Cancer Resources

More than 95% of colorectal cancers come from adenocarcinoma polyps. These cancers start in cells that form mucus glands, which lubricate the colon and rectum. A polyp is a group of cells that form on top of each other and may eventually turn cancerous. Carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and lymphomas also cause 5% of colon cancers. Doctors say the best way to prevent colon cancer is to undergo regular screening tests after the age of 50 and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Before talking about colon cancer prevention, let’s talk a little about what colon cancer is, exactly. Both the colon and rectum are part of the digestive system. The first part of the digestive system, which is the esophagus and stomach, breaks down food to be processed into energy. Next, the broken down food travels to the small intestine/bowel, which is a narrow, 20-foot section that continues breaking down food and absorbing most of the nutrients. The small intestine then sends the remaining material to the five-foot-long colon (which is also referred to as “the large intestine”), where it absorbs salt and water and stores waste. The first part of the colon is the ascending colon, which is attached to the small intestine and the appendix on the right side of the abdomen. The transverse colon runs from the right to the left side of the upper abdomen. The descending colon travels downward on the left side and the sigmoid colon is an S-shaped portion that passes food matter down to the rectum, the final six inches of the digestive system, which will pass food out of the body through the anus. No one is really sure what exactly causes a colon cancer cell to develop in the first place, or why some experience a colon cancer recurrence, but research suggests a variety of lifestyle, hereditary and environmental factors are at play. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer – Prevention Tips’ »

Colon cancer is also known as colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is considered a cancerous growth in the appendix, colon and rectum of the human body. This cancer is one of the deadly cancers and account for a huge number of deaths. This disease develops in 4 stages, each intense than the other. Early detection of colon cancer helps in curing the disease. This disease is mostly diagnosed through colonoscopy. Surgery is the main treatment for this disease, though number of colon cancer alternative treatments is available these days.

Smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, improper diet is considered the prime risk factors for this disease. There are several different tests available to detect this disease. Digital rectal exam, fecal occult blood test, endoscopy are some of them. For times surgery and chemotherapy have been the traditional treatments for this disease. These days, new colon cancer alternative treatments are available. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer Alternative Treatment – 2 New Methods’ »

Besides the genetic link, other risks that have been suggested for colon cancer include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, a history of smoking, excessive alcohol use, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, and a diet low in fruits, vegetables, and dietary fiber.

Minimize exposure to carcinogens

Not smoking and avoiding people when they smoke are big steps in the right direction. Avoiding carcinogenic chemicals and radiation will also help.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Estrogen replacement therapy (and estrogen in combination with progestin) is suggested to substantially decrease colon cancer risk in postmenopausal women. Although this conclusion is still controversial, researchers suspect that the hormone estrogen exerts a protective effect. This has not been proven and experts don’t recommend using it exclusively for colon protection. The suspected connection is that hormone therapy reduces the production of bile acids. Continue reading ‘Help Prevent Colon Cancer’ »

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

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

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

It is postulated that volume reduction of umbilical cord blood units in albumin or dextran before infusion into patients results in improved cell viability. In order to get the best stem cells possible, it is best to take them in the umbilical cord blood. They can then be stored in a cord blood bank or stem cell bank for the best cord blood collection.

This is based on an in vitro study, which showed that the stem cell viability could actually be improved by volume reducing the umbilical cord blood units before infusion to restore the osmolarity of the suspension.

It was suggested that this process could protect the stem cells from the severe osmotic stress associated with infusion of cells suspended in medium with high concentrations of dimethyl-sulfoxide. Continue reading ‘Umbilical Cord Blood to Extract Stem Cells’ »

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

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

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

Colon cancer surgery is a major medical procedure. After an individual has colon cancer surgery there are several diet options that can prevent the colon cancer from reoccurring. One of the biggest contributing factors to colon cancer is dietary fat. A diet that has a high fat consumption greatly increases the amount of bile acids that are released into the digestive tract. Once bile acids have entered the colon the acids can actually turn into secondary bile acids. These secondary bile acids can promote the growth of a tumor in the colon. It is very important that after colon cancer surgery, to prevent the cancer from reoccurring, to eat a diet that is low in fat.

Another great way to prevent colon cancer is to eat a diet that is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are praised as an important substance in fighting colorectal cancer and other cancers of the body. Antioxidants give the body’s immune system a boost that acts as a defensive line against harmful free radicals. Continue reading ‘A Diet to Follow After Colon Cancer Surgery’ »

New studies are showing that aspirin can help prevent colon cancer, in addition to other diseases. Patients who are already taking an aspirin a day for heart concerns may actually be benefiting themselves in other ways. Although it is not proven yet, there are several new studies that show that aspirin may actually help to prevent colon cancer. For patients who already have colon cancer, studies are also showing that taking an aspirin a day can help along with their other prescribed treatments.

It is too early for complete recommendations as the side effects of this type of therapy are still being looked into; however, this can be a way that the patients are able to help themselves. Two main studies that are being conducted are:

· Nurses’ Health Study
· Health Professionals’ Follow-Up Study

These were basically observational studies where the researchers merely observed what patients were already doing in their daily routines. Researchers followed approximately 1,300 people for a period of 12 years. Many of the patients had had surgery for colon cancer already and many also receive chemotherapy for the disease. Continue reading ‘Role of Aspirin in Preventing and Treating Colon Cancer’ »

Colon cancer causes are often a result of irritable bowel movement symptoms, and may be responsible for conditions such as diarrhea, constipation, migraines and skin problems, among many others. Colon cancer is a major illness and one that causes life altering effects. This form of cancer is one of the most common in the nation. Most colon cancer patients suffer from polyps, which are abnormal cells that form clusters. When normal cells begin to transform, a potential problem arises. As time progresses, these growths get bigger and can lead to the development of cancer.

A vast majority of sufferers have a family history with the disease. In addition, the risk of developing colon cancer increases with age and is most common in those ages 50 and up. Certain individuals simply carry the genetic makeup, which may be identified through a series of tests, that may lead to colon cancer.

While there are no certain ways to pinpoint perfectly who develops cancer, or why, there are several risk elements that may increase an person’s chance of developing the illness. Among them being, a previous battle with cancer, a family history with colon cancer, poor diets, smoking and obesity. With so many risk elements, one may wonder if there is anything that they can do in order to prevent colon cancer. Studies show that a lot of physical activity or exercise and a low-fat, high-fiber diet may help to reduce the risks. In addition, certain medicines may also help to prevent the disease. Continue reading ‘Colon Cancer Causes Are Linked to Unhealthy Eating Habits’ »

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

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