That's right. This means that the best treatments for colon cancer are, you guessed it, all natural ones.

Look at it logically for a moment. If you have colon cancer your goal is for it to go away and to restore your health. How in the world do you expect to accomplish that by pumping toxic chemicals into your bloodstream? Or by zapping your body with radiation? Or by cutting out portions of your colon and intestine? Those are there for a reason. And aren't we supposed to avoid radiation because it causes cancer? The whole system is upside down. Except for big drug companies who are making billions of dollars in profit by marketing these therapies. That topic can be for another time.

We're talking about all natural, non-toxic treatments that will reverse your colon cancer and restore you to good health. There are certain conditions where cancer thrives. Cancer loves low oxygen levels, and high acidity levels. It loves a chronically dehydrated body and weakened immune system. It loves toxins and free radicals. It loves sugar. And colon cancer in particular must really love the toxic mess left behind by years of constipation.

Your body wants to be in balance. If you can find natural treatments designed to reverse the conditions we just mentioned, you'll be well on your way to a cancer free colon. Don't leave it up to some doctor who has no choice but to push drugs and surgery. Explore the whole world of options. Your body deserves the best.

Misdiagnosis of Colon Cancer

A cancer affecting the large intestine is that of the colon.  The colon is positioned in the lower part of the digestive tract. Colon cancer is the third most common form in men and women.  There are more than 100,000 cases diagnosed every year.  Usually these start as benign cell growths.

Diagnosis and treatments that are detected early are important for an ideal outcome for any type of cancer.  It is unfortunate to say that this form is one the more commonly misdiagnosed.  If it is misdiagnosed, the patient can suffer severely, and it can even be deadly. 

Types of Misdiagnoses

Mistakes in diagnosis come in various forms, which consist of:

• Missed Diagnosis - When a doctor does not identify the signs and symptoms of colon cancer, or they fail to order the required tests


• Wrong Diagnosis - The symptoms of colon cancer are confused with another illness or colon cancer is diagnosed and the patient has no cancer at all


• Delayed Diagnosis - Symptoms of colon cancer are not identified, or diagnosing another condition and time goes by before realizing it is cancer

Treatments for patients may not be given because of a bad diagnosis.  Sometimes patients are treated for diseases that they do not have at all.  These mistakes can do severe damage to the patient and sometimes can prove to be deadly.

Misdiagnosed Patients and Their Rights

If a patient has suffered a wrong or missed diagnosis of colon cancer, they may be able to hold the negligent party responsible for their errors.  A malpractice lawsuit can help a patient recover losses for past and future medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and other related costs. 

If a family lost a loved one because of misdiagnosis of colon cancer, they too are allowed to seek out compensation.  Families can be compensated for funeral costs, loss of a loved one and other damages related to the death.

Talk to an Attorney Today

Filing a medical lawsuit is subject to a deadline.  These are known as statutes of limitations.  All malpractice cases have these strict deadlines.  Because of this, it is important to contact a professional attorney.  They are aware of these laws and they can protect your rights if it is determined that you have a claim.  These attorneys have many years of experience in malpractice cases.  Call today for a free evaluation and get your questions answer.

How Does Cancer Affect Cells?

Cancer is the name for a disease that can affect cells from all the organs and body's structures and is considered to be life threatening. Cancer determines cells to divide in an uncontrollable way. Generally the cells of the body divide only when needed, like when they grow old and other cells need to be produced in order to replace them or when they are in a small amount and the body needs more of them.

Because the cells are produced in an increased number, a mass of unknown tissue will form, known as a tumor (this tumor can be benign or malign).

The benign form of the tumor is considered not to be harmful. It can be easily removed and will not spread to other organs. The possibility for this tumor to reappear is much reduced.

The malign form of the tumor is also known as cancer and is considered to be a threat to life. It can affect organs that are situated near the tumor and it can also get into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and reach other organs creating new tumors in the whole body. This is known as metastasis. The secondary disease will be named after the primary disease, because the metastatic cancerous cells have the same structure with the basic tumor cells.

Taking colon cancer for an example, if the colon cancer cells spread toward the liver and affect it, the liver disease will be called metastatic colon cancer.

In the whole world, colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth in women. It is quite rare in Asia and Africa but you can find it frequently in the Western world. Those who have adopted western diets are at risk to develop colorectal cancer. Doctors believe that this type of cancer is developing from polyps situated in the large intestine (colon and rectum are a part of the large intestine). These polyps are considered to be benign but left untreated for years they can transform in malign tumors. The polyps can be removed easily during a colonoscopy performed by the doctor.

Colorectal cancer can affect nearby structures and can even get into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and spread towards liver and lungs where it will produce another tumor. If metastasis has occurred, the hope of treatment efficiency is considered to have reduced drastically.

Perspectives On Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a major health concern and public health problem in

most of the Western countries despite widespread use of screening technique

to detect early stages of this disease. In the United States alone more than

148,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. Over 55,000

deaths occur in the United States due to colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is

a very common disease and it is the third most common type of cancer in both

sexes. In men it ranks third after prostate and lung cancer and in women

after lung and breast cancer. Colorectal cancer ranks second after lung

cancer in terms of number of deaths from cancer.

Majority of colorectal cancers (72%) start in the colon and smaller fraction

(28%) arises in the rectum. The lifetime risk of being diagnosed with

colorectal cancer in the United States is 5.9% for men and 5.5% for women.

There are several known risk factors for colorectal cancer. Being a male

poses higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to being female. Increasing

age is associated with an increase in the risk of colorectal cancer.

Incidence of colorectal cancer is higher among African Americans compared to

Caucasians. Risk of developing colorectal cancer is much higher for people

living in the industrialized nations compared to less industrialized

nations.

Diet, rich in fat and cholesterol, is linked to higher risk of developing

colorectal cancer. Lack of proper exercise, presence of inflammatory bowel

disease, some types of polyps and history of family members with diagnosis

of colorectal cancer have been associated with higher risk of development of

colorectal cancer.

Early stages of colorectal cancer may not cause any symptoms. Some people

might experience vague symptoms like mild abdominal pain, flatulence or

diarrhea. Occasionally there might be microscopic bleeding and the diagnosis

of colorectal cancer would be suspected because of presence of anemia from

chronic bleeding. Some people might develop frank bleeding or symptoms of

bowel obstruction.

Screening for colorectal cancer can detect the disease at an early stage. A

rectal examination and examination of the stool specimen for the presence of

microscopic quantity of blood are very common screening tools. Sigmoidocopy

and colonoscopy are more invasive investigations, which can detect and

remove some polyps that might be precursors of cancer. Less invasive

techniques like barium enema, virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan machine

are also often used in screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Adults

having an average risk of colorectal cancer should start colorectal cancer

screening beginning at age 50.

Treatment of colorectal cancer depends upon the stage of the disease. Early

stages of colorectal cancers are treated with surgery alone, later stages of

colorectal cancer are treated with surgery followed by chemotherapy with or

without radiation treatment. Rectal cancers are more often treated with

radiation therapy compared to colon cancer. Advanced stages of colorectal

cancer, where the disease has spread to other organs, are usually treated

with chemotherapy alone. There are several new chemotherapeutic agents and

biological drugs available for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Treatment

of colorectal cancer has undergone marked changes in the last 10 years. The

newer drugs are showing much improved efficacy and prolonging life

expectancy in patients with advanced stage colorectal cancer.