A Look at Colon Cancer Prevention

Since colorectal cancer, a cancer of the colon or rectum, is a major cause of death in the United States, many people wonder if there are actions they can do to help prevent this disease. The most important step to remember about the prevention of colon cancer is awareness. The easiest way to treat it is to nip it in the bud and take care of it before it happens.

So here is a quick quiz to help you get a better understanding about some of the more common questions many people have concerning colon cancer:

The most effective tool for colon cancer prevention is a regular screening.

Correct answer: True

Adjusting your diet and making other lifestyle changes will help reduce your risk of colon cancer, but the most successful way to prevent colon cancer is to be screened regularly. Most people begin regular screening at age 50, but people with a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors may need to begin screening at an earlier age.

People who smoke only have to worry about lung cancer, not colon cancer.

Correct answer: False

A number of cancers, including colon cancer, have been linked to cigarette smoke. It's commonly known that cigarette smoke can cause lung cancer, but many people don't realize sometimes the cancer-causing substances in smoke are swallowed, putting them at risk of cancers in the digestive tract.

Since vitamin D might play a role in colon cancer prevention, it's a good idea to spend a lot of time in the sun.

Correct answer: False

Although some studies suggest that vitamin D, produced by your body in response to sunlight, may help in colon cancer prevention, too much sun puts you at risk for skin cancer. You should spend small amounts of time soaking up the sun, then covering up with long sleeves or sun-block if you plan to spend any more time outdoors. Daily multivitamins and more low-fat dairy products can also be sources of Vitamin D.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may lower your risk of colon cancer.

Correct answer: True

It isn't clear just how fruits and vegetables reduce your risk of colon cancer, but research shows they work. Fruits and vegetables provide lots of healthy vitamins and minerals that may play a role in colon cancer prevention, including antioxidants, folic acid and fiber.

A diet low in fat may reduce your risk of colon cancer.

Correct answer: True

A diet low in fat, particularly low in animal fat, reduces your risk of colon cancer. Reduce the amount of meat by choosing most of your food from plant sources.

Since colon cancer is most common in people older than 50, younger people don't need to worry about colon cancer prevention until they're older.

Correct answer: False

Making healthy lifestyle choices at any age will significantly reduce the chance of developing life-threatening diseases later. It's never too soon or too late to take the appropriate steps to improve your health.

You have to worry about colon cancer only if someone in your family has had it.

Correct answer: False

Only a small percentage of colon cancers are caused by known genetic disorders. The majority of colon cancers have no known connection to your family history. Colon cancer can happen to anyone at anytime of their life.

Unless you're experiencing signs and symptoms, you don't need to be screened for colon cancer. Correct answer: False

You usually don't experience any signs or symptoms until colon cancer is quite advanced. Screening gives your doctor a chance to remove precancerous growths (polyps) before they can become colon cancer. Colon cancer screening can also find cancer in its early stages, when it's more likely to be cured.

Seek the opinion of your doctor if you feel as though you might have any other questions concerning colon cancer. Only a doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and most effective for you. If you continue to suffer from prolonged symptoms, be sure to contact your doctor. It might be a sign of something more serious.

For further information on keeping your colon healthy, visit the experts at Dual Action Cleanse. Dual Action Cleanse’s all-natural herbal ultimate colon cleanse formula has changed hundreds of thousands of people's lives through gentle and effective whole body safe and effective internal cleansing. Dual Action Cleanse is a two-part system and is formulated to maximize one's elimination without causing loose stools or uncomfortable cramping via frequent healthy bowel movements while assisting in cleansing the vital organs and lymphatic system.

Bill recently graduated from College Misericordia with a degree in Communications and also a degree in Journalism. He has been writing articles concerning health related issues for the past two years. Currently, he has been writing stories concerning the benefits of the ultimate colon cleanse , Dual Action Cleanse .

Avoiding Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is known by many other names including bowel cancer and colorectal cancer, but whatever name it is called, the result is the same. A person who has this disease will suffer constipation, diarrheic, abdominal pain and anemia among other symptoms. But there are actually many ways to prevent having colon cancer. A basic lifestyle change that involves your diet and physical activities is one of the most effective ways to avoid having this disease. You should note that eating foods that are low in fiber but are high in fat every day increases your risks of having colon cancer. Likewise, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables can prevent colon cancer because these foods are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can fight cancer.

Smoking and drinking should also be avoided if you want to prevent colon cancer. Note that stopping these habits will also prevent other kinds of diseases such as cancer of the lungs and heart problems. Lessening your alcohol intake may do wonders for your health and reduce the risks of complications. On the other hand, smoking increases the risk of dying by thirty to forty percent for people who already have colon cancer so quitting this habit can actually save your life.

Aside from being conscious of your daily intake of food and avoiding bad habits that can be detrimental to your heath, having a pro-active lifestyle can also prevent all forms of cancer including colon cancer. It is believed that just doing thirty minute of physical activity everyday can significantly reduce the risks of acquiring colon cancer. The reason for this is because exercise will help keep your weight under control and keep your metabolism at a normal rate to keep your bowel movement regular. Some researchers also observed that around fifteen percent of colon cancer cases could easily have been prevented if those affected had taken the time to exercise everyday.

As in any other cancer cases, colon cancer should also be detected early to prevent it from becoming worse. Because of this, it is essential that you undertake screening tests regularly because colon cancer has no symptoms at its early stages. Note that screening tests are especially important for people who are in middle but younger people are not exempted particularly if they have a family history of having colon cancer. It is also recommended that people who are between the ages of forty to fifty undertake the faecal occult blood test every two years to be on the sage side.

To conduct a faecal occult blood test, you need to collect samples of your faeces so that it can be tested in a laboratory for some traces of blood. The reason why this test is important is because small bowel tumors can turn into cancer if it is left untreated. These tumors actually bleed in your bowel but it does not bleed enough for you to notice so laboratory tests are required.

Another way to detect if you have colon cancer is through colonoscopy. This is also the most effective way to determine whether you have colon cancer or not because it allows your doctors to examine your whole bowel for signs of tumors. This procedure is normally conducted in hospitals and you need to clean out your bowels before you can take this test.

Michael Russell

Your independent guide to Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer Information

Colon cancer is more commonly known as bowel cancer, this is where there is a malignant growth in the colon. Early symptoms of colon cancer can include a change in bowel movements either constipation or diahoerria , pain in the lower abdomen, blood mixed in with the faeces. These symptoms are fairly mundane, so often go un-noticed causing the tumor to grow undetected, inperticulally as people still find it hard to discuss there bowel movements with anybody especially there Doctor. Occasionally there are no symptoms until the tumor has got so large that it causes a blockage in the intestine or Could possibly even perforate the intestine. Some forms of colon cancer can be genetic/hereditary however in some cases of colon cancer the precise reason people Contract the disease is unknown. Diet may be cause of colon cancer, eating a lot of meat, too much fatty foods and not enough fiber, fruit and vegetables all add up to a un-healthy diet so increasing the risk of colon cancer.

The tests carried out to diagnose colon cancer include a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. A sigmoidoscopy is when a camera is inserted into the anus to examine the rectum and the sigmoid colon. A colonoscopy is when a flexible fibre-optic camera Called a colonscope is put into the body via the anus and fed along the colon. Instruments may be fed down the colonscope So this is how a biopsy would be performed. Colon cancer can often occur with other diseases of the colon, for example ulcerative colitis.

The chance of a cure for colon cancer depends on whether you get a early enough diagnosis. Surgery is the best chance of Survival and sometimes radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be offered, but there would be no guarenties of a very long term future. The surgical procedure involves a general anesthetic and the diseased part of the colon is removed plus a bit extra on both sides to make sure they have it all. The amount of colon that has to be removed varies from person to person but the Majority of people will end up with a colostomy. This is where a small inscision is made in the stomach and the healthy colon Is pulled through it and secured this is called a stoma. The stoma makes it possible for the person to still have there bowels opened by means of a colostomy bag which is attached to the stoma usually by a adhesive. These bags are disposable and Keep all smells etc in [until you change them when the bowel has worked]. The colostomy is sometimes only temporary depending on how much bowel was removed. If it is to be only temporary it could be there for up to six months just to allow the colon to heal without faeces being past through it. If the colostomy is to be permanent than the anus may be sewn up whilst the person is in theatre having there diseased colon removed and the stoma made.

Colon cancer is still a large killer but mostly because people do not get it diagnosed early enough. The survival rate is much better when diagnoses are made early as treatment can begin and may not end up being so evasive. It is a shame to die from embarrassment is it not.

For more information on colon cancer click here