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By Theodore Frazer

Treatment of Stage 0 Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage 0 colon cancer (carcinoma in situ) may include the following types of surgery:

· Local excision, which is surgery to remove the colon cancer without cutting through the abdominal wall.

· A polypectomy, which is surgery to remove the colon cancer from the bulging piece of tissue.

· Resection/anastomosis, which is surgery that removes the colon cancer by taking out a section of the colon and rejoining the cut ends of the colon. This procedure is done when the cancerous tissue is too large to remove by local excision.

Treatment of Stage I Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage I colon cancer is usually resection/anastomosis (removal of colon cancer by joining the cut ends of the colon) because the cancerous tissue is usually too large at this stage to be removed by local excision.

Treatment of Stage II Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage II colon cancer may include the following:

· Resection/anastomosis

· Clinical trials of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or biological therapy after surgery

Treatment of Stage III Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage III colon cancer may include the following:

· Resection/anastomosis with or without chemotherapy.

· Clinical trials of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or biological therapy after surgery.

Treatment of Stage IV Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage IV colon cancer may include the following:

· Resection/anastomosis

· Surgery to remove parts of other organs such as the liver, lungs, and ovaries where the cancer may have spread.

· Chemotherapy.

· Clinical trials of chemotherapy or biological therapy.

· Radiation therapy may be offered to some patients as palliative therapy (to relieve symptoms).

Treatment of Recurrent Colon Cancer or Cancerous Cells

Treatment of recurrent colon cancer depends on where the cancer has recurred (come back) and the general health of the patient. Treatment for recurrent colon cancer may include the following:

· Surgery to remove cancer that may have spread to the liver, lungs, or ovaries.

· Surgery to remove cancer cells that have recurred in the colon.

· Radiation therapy as palliative therapy.

· Chemotherapy as palliative therapy.

· Clinical trials of biological therapy or chemotherapy.

Theodore Frazer http://www.colonproducts.com

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By Groshan Fabiola

1. What is colon cancer?

Cancer is a disease which can affect cells from all organs. The colon cancer affects the cells of the colon, determining them to proliferate in an uncontrollable way. This mass of abnormal cells will form a tumor inside the colon. The cancer of the intestine is quite frequent and two thirds of this type of cancer is situated in the colon.

2. Who can develop colon cancer?

You are at risk of developing colon cancer if you drink a lot of alcohol and you are obese. Also if other members of your family had colon cancer or breast cancer you could inherit some genes that make you more sensible to cancer. If you have polyps on your intestine and you leave them untreated for a long time, they can transform into malign polyps, meaning that cancer had occurred.

3. Is my diet involved in cancer development?

Following a diet which is rich in fats and proteins could expose you to cancer. If you eat a lot of fruit, vegetables and high fiber foods you can prevent colon cancer from occurring.

4. Does colon cancer come with any symptoms?

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.

5. How does the doctor know that I have cancer?

The doctor will perform a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy to examine the insides of the colon. Also x-rays of the colon will be performed. These methods will see if tumors are present inside the colon. In order to stage colon cancer CT and ultrasound will be used.

6. Can colon cancer be treated?

Generally the most indicated procedure in trying to treat colon cancer is surgery. By surgery the doctors will remove the tumor from the colon. If the cancer spread, giving metastasis, the doctors will recommend you chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These are hard bearable due to their side effects like nausea, vomiting, loss of hair, fever, and tiredness.

7. Is the treatment effective or not?

If the colon cancer was diagnosed in its early stages and it has not spread to other organs the treatment will be 90% effective and patients will survive even five years after. If the cancer has given metastasis the treatment will not be so effective any more and half of the diagnosed patients will live less that five years.

For greater resources on colon cancer or especially about colon cancer symptoms please visit this link http://www.colon-cancer-center.com/colon-cancer-symptoms.htm

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By M. Jedediah

Thanks to highly reliable tests as well as more frequent testing, colon cancer has become known as one of the least deadly cancers. If caught in its earliest stages, this type of cancer can be completely eradicated from the body. In order for it to be detected, however, patients must undergo a test known as a colonoscopy to check for polyps that might develop into cancer. This test is especially important for those over the age of 50 since there may be no symptoms that cancer is beginning to form.

Some of the warning signs of colon cancer include blood in the stool, diarrhea, a change in bowel habits or pain in the abdomen or rectal area. It is not uncommon for those suffering with this type of cancer not to experience any of these symptoms at all. A doctor’s physical examination will also generally not uncover any abnormalities. Really the only way for this type of cancer to be detected is by performing a particular test known as a colonoscopy.

During a colonoscopy, your doctor will use a video camera attached to a thin flexible tube to examine the inside of your colon. While he is conduction his examination, your doctor can remove any small polyps he might find. You will be given both a shot to reduce pain as well as an anesthesia to help you relax during the test. Nearly everyone who undergoes a colonoscopy will tell you the most unpleasant part of the test is the preparation.

This is because the colon must be completely clean before the test can be successfully completed. When he schedules your test, your doctor will also give you instructions on how to cleanse your colon. These instructions will usually involve taking a combination of pill and liquid laxatives as well as using an enema and not eating solid foods for a day or two before your test.

There are a variety of factors that can increase your odds of getting colon cancer. These can include a family history of the disease as well as a personal history of breast cancer or cancer elsewhere in the body. Those with Crohn’s disease also seem to be more susceptible to this type of cancer. Your diet may also play a role in whether or not you develop colon cancer. Eating a high-fat, low-fiber diet with lots of red meat can also increase your odds of developing this condition.

If you are diagnosed with colon cancer and your doctor is not able to remove the polyps or cancers during your colonoscopy, there are a variety of other procedures that have proven very successful in treating this type of cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation are both forms of treatment used for this type of cancer. Depending on how far your cancer has spread, your doctor may have to perform surgery to remove the cancerous portion of your colon.

Currently, the prognosis for those diagnosed with colon cancer is excellent. This is especially so if the cancer is caught early. Be aware of your risk factors for cancer; also have a colonoscopy if your doctor suggests it. This test could save your life.

For more information on cancer try visiting http://www.cancercondition.com - a website that specializes in providing cancer related information and resources including information on colon cancer

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By Thomas Boggo

Future study of colorectal cancer will refine our understanding of the genetics of the disease. This in turn will lead to earlier identification and treatment of high-risk persons. The future may possibly bring the use of genetic interventions to interrupt the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Increased awareness of colorectal cancer by the public and by private insurers, government agencies, and medical personnel will result in better use of available screening techniques. Development of preventive drug strategies against colorectal cancer, particularly with drugs that reduce polyp formation or prevent polyp progression to cancer, promises to be a fruitful field of endeavor.

There is ample reason to expect refinement of diagnostic and staging tests for the disease, perfection of surgical and nonsurgical techniques for treatment of large bowel cancer and its complications, and improving chemotherapeutic treatment by means of more effective and less toxic drugs.

A number of molecular markers for colorectal cancer can be measured but it is not yet clear that they have prognostic value or therapeutic implications. Measures of DNA synthesis or cell division are of uncertain value as clinical decision-making tools. Measurement of thymidilate synthase activity in colorectal cancer tissue is one of several markers under investigation as a prognostic indicator.

This could be useful in making decisions regarding the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for certain patients, especially those with stage II or B tumors. Another goal would be to collect a set of markers for cancer risk for an individual who has adenomatous polyps. Presumably, such testing could reflect exposure to colon carcinogens and help define the outlook for an individual. This in turn could narrow the prospective use of screening and diagnostic procedures such as colonoscopy.

Techniques to identify micrometastases in lymph node tissue are in development. These include special stains for cytokeratin, which can identify small clusters or single malignant cells in lymph node tissue. Another method uses a technique known as PCR for detection of CEA in resected lymph nodes. PCR is a technique which permits rapid reproduction of large quantities of short segments of DNA or RNA.

Other techniques include the identification in lymph node tissue of oncogene, or tumor suppressor gene mutations, which occur in the primary tumor. Such techniques may be of use in reclassifying patients whose lesions are stages as II or B by conventional means and in selecting them for potentially life-saving adjuvant chemotherapy. Large clinical trials will be needed to determine if identification of micrometastases by these methods indeed leads to more appropriate treatment and improved progress.

Expression of the enzyme COX-2 by colorectal cancers is highly variable. Greater expressions of COX-2 by tumors are associated with lymph node metastasis, advanced stage of cancer, and poorer long-term outlook for patients. Thus, there could be potential future application of this test as a means of staging and prognostication.

Future study of colon cancer will refine our understanding of the genetics of the disease. This in turn will lead to earlier identification and treatment of high-risk persons. The future may possibly bring the use of genetic interventions to interrupt the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. For more information visit http://www.105coloncancer.com/

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By Jaci Rae

Medical insurance costs are skyrocketing and many places of employment no longer supply medical insurance without a major dip into your pocketbook. The impact of under-insured or uninsured Americans and senior citizens are taking a toll on households across U.S.

I have been without insurance. At one time I had to purchase medicine with a price tag of over $1,900 a month. Because of that time, I was inspired to find out what I could do to help defray the cost of the medicine.

What I discovered is one of the best kept secrets in the medical industry. The secret is that pharmaceutical companies and major pharmaceutical company sponsors provide free prescription medicines to individuals and families that qualify.

For those individuals and families who can’t afford the cost of or the co-payment their prescription medications require, help has been around for years. The first step is to find out who manufactures the prescriptions you are taking.

Once you know the manufacturer, go to their website and download their application or apply online for their program. Some of the pharmaceutical websites and pharmaceutical company sponsors have websites that have the program information easily available.

Other websites you will have to search to find the program. Once you either fill out their application online or downloaded the application, you will in most cases need to get a signed consent form from your doctor to fax or send to the company. Every program has different rules and procedures.

Please take advantage of this opportunity to help you, your family and friend defray a bit of the medical costs from your budget.

A

Abbott Diabetes Patient Assistance Program

Abbott Laboratories Patient Assistance Program

Abbott Norvir, Kaletra Patient Assistance Program

Access for Humatrope

Aciphex Patient Assistance Program

Acorda Reimbursement Assistance Program

ACT Program for Emend

ACT Program for Zolinza

Acthar Gel Patient Assistance Program

Actimune Patient Assistance Program

Adderall XR Patient Assistance Program

Advanced BioHealing

Alcon Cares Patient Assistance Program

Allergan Patient Assistance Program

Amylin Reimbursement Hotline

Anadrol Assistance Program

Angiomax Patient Financial Assistance Program

Apligraf Patient Assistance Program

Ara-Assist Program

ARC of Support

Arch Foundation Patient Assistance Program for Mirena

Aricept Assistance Program

Ascend Therapeutics Patient Assistance Program

Astellas Indigent Patient Program

Astellas Patient Assistance Program for Prograf

Astellas Patient Assistance Program for Protopic

Astellas Patient Assistance Program for Vaprisol

AstraZeneca Cancer Support Network

AstraZeneca Patient Assistance Organization

Atripla Patient Assistance Program

Auxilium Patient Assistance Program

Avonex Access Program

Axcan Assist Program

Axcan Rx Complete Patient Support Program

AZ Medicine and Me

B

Bausch and Lomb Indigent Patient Program

Baxter Factor Plus Program

Bayer Patient Assistance Program

Bayer Patient Assistance Program for Nimotop & Precose

Benefix Patient Assistance Program

Betaseron Patient Assistance Program

Biovail Patient Assistance Program

Boehringer Ingelheim Care Foundation Patient Assistance Program

Boniva Patient Assistance Program

Botox Patient Assistance Program

Bradley Pharmaceuticals Indigent Patient Program

Bridge Program for Genotropin & Somavert

Bristol-Myers Squibb Access Program for Oncology/Virology

Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation

Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Abilify

Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Erbitux

Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Orenica

Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Sprycel

Buphenyl Patient Assistance Program

C

Cancer Support Network for Iressa

Care First for CF Program

Carnitor Drug Assistance Program

Cenestin Patient Assistance Program

Cetylite Industries, Inc

Charitable Access Program

Columbia Laboratories, Inc.

Commitment to Care for Hepatitis C Medications

Commitment to Care for Oncology Medications

Comprehensive Care Program For CF

Connections for Growth Patient Assistance Program

Copaxone Patient Assistance Program

Critical Therapeutics Care Assist Program

Cubicin Reimbursement Hotline

Cystadane Patient Assistance Program

Cytogen Corp. Community Access Patient Program

D

Dacogen Reimbursement and Support Services

Dermik Laboratories Patient Assistance Program

Digestive Care, Inc Assistance Program

Doak Dermatologics Rebate Program

Doxil Reimbursement Solutions

E

ECR Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Edwards Lifesciences

Eisai Oncology Reimbursement Assistance Program

Eldepryl Patient Rewards Program

Encourage Foundation

Endo Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Enjuvia Patient Assistance Program

Enzon Patient Assistance Program

Epass Prescription and Reimbursement Program

Ethyol Protect Program

F

Fentora Reinbursement Program

Ferndale Laboratories Patient Assistance Program

Ferrlecit & Infed Reimbursement Assistance Program

Financial Assistance Program for Abelcet

First Resource Program for IV medications

First Resource Program for Oral Medications

Forest Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Forest Pharmaceuticals:Namenda

Forteo Patient Assistance Program

Fosrenol at Hand Patient Assistance Program

Fragmin Reimbursement Assistance

Fuzeon Reimbursment Assistance Program

G

Gabitril Patient Assistance Program

Galderma Laboratories Patient Assistance Program

Gammassist Program

Gilead Advancing Access

GlaxoSmithKline Bridges to Access

GlaxoSmithKline Commitment to Access

Glenwood Compassionate Drug Program

Gliadel Wafer Patient Assistance

Gordon Labs

Graceway Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

GSK Access

GTX Patient Assistance Program

H

Helping Hands Program for Mead Johnson Nutritionals

Hill Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Humira Patient Assistance Program

Hyalgan Hotline and Patient Assistance Program

I

Imogam and Imovax Patient Assistance Program

Infergen Patient Assistance Program

Innohep Patient Assistance Program

ITB Therapy Patient Assistance Program

IVAX Patient Assistance Program

IVAX Patient Assistance Program for Clozapine

J

JDS Pharmaceuticals Patient Care Program

Johnson & Johnson Hospital Access Patient Assistance Program

Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Program

K

Kadian Patient Assistance Program

Keppra Patient Assistance Program

KingKare Patient Assistance Program

Kos Cares Patient Assistance Program

L

Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program

Lilly Oncology: Gemzar & Alimta

LillyMedicareAnswers Program

Lovenox Reimbursement Services and Patient Assistance Program

Lupron Depot Patient Assistance Program

M

Macugen Access Program

Mallinckrodt Patient Assistance Program

Matulane Patient Assistance Program

Mayne Patient Assistance Program

Medimmune Patinet Assistance Program

Medpointe Pharamaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Megace ES Patient Assistance Program

Menomune Patient Assistance Program

Merck Anti-Infective Hotline

Merck Patient Assistance Program

Merck Prescription Discount Program

Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program

Merck/Schering Plough Patient Assistance Program

MGI Pharma Patient Assistance Program

Millenium Patient Assistance for Velcade

Mission Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Program

MS Lifelines

Mylan Clozapine Patient Assistance Program

O

Ocusoft Assistance Program

Orfadin Patient Assistance Program

Ovation Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Oxandrin Reimbursement and Patient Assistance Program

P

PACT+ Program

ParaGard Patient Assistance Program

Patient Assistance for Amevive

Patient Support Services

Pfizer Connection to Care

Pfizer Pfriends

PhosLo Patient Assistance Program

Prevacid Program

Prezista Patient Assistance Program

Primus Pharmaceuticals

PROCRITline

Procter & Gamble Patient Assistance Program

Proleukin Reimbursement Program

Provigil Assistance Program

Purdue Frederick Patient Assistance Program

R

Rabavert Patient Assistance Program

RapAssist Patient Assistance Program for Rapamune

REACH

Reliant Pharmaceuticals Rx Support Program

Remicade Patient Assistance

Renassist Patient Assistance Program

Retassist Retavase Patient Assistance Program

Revatio Patient Assistance Program

RibaCare Patient Assistance Program

Rilutek Patient Assistance Program

Roche Oncoline Patient Assistance Program

Roche Reimbursement and Patient Assistance Program for HCV, HIV, and Transplants

Romark Laboratories Patient Assistance Program for Alinia

Ross Medical Nutritionals Patient Assistance Program

Ross Metabolic Formula and Elecare Patient Assistance Program

RSVP for Zyvox

RSVP Program & Patient Assistance Program for VFEND

Rx Outreach Medications

S

Safety Net Foundation

Salix Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Sankyo Pharma Open Care Program

Sanofi-Aventis Patient Assistance Program

Schering Hospital Assistance Program

Schwarz Pharma Patient Assistance Program

Sciele Patient Assistance Program

Sculptra Patient Access Program

Serono Compassionate Care Program for Infertility

Shire GI Patient Assistance Program

Solvay Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

SP-Cares

Stiefel Laboratories Patient Assistance Program

StoneBridge Pharma Patient Assistance Program

Suboxone Patient Assistance Program

Sucraid Patient Assistance Program

SUPPORT Program for Crixivan

Synvisc Reimbursement Hotline

T

Takeda Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Tev-Tropin Patient Assistance Program

TEVA Assistance Program

TheraCys Patient Assistance Program

TOBI Patient Assistance Program

Tracleer Access Program

Triax Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program

Trisenox Drug Replacement Program

Upsher-Smith Patient Assistance Program

V

Valeant Assistance Program for DHE 45, Diastat, Migranal & Mysoline.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Patient Assistance Program

Vantas Patient Assistance Program

Venofer Reimbursement Hotline and Patient Assistance Program

Ventavis Patient Assistance Program

Vidaza Patient Assistance Program

ViroPharma Patient Assistance Program

Vistakon Patient Assistance Program

Visudyne Patient Assistance Program

VivusProgram Name List

W

Wellspring Patient Assistance Program

WinRho Patient Assistance Program

Wyeth Oncology Reimbursement Program

Wyeth Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Foundation

Wyeth Removal Certificate

Xigris Treatment Support Program

Xubex Pharmaceutical Services

Xyrem Patient Assistance Program

Z

Zemplar Support Program

Zevalin Results

ZLB Behring Patient Assistance Program

Zonegran Patient Assistance Program

Zydus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
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Jaci Rae’s No. 1 best-seller is, Winning Points With The Woman in Your Life One Touchdown at a Time (Simon and Schuster). For more information Win in Love, Romance and Dating Check out Jaci Rae Tour to find out more about how you can listen to Jaci live.

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By Jason Vogel

Colon cancer often exhibits the same symptoms as other colon conditions. Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, and peptic ulcer disease show the same symptoms of colon cancer: red or dark blood in stools, changes in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, unexplainable weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, and anemia. In order to observe your symptoms better, it is also important to read up on other colon diseases.

The disease can be present for many years before symptoms of colon cancer even show. This is why the best thing to do to watch out for colon cancer is to undergo regular screenings, preferably those that entail fecal blood testing and colonoscopy.

Symptoms of colon cancer vary according to where the tumor is located. Because the right colon is spacious, tumors in the right colon can grow to large sizes before they even cause symptoms of colon cancer. As tumors have a tendency to bleed, cancers on the right colon cause iron deficiency anemia because of the slow, unnoticed loss of blood over a long period of time. It is all the more unnoticeable because the stool travels through the colon longer, so whatever blood is in the stool dries up and even becomes invisible. Iron deficiency anemia, in turn, results in fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath for patients.

On the other hand, the left colon is narrower than the right colon. Cancers of the left colon are more likely to cause partial or complete bowel obstruction. This type of cancer causes the following symptoms of colon cancer: diarrhea, constipation, narrow stools, abdominal pains, cramps, and bloating. If there is bright red blood in the stool, this can also mean that there is a cancerous growth near the end of the left colon or the rectum.
Go and see your doctor if you develop any of the following symptoms of colon cancer mentioned above. However, don’t panic just yet. As mentioned, some of the symptoms can be indicative of another colon disease altogether. For example, while blood in your stool may be one of the symptoms of colon cancer, it may also come from hemorrhoids or minor tears in your anus. If you are constipated as a result of not drinking enough water and not taking in sufficient fiber, tough stools may scratch your rectal wall.

Additionally, certain foods, such as beets and red licorice, can cause your stools to turn red, while iron supplements and some anti-diarrhea medications often make stools black. However, it is still a good idea to visit your doctor at any sign of blood or other changes in your stools and bowel movement. After all, early detection based on symptoms of colon cancer usually result in complete cures.

Below is a complete list of the top symptoms of colon cancer. It will do no harm to visit your doctor as soon as you feel two or more of the following:

* Major change in your toilet habits, whether you move your bowels more or less

* Blood in your fecal matter, bright red or dried

* Stools that are thinner than usual

* Unexplainable dramatic weight loss

* Stomach pains, cramping or bloating

* Unexplainable fatigue

* Always feeling like you need to move your bowels

* Constant nausea and vomiting

* Iron deficiency anemia

* Abdominal pain, which is a rare symptom of colon cancer, and may exhibit itself as mere tenderness in the abdomen.

Jason Vogel owns and operates http://www.ColonDiseasePro.com

For more information and additional articles about colon disease, please visit ColonDiseasePro.com.

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