Friday, November 30, 2007

Colon Cancer 2

I think it is important to have knowledge about colon cancer symptoms before we turn 40, which is the age when this form of cancer incidence starts to rise. There have been several individuals in my own family who have succumbed to this deadly form of cancer. I know there is a great chance of you knowing someone or even you having this type of cancer. As a result, colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in women and men in the United States. Moreover, only around 39% of colon cancer cases are detected early. Currently, it is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States.
What Is Colon Cancer?
The rectum and colon are both part of the large intestine. Colon cancer actually originates in the large intestines. Sometimes it is called colorectal cancer, and it refers to cancer the affects the rectum and or colon.
What Causes Colon Cancer?
Before I get into what are colon cancer symptoms, lets discuss the risk factors for this deadly disease. Research hasn't identified without mistake what causes colon cancer, but have pinpointed several risk factors. Here are several of the risk factors: age, diet, genetics, alcohol and other factors. I have more information on colon cancer and other disease located at the website located in the resource box below.
What Are Colon Cancer Symptoms?
The truth is that sometimes colon cancer doesn't present any symptoms. Unfortunately for some people the first symptom of colon cancer doesn't reveal itself until the disease has progressed into an advanced stage. Here are some colon cancer symptoms:
Bleeding blood in the stool. This is the most commonly experienced form of cancer symptom.
Weight Loss. The pain from the tumor can cause a loss of appetite.
Abdominal Pain. Swelling and pain of the abdomen occurs when the intestine is blocked by a tumor.
Changes in Bowel Habits. If you suffer from constant diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating and/ or producing thinner stools then this might be an indication of colon cancer.
I have more detailed information on colon cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, and bone cancer among others located at the website in the resource box below.
DISCLAIMER
The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication.
The information and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of this publication based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher isn't responsible for errors or omissions. The Food and Drug Administration have not evaluated these statements. These products aren't intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Bloody Stool

Colon cancer is becoming more common. There will be around 125,000 new cases diagnosed in America this year. Many of these cases are in people more than 50 years old and are random. A small percentage, approximately 10%, however are not random, they have an inherited form of colon cancer. This could be caused by four different hereditary conditions, hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis (this may also be nonhereditary) and Peutz-Jegher’s syndrome.

Cleanse Your Colon Today

Colon cancer is caused by damage to the genes in your colon cells. These damages can cause the cells to grow unrestricted. This unrestricted growth becomes a polyp, which will become cancerous if it’s not removed. Usually it takes a long time for polyps to develop and even longer to become cancerous. That’s why colon cancer is rare in people less than 50 years old. The cases in people less than 50 are frequently caused by an inherited condition.

Inherited colon cancers are difficult to accurately diagnose. It is first considered when a person has a strong family history of colon cancer and the affected family members are from separate generations. For example - a man has two uncles and a cousin that have been diagnosed, this would be a strong family history. With a bit of research into that patient’s family tree, many more cases of colon cancer may be found and documented.

Cleanse Your Colon Today


The two most common inherited colon cancers are hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Recently the genes that cause each of these conditions were identified and now a blood test has been developed that tells you if you have inherited the disease. Thanks to these blood tests, a person who has inherited the disease can begin getting tested for colon cancer at an earlier age than most people. This early testing allows physicians to catch the disease in the early stages, when it is most treatable. It also allows a doctor to determine if a course of chemoprevention is appropriate, or if other prevention strategies are more appropriate.

Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer occurs when the gene damage interferes with cell repair. HNPCC causes about 5% of all colon cancer diagnoses, but it can cause other cancers as well. HNPCC can also cause cancers in the urinary system (kidney, bladder, or ureter), the female reproductive system (uterus, endometrium, or ovaries), or the rest of the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach, small intestine, or pancreas). A person with HNPCC has an 80% chance of developing colon cancer. Even with this high risk, regular checkups and cancer screenings can save your life by preventing or catching cancer early on.

Familial adenomatous polyposis causes hundreds, even thousands, of polyps to develop in a person’s digestive tract. Because a person affected by FAP begins developing colon polyps at an early age - he or she often develops colon cancer by age 40, ten years earlier than most physicians even begin screening for it. This is why it is recommended that people with a family history get the blood test for FAP.

Not much is known about juvenile polyposis. Some forms of juvenile polyposis are hereditary, but there isn’t a commercial genetic test yet. The only test available is used strictly for research purposes. Juvenile polyposis often causes polyps in the colon and small intestine. If there are any symptoms present, they are usually caused by the polyps in the colon. Surgery is often the suggested treatment in such cases.

Peutz-Jegher’s syndrome is a genetic condition that causes intestinal polyps and freckles on the skin of the mouth. There are no recorded cases of Peutz-Jegher’s freckles developing into skin cancer. The main risk of colon cancer comes from the intestinal polyps. These polyps are usually found in the small intestine and can become so large that they cause an intestinal blockage. Around half of all Peutz-Jegher’s sufferers require surgery for a blockage by the age of 20. Peutz-Jegher’s has also been associated with an increased risk of other cancers and it is recommended that all Puetz-Jegher’s sufferers begin cancer screenings at an earlier age than the general population.

for more info on colon diseases and care visit http://colondetox.blogspot.com