Colo-rectal Cancer is a malignant tumor of the rectum and/or colon (bowel). It is one of the most common forms of cancer in industrialized nations and a leading cause of cancer deaths. Around 1 in 20 people will have Colo-rectal cancer in their life. It affects both men and women equally, and mostly in people over 50 years of age.
Risk Factors Include:
Symptoms may include:
How to detect Colo-rectal cancer: Screening for colon cancer is the best way to detect polyps before they turn cancerous. During regular checkups (and annually after age forty), Men and women should have rectal exam. Beginning at age forty & fifty, you should do the following test.
Colon Cancer Self-Test
A test kit can be purchased at most drugstores for detection of blood in the stool (an early sign of colon cancer). In one test, you simply drop a strip of chemically treated paper into the commode after a bowel movement. The paper will change to the color blue if blood is present in the stool. If your test result is positive, take a second test in three days. If the second test is also positive, see your physician as soon as possible. The presence of blood in the stool does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. The consumption of red meat or the presence of diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, polyps, ulcers, or inflamed colon can all cause a positive test result. Only about 10 percent of those who test positive for blood in the stool have colon cancer. Testing and yearly physical examination is the best way to rule out colon problems before it turns cancerous.
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and flexible sigmoidos-copy (if normal, repeat the FOBT yearly and flexible sigmoidoscopy at 5-year intervals).
Colonscopy (if normal, repeat at 10-year intervals).
Virtual Colonscopy is a computer-assisted method that allows doctors to visualize a person's colon in great detail. A small tube is inserted into the rectum and the colon is inflated with air. A cat scan or MRI is then performed. A three-dimensional image of the colon is projected onto a computer screen and the physician analyzes the length of the colon looking for lumps that might be cancerous. The test is noninvasive, usually takes less than five minutes, and involves much less discomfort than conventional methods of examining the colon. Sedation is not always required and the patient can go home immediately after the procedure. A test kit for detecting blood in the stool can be purchased at most drugstores. For most people, polyps should never develop into colon cancer. Get regular colonoscopies so that precancerous polyps can be removed before they become cancer. If cancer develops, treatment can be costly, painful--surgery and could take a long time recuperate--to heal.
Key detection points: Tumors may be detected by imaging (barium studies, C.T and PET scans--Postron Emission Tomography)
Viewing (Endoscopy)
Blood test for chemicals called tumor markers.
Treatment:
Treatment of the condition depends on how much the tumor has spread. Early cancers can be cured, it is wise to get screening programs to detect the disease early before it spreads. If left untreated this cancer can spread directly by invasion of local structures such as the colon wall or indirectly via blood stream and lymphatic system.
You can begin to prevent this problem by taking these steps here:
Get a colon cleanse and add more fruits, vegetables and high fiber food to your diet.
Risk Factors Include:
- Having a Colo-rectal polyp (a slowly developing overgrowth of the colon or rectum lining).
- A family history of this cancer
- Increasing age, smoking
- A diet high in red-meat and low in fruits and vegetables
- Lack of exercise
- Excess alcohol intake
- A history of inflammatory bowel disease.
- Change in bowel habits(persistent diarrhea, gas pains, and/or constipation);
- Stool consistency mucus or blood in stools
- Persistent Abdominal pain or bloating
- Anemia
- Significant Loss of weight or appetite
- paleness or fatigue and ulcerative colitis
- Tenesmus (a sensation of not fully emptying the bowels).
- A Large tumor may block the bowel causing abdominal pain and bloating with vomiting and constipation.
How to detect Colo-rectal cancer: Screening for colon cancer is the best way to detect polyps before they turn cancerous. During regular checkups (and annually after age forty), Men and women should have rectal exam. Beginning at age forty & fifty, you should do the following test.
Colon Cancer Self-Test
A test kit can be purchased at most drugstores for detection of blood in the stool (an early sign of colon cancer). In one test, you simply drop a strip of chemically treated paper into the commode after a bowel movement. The paper will change to the color blue if blood is present in the stool. If your test result is positive, take a second test in three days. If the second test is also positive, see your physician as soon as possible. The presence of blood in the stool does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. The consumption of red meat or the presence of diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, polyps, ulcers, or inflamed colon can all cause a positive test result. Only about 10 percent of those who test positive for blood in the stool have colon cancer. Testing and yearly physical examination is the best way to rule out colon problems before it turns cancerous.
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and flexible sigmoidos-copy (if normal, repeat the FOBT yearly and flexible sigmoidoscopy at 5-year intervals).
Colonscopy (if normal, repeat at 10-year intervals).
Virtual Colonscopy is a computer-assisted method that allows doctors to visualize a person's colon in great detail. A small tube is inserted into the rectum and the colon is inflated with air. A cat scan or MRI is then performed. A three-dimensional image of the colon is projected onto a computer screen and the physician analyzes the length of the colon looking for lumps that might be cancerous. The test is noninvasive, usually takes less than five minutes, and involves much less discomfort than conventional methods of examining the colon. Sedation is not always required and the patient can go home immediately after the procedure. A test kit for detecting blood in the stool can be purchased at most drugstores. For most people, polyps should never develop into colon cancer. Get regular colonoscopies so that precancerous polyps can be removed before they become cancer. If cancer develops, treatment can be costly, painful--surgery and could take a long time recuperate--to heal.
Key detection points: Tumors may be detected by imaging (barium studies, C.T and PET scans--Postron Emission Tomography)
Viewing (Endoscopy)
Blood test for chemicals called tumor markers.
Treatment:
Treatment of the condition depends on how much the tumor has spread. Early cancers can be cured, it is wise to get screening programs to detect the disease early before it spreads. If left untreated this cancer can spread directly by invasion of local structures such as the colon wall or indirectly via blood stream and lymphatic system.
You can begin to prevent this problem by taking these steps here:
Get a colon cleanse and add more fruits, vegetables and high fiber food to your diet.
0 comments :
Post a Comment
If you like what you have read or would like to suggest something new, please don't forget to comment below.