As the numbers of the victim increases, experts are pushing the means to find ways for cure or for early colon cancer detection. Colorectal cancer is the nation’s second leading cancer killer. That is the reasons why studies were done to minimize its fatal existence and to continue giving hope to those who have been found to have one.
Colonoscopy is a process that allows doctors to inspect the entire length of your colon. This is usually done with a little camera. Colon cancer diagnosis comes after months of background checking to figure out if there are other reasons behind the manifestations of symptoms. At times these may not be actually related to cancer but of other ailments. Colonoscopy helps in further evaluation. (more…)
John McCulloch, 40, is an up-beat and active individual whose passion for life and positive attitude is as inspiring as his story battling colorectal cancer. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and to raise awareness about the condition and inspire the thousands of Canadians that are affected by it each year, this is John’s story.
Since February 2008, John’s life has been turned upside down by a terrifying diagnosis of Stage IV, colorectal cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs. Since his diagnosis, John has gone through numerous chemotherapy treatments. He was originally treated with the most commonly used treatment, which was effective for eight months, however, his cancer eventually came back and he had to move on to new treatment options.
After several unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy, John was tested for his eligibility to receive a new class of biologic drugs that interfere with a common pathway involved in cancer spread called EGFr. In patients whose tumours have a mutation in a gene called KRAS, cancer cells continuously receive messages to grow and divide – these patients do not respond to anti-EGFr therapy. Luckily for John, his results showed that he was one of the 60 per cent of colorectal cancer patients who have the normal KRAS gene, making him a candidate for this new type of treatment. (more…)
Colorectal cancer or large bowl cancer is the cancer in the colon, rectum and appendix.
These are abnormal growth of polyps that later develop cancerous.
The diagnosis is done through colonoscopy. The treatment is done by the surgery followed by chemotherapy.
Factors contributing towards colorectal cancer
Age: People in the age of 60s 70s have higher chances of developing this cancer as the risk increases with age. (more…)
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the US. According to the American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates, there were over 108,000 cases of colon cancer and almost 41,000 cases of rectal cancer in 2009, causing almost 50,000 deaths.
Overall, the lifetime risk for developing colorectal cancer is about 5.3% or 1 in 19. Men are slightly more likely to have it than women.
According to a study from the December 2009 issue of International Journal of Cancer, if you want to reduce your risk of colon cancer you need to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and drink more tea and red wine. The authors followed a group of 120,852 men and women who were 55-69 years old at the beginning of the study. Every participant filled out detailed dietary questionnaires, indicating how much of different types of foods and beverages they consumed. The reason for the study was to see if there was a link between diet and cancer and also whether certain types of food could reduce cancer risk. (more…)
The only way to know if you have colorectal cancer is a biopsy of the colon or rectal area that appears cancerous. These tests can be performed by a gastrointerologist or a colon and rectal surgeon. What are the symptoms that should send you to one of these specialists for testing?
Often the first symptom is bright red rectal bleeding. This does not always mean that you have colon cancer but you should seek medical care for this symptom as colorectal cancers often bleed. If the cancer is far from the rectum instead of bright red bleeding, a sign of colon cancer is dark, tarry stools, another symptom that should send you straight to the doctor. (more…)
Do you know that colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum) can be treated via surgery if detected early? As you may or may not have noticed, the number of peoples diagnosed with colon cancer is rising, therefore it is needed for us to take necessary preventive measures.
Here is some facts -
- Going for annual screening is highly recommended as there are no symptoms in the early stages of colon cancer;
- Watch out for any changes in your bowel habits liked prolonged constipation or diarrhea, both increased and decreased regularity.
- Watch out for any symptoms of rectal bleeding; black stools or stools with black coloured blood, usually caused by the friable mucosa of cancerous growth bleeding into the gut.
- If you have any family history of colon or colorectal cancer, do frequent screenings like faecal occult blood test even if you are young.
When it comes to cancer, not just colorectal cancer as mentioned, prevention is always the best cure. No one wish to be diagnosed with the scary “C” and there are ways to prevent it, lets use them. (more…)
Do you know what the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. is? Colorectal cancer – which is a very preventable disease. Many people are not aware that screenings for this disease could save thousands of lives each year. Unfortunately, these tests are not used as often as they could be.
It is thought that colorectal cancers take many years to develop, usually starting as a pre-cancerous polyp in the color or rectum. Because they tend to take such a long time to develop, there is time to detect the growths and remove them before they become troublesome. This is why colorectal cancer is a very preventable disease. (more…)
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is becoming an all to common form of cancer both in the United States and throughout the world.According to World Health Organization (WHO) numbers, this form of cancer accounts for 655,000 deaths worldwide each year – the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world.
A report issued by UK based World Center Research Fund last year suggested a link between red meat and cancer, and that eating processed meats like bacon or sausage every day ups your risk of bowel cancer by 63%.
Processed meat was one of the bad guys of the report, but others included diet and lifestyle choices (smoking and alcohol consumption to name a few) that could increase the risk of this type of cancer. The report also included evidence that tied extra weight to six different types of cancer.
(more…)
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is becoming an all to common form of cancer both in the United States and throughout the world.According to World Health Organization (WHO) numbers, this form of cancer accounts for 655,000 deaths worldwide each year – the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world.
A report issued by UK based World Center Research Fund last year suggested a link between red meat and cancer, and that eating processed meats like bacon or sausage every day ups your risk of bowel cancer by 63%.
Processed meat was one of the bad guys of the report, but others included diet and lifestyle choices (smoking and alcohol consumption to name a few) that could increase the risk of this type of cancer. The report also included evidence that tied extra weight to six different types of cancer.
(more…)
After skin cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer, Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer type occurring in women across the globe. There are many types of colon cancer: Carcinoid Tumors, Lymphoma, Melanoma and Sarcomas. However, the most common of all the colon cancers is Colon Carcinoma.
A colon in the human body is a long, coiled tube shaped organ, which helps in removing water from the digested food. It is also called the large intestine or the large bowel having four sections: Ascending Colon, Transverse Colon, Descending Colon and Sigmoid Colon. Colon cancer is a type of cancer, which forms in the colon tissues. It is often referred to as colorectal cancer. Colon cancers usually are adenocarcinomas, which mean that they begin in cells releasing mucus and other type of fluids.
Who Are At Risk Of Having Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer is responsible for most of the deaths elated to cancer, but doctors say that an early diagnosis can reduce the risk. Immediate action can also lead to full cure of a patient. The risk of having colon cancer increases, if you:
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