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.