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By Jason Davidson

Cancer. The big “C” word that everyone dreads hearing. When you do hear it, thoughts automatically turn to lung cancer. The fact is that cancer of the colon is responsible for over 10% of all cancer deaths in the USA. To help understand a little about this disease, it is necessary to know a bit about the colon.

Most of the time, the colon is mistakenly mentioned as part of the entire large intestine, but is actually only the largest part of that organ.
It is about six feet long and moves solid waste along to the rectum. Along the way, it absorbs water and harmful materials from the waste. The longer it takes to move the waste out, the better chance of removing those materials.

Colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and holds the second highest mortality rate of all cancers worldwide with 655,000 deaths expected this year.
In the US alone, it is estimated that approximately 106,000 people will be newly diagnosed with colon cancer this year and some 56,000 will die from the disease. Very somber statistics, if I may say so.

Colon cancer is thought to originate from mushroom-like polyps that form in the colon, rectum and appendix. These polyps are usually benign (harmless), but can develop into cancer over time. The key is prevention, which is mainly achieved through colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy is a simple procedure where a thin cable-like camera is inserted into the anus all the way to the top of the cecum. It is then removed slowly and affords the doctor a full view of the colon. He also has the ability to remove polyps should any be found.

Sometimes, surgery is necessary in extreme cases. During surgery, several things could be done.

· The tumor and surrounding area is cut away and resectioned to make the colon fully functional.

· Occasional cancerous intrusion into the liver requires removal of metastases, or places on the liver where the cancer has traveled.

· If a tumor has invaded other vital parts, it may be better to bypass it rather than remove it.

· In the worst case, a surgeon may be able to do nothing at all due to the spread of the cancer. This is called “open and close” surgery. This however is rare.

There are some complications that arise from time to time including infection, bleeding and bowel obstruction. Occasionally, heart trouble results and embolisms or pneumonias may form spontaneously.

After having colon surgery, the use of radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be prescribed. This could prevent a recurrence of the disease in the surgical areas. Normal full recovery from colon surgery takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks. This is to allow for the healing, both internal and external, and for normal bowel function to return.

The quality of life during recovery is somewhat lessened yet not completely inhibitive. Using the bathroom can be a chore, but is possible. A physician will sometimes use a temporary colostomy bag during recovery to avoid injuring the surgical areas. When healing is judged to be nearly complete, the patient is weaned back to normal bowel functionality and the colostomy is removed.

Symptoms are sometimes not prevalent. However, stool frequency and consistency, bloody stool and bowel obstruction are indicators of an early cancer. Advanced cancers will have advanced symptoms like anemia, body weakness and even shortness of breath.
With any of these, pleas see your doctor immediately

Jason R Davidson owns and operates http://www.coloncancersurgery.net
Colon Cancer Surgery

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By Lena Butler

Upon hearing the diagnosis of colon cancer, a set of mixed emotions can flow that can make you feel overwhelmed and stress. You are pressed into a situation where everything suddenly seems uncertain. Forced to look over future financial concerns, the shock of knowing your condition can put you to a breaking point.

The good news is, despite such worrying circumstances, this is a normal reaction of a cancer patient. The better news is the prospect of dealing with cancer should not discourage you to defeat the disease. There are a slew of success stories that will encourage you to face your situation with courage and joy.

Managing colon cancer despite the emotional weight can be dealt with by sticking to a set plan. There are many ways to cope with colon cancer and its stressful effects. With enough education and support, you will have the tools to deal with the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer.

Know the Disease

Colon cancer is a disease stemming from the growth of cancer cells in the colon and rectal area. Colon cancer basically starts from the abdomen with the ability for the cancer cells to spread as the condition becomes more complicated. If colon cancer is detected early, there is a high rate for survival.

Knowing the nature and the nuances of colon cancer will prepare you to face the disease. Once you receive the diagnosis of your cancer, start to engage on different discussions and consultations with the right people. As you educate yourself and know the disease more, you will have a better perspective of the disease and your situation. You should be prepared to undergo a set of colon cancer testing and treatment with the right information.

Getting Comfortable with Cancer Testing and Treatment

The location of the colon and rectum presents an uncomfortable procedure for cancer patients. Some people suspected of colon cancer delay their tests because they find colon cancer testing embarrassing. This attitude although understandable is not helpful in facing colon cancer.

The usual colon cancer testing requires a stool sample. Doctors can recommend a home based fecal occult blood test kit, which is a test that checks for blood in your fecal waste. If you are uncomfortable with the procedures of colon cancer testing, be sure to talk to your doctor so that he can stress the importance of colon cancer tests. Advanced colon cancer tests will definitely involve scanning and monitoring of the rectal area so it is necessary for you to be prepared for future tests.

Dealing with colon cancer treatments is a matter of choice. The doctor will recommend different treatment options depending on the stage of your cancer. Talk to your doctor about the side effects of colon cancer treatment and consult with you friends and family on the financial concerns of these treatments. Different colon cancer treatments involve different factors such as size and location of the tumor, overall health, stage of the colon cancer, your age, and your personal need and concerns. Every treatment choice should result from a comfortable decision made by you with the help of your support group.

Dealing with Colostomy

To deal with colon cancer, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tumor and the bulk of the cancer cells from your body. Colostomy involves removing most or all of the colon and rectum. While this is an effective treatment, it leaves colon cancer patients with devastating side effects for the unprepared. After colostomy, you will need artificial procedures to remove your fecal waste.

To get over this feeling, you should trust your doctor when he says everything will be fine. While you are given the choice, you should also weight what is best for you. If you fear that your peers will reject you, you can talk to them so that they can understand your situation. As long as you communicate your fears and concerns with them and they reciprocate it with understanding, there is no reason not to go ahead with the surgery. While the trial of having colostomy is a tall task, just remember that this treatment will help you in the end.

Developing Coping Skills

In coping with colon cancer or any other cancer for that matter, you can develop different coping skills to face the disease effectively. You should feel empowered every step of the way. Do not let others decide for you. In dealing with colon cancer, it is important that you stand up and decide on your own. This will prevent you from feeling helpless.

It is true that colon cancer is an unpleasant condition, but with rigorous planning, constant colon cancer testing and treatment, developed understanding of the disease, and strong support group to surround you, you have everything you need to fight back a disease that can be beaten.

This Article is written by Lena Butler, the author of Colon Cancer Home Test Kits, a longer version of this article is located at Coping With Colon Cancer, and resources from other home health and wellness testing articles are used such as TestCountry Colon Cancer FAQ.

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By Tony Scott

Colon cancer is the 3rd commonest reason for cancer for males and the 4th commonest cause of cancer for females. Cancer of the colon and rectum, also called colorectal cancer, is most common amongst those who follow a western type of diet than amongst folks in Asia or Africa who eat an eastern diet.

The colon is the lower portion of the gastrointestinal system used to process waste matter*. At the end of the colon is the rectum from which waste products are passed away from the body. This lengthy pipe is the large intestine. Polyps may attack to the walls of the gut without making any problems. They are frequently found during a colonoscopy and might be removed during that process. A good deal of the time polyps are harmless, and not malignant.

Polyps that are not removed from the large intestine can become cancerous if unnoticed for long enough. Malignant tumors could also cause harm to close organs or tissues. When the cancer spreads to other areas, this is called metastasis. When the cancer isn’t found early and metastasis takes place, there’s no chance for cure.

Colorectal cancer is thought to be mainly linked to family history and diet. Certain people appear to be more disposed to get this cancer than other people, even with all diet and life style ingredients being the same. Those that eat a high fat diet have a larger risk of colorectal cancer than those that eat a well balanced diet which is low in fat. The new findings which identified trans fatty acids in numerous foods in groceries and restaurants, indicates the risks concealed in most common foods. Neither cancer nor obesity are common amongst those who eat fresh veggies, high fibre foods, whole grains and low fat meats or fish.

People who have a history of ulcerative colitis should be closely monitored for colon cancer. With this prolonged condition, growth of colon polyps may increase because of cell damage. The benign polyps can “acquire” or derive data from chromosomes of damaged cells in the colon that result in cancer. After having from ulcerative colitis for 10 years or longer, the risk of colon cancer dramatically increases.

A recognised hereditary link for colon cancer exists between 1st degree natural family members of people who have colon cancer. If there’s a family history of colon cancer, the chance of getting it is 3 times greater than the risk for the population as a whole. Do not be complacent however. Just 20% of colorectal cancer occurs amongst persons who have family history of this disease. The majority of colon cancers, four out of five in fact, affect those without familial association to the disease.

Colon cancer is a soundless cause of death, frequently having zero identifiable symptoms till it is too late. Early detection with a colonoscopy represents the most dependable means of identifying and treating possible cancer risks. There’s no benefit to holding off till old age to check for risks. Colon polyps commonly begin during teenage years and might evolve into cancer by age forty to fifty.
General health advice is for a colonoscopy before age fifty and if all is ok, repeat the tests at 10 yr intervals.

For a wide ranging view of Colon Cancer and alternative treatments visit http://www.coloncancer-info.com Colon Cancer Symptoms

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By Denice Anderson

Whenever you have been diagnosed with colon cancer your physician will wish to order various examinations and tests to check the degree or what they call the “stage” that it has progressed to. Naturally, as with any cancer, the earlier it’s discovered the less problematic it will be to treat. Your medical prognosis will depend upon factors such as whether the cancer is in the lining interior of the colon, or has disseminated throughout the body and into additional organs.

Your doctor will additionally base your medical prognosis upon whether or not the cancer has caused a blockage in your intestines. Your physician will also wish to order assorted blood tests to check blood levels of a specific factor. This factor shows up in your bloodstream at distinguishable levels dependent on how far the cancer has progressed. So before advocating any type of treatment your physician will rely to a great extent on your generalized health, whether the cancer has recurred, and what degree the cancer has progressed to.

Staging is what physicians refer to when the examinations that are carried out to find out the degree that cancer has progressed to. You can anticipate the physician to perform a CAT scan, which has a look at the interior of the body by taking pictures and in a few cases they’ll likewise inject a dye to see the interior organs more clearly. The doctor will in all probability also will like to perform a lymph node biopsy. This biopsy removes a few of the malignant cells and they are then viewed under a microscope. Additionally, expect a complete blood count (CBC) to be performed. This will give the physician a great deal of very important information regarding your white and red blood cells and platelets. It also shows to the doctor the levels of CEA that reside in your bloodstream. CEA is discharged into your bloodstream from malignant cells just as well as from normal cells, however, if higher amounts than normal of CEA are found, the doctor can arrive at additional conclusions supported by that information.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will in all likelihood be performed so that all of the cancerous cells may be viewed. A chest x-ray perhaps will be done to see the organs and bones within the chest cavity. Surgery might likewise be scheduled to remove any neoplasms that may be present. These are each required tests that have to be performed so your doctor can fully realize the maturation of the colon cancer and address it to the fullest of his ability.

For more information on the signs and symptoms, treatments and hopeful research options regarding Colon Cancer please visit us at http://www.cancerofcolon.info

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By Eugene Williams

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.

http://www.born-again-health-and-fitness.com

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