colon cancer symptom : Stay Away From Aspartame

Aspartame can be found in many diet sodas and sugar free candies. The makers of these products claim that they are healthier because they contain few calories and less sugar than that of their normal products. But is aspartame actually healthier? This article is going to explain what aspartame is, known side effects associated with consuming, and how these side effects occur.

Aspartame is the methyl ester of amino acids` aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is an active ingredient in almost 5,000 beverages and foods you consume, and comes in the names Candrecel, Nutrasweet, and Equal. Aspartame is even used as a table condiment, and is also found in many chewable vitamin supplements. Aspartame is mostly used to give people a "sweet taste" that is craved when dieting. But with all the known side effects associated with consuming, it makes you wonder if it`s even worth using.

The main problem associated with consuming aspartame is the problems it can cause you mentally. The following list sums up the known side effects that consumption of aspartame can bring:

* seizures and convulsions
* brain cancer
* dizziness
* phobias
* tremors
* severe headaches
* personality changes
* panic attacks
* memory loss
* irritability
*confusion
* insomnia
* depression
* chronic fatigue

Aspartame can even lead to physical problems such as:

*sexual problems
*birth defects
*burning urination & other urination problems
*parkinson's disease
*hair loss / baldness or thinning of hair
*arthritis
*bloating
*slurring of speech
*infection susceptibility
*rapid heart beat
*joint pain
*asthma
*diarrhea
*weight gain
*high blood pressure
*chest pains
*colon cancer

The above side effects happen because methanol is released in the small intestine when the methyl group of aspartame encounters the enzyme chymotrypsin. The methanol is then turned to formaldehyde, which is then converted to formic acid. To give you an example of how dangerous this is, think of formic acid as an ant sting poison, which it is primarily used for. It is also used to strip epoxy and urethane coatings, just what your body doesn`t need! When aspartame is consumed, the ingredients flow straight to your brain, leaving you with all the above symptoms.

Aspartame`s dangers don`t effect everyone, but for the vast majority of us, we should stay away from it. Sugar is actually safer and more healthy, so think about that before you crack open your next can of diet soda thinking you are doing yourself a favor. If you are dieting and need to have something sweet, then go exercise and use post-workout nutrition in order to satisfy your sweet tooth. That way you don`t have to worry about the excessive calories. Until next time, later.


MY SITE: http://www.geocities.com/bashore69/bodybuildingarticles.html

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colon cancer symptom : Top 10 Foods for Women

Beans and Pulses

Beans and pulses should be included in everyone's diet, but for women they are especially important. They are highly nutritious, low in fat, and an excellent source of vegetable protein. A fibre-rich diet is one of the first components to colon cancer prevention, and with more women dying of colon cancer than breast cancer every year; it makes sense to eat plenty of beans. This group of foods also contain phytoestrogens, the natural plant hormones, which are also protective against cancer, as well as being important for bone health.

Kale

Kale is an often-overlooked vegetable that happens to be loaded with folate (folic acid), an important B vitamin for women. Having a deficiency in folic acid during pregnancy may cause neural-tube defects in babies. In the UK, all women of childbearing age are now thought to need 400 micrograms of folate daily. Kale is also an excellent source of vitamin C and calcium, too.

Orange vegetables

Orange squashes (and tubers) like pumpkin, butternut squash and sweet potatoes are a girl’s best friend when it comes to nutritious, comforting food. All these foods are filling, low in calories, and rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which will work plenty of it’s antioxidant magic in your body. Antioxidants are important in the anti-ageing process, helping to repair and regenerate skin and other tissues. Beta-carotene is also thought to help reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer.

Linseeds (flaxseeds)

Flax seeds (or linseeds) and flax seed oil have so much to offer women. For starters, flax is full of “essential” Omega 3 fatty acids (EFA's), which help to balance a women’s hormones, protect a woman from heart disease (the leading cause of premature death among women) and the pain of arthritis. The dietary fibres in flax are called lignans, which contain phytoestrogens, currently being researched and showing promise in cancer prevention. Lignans are also thought to have antioxidant properties. The best way to get the benefit of the flaxseeds fibre and oils is to grind them in a clean coffee mill, used just for this purpose. Alternatively use a pestle and mortar, and sprinkle them onto cereal in the morning or add them to a bowl of natural yogurt and fruit. The essential fatty acids are very fragile, unstable, and liable to oxidation if exposed to light and air. Within the whole seeds, the oil is protected. So buy fresh, organic seeds if at all possible. You can eat them whole; just chew them thoroughly!

Iron-rich foods

Women need to eat more iron-rich foods. Getting iron from food (as opposed to a supplement) is by far the best way to get the correct amount of iron the body needs and can absorb. Lean red meats and dark poultry are the ideal food sources of iron. Unfortunately that doesn’t help much if you are vegetarian or one of the many women who avoid red meats. In this case, think about eating more of the following iron-rich foods… lentils, dried apricots, beans, spinach, enriched wholegrain cereals, pumpkin seeds, and oysters! If you do need to take a supplement, the best choices are Easy Iron (Higher Nature Ltd), which is an organic, food-form of iron, and Floradix, an herbal-based iron-rich tonic. Increase your intake of vitamin C too, which helps to absorb non-haem sources of iron.

Soya

Soya foods (including beans, tofu, soya milk & yogurt, soy sauce, Tamari and Miso) are the richest food sources of phytoestrogens (and of course soy protein). The natural plant substances – phytoestrogens - are now thought to be beneficial in maintaining bone density, as well as being the best “alternative” to HRT when many women need hormonal support as they enter menopausal years. Tofu, milk, and yogurt are also great calcium sources. All these foods can help a woman significantly lower her bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise the good (HDL) cholesterol. Tofu is a great source of low-fat, vegetable protein, best used in a vegetable stir-fry with soy sauce, and brown rice. Try Cauldron Foods, firm tofu.

Brocolli

Broccoli is not only a good source of calcium and B vitamins; it contains plant substances called sulphurophanes. These plant chemicals are cancer-protective and help the liver process and clear any excess oestrogen. Nowadays we don’t just produce oestrogen internally, but we are exposed to it in the environment in the form of oestrogen-like chemicals found in plastics, tap water and other insidious places. Excess oestrogen causes weight gain, hormonal imbalances, night sweating, and presents an increased risk of fibroids, breast cysts, breast cancer and endometriosis.

Calcium and magnesium - rich foods

Women of all ages need enough calcium in their diets to build and maintain strong bones. Calcium-rich foods that are also good sources of magnesium (and other nutrients) go a long way to supporting bone, and heart health. Magnesium is the nutrient that plays an important role in the creation of new bone; so think about seeds and nuts as healthy additions to a wholegrain cereal. Calcium, magnesium and potassium are alkalising minerals. Bones serve as a reservoir of these highly important alkaline minerals, which are released to help neutralise the acids in your body. If your body is overly acidic (this happens if you eat a lot animal protein, smoke or drink too much alcohol, or become highly stressed), your bones must donate their minerals to restore your pH balance. This can deplete the bones, leaving them brittle and weak.

The UK RNI for calcium is 700 milligrams a day, but many experts feel it should be more like 1200 to 1500 milligrams a day. When you take into consideration the epidemic of osteoporosis and heart disease among women, it is wise to include or increase your intake of the following foods… plain natural yogurt, which is not only a source of beneficial bacteria for good colon health, it is also much easier to digest than other dairy products), parmesan cheese (again, easy to digest), ricotta cheese & goat’s cheese, tinned bony salmon, freshly grilled sardines, kale, almonds and sunflower seeds, tofu, fortified “SoGood” soya milk (20% more calcium than cow’s milk) and “Provamel” soya yogurts. Replacing dairy with soya milk and yogurts in the diet provides all the benefits of soya protein while reducing the amounts of animal fats in the diet. A 100g serving of tofu or 125g pot of plain yogurt both provide 200mg of calcium. An ounce of Parmesan provides a whopping 390mg of calcium, and 100g canned pink salmon 300mg. Don’t forget your fruit and vegetables… latest research in bone health shows that women who have more fruit and vegetables in their diets, tend to have higher bone density. Fruit and vegetables contain an array of micronutrients such as magnesium, vitamin C, and boron. We now know that these play an equally important role in bone metabolism.

If you feel you need to supplement with calcium, remember that calcium should be taken with magnesium in a 2:1 ratio. This is because calcium and magnesium require each other for proper absorption, and utilisation in the body. So, if you supplement with 500 mg of calcium, you need to take 250 mg of magnesium at the same time. Most reputable companies now formulate supplements that take this into account, as well as the synergistic “need” for the other nutrients involved in the entire process of bone metabolism. Choose carefully.

Water!

Water is a nutrient and the fact is, we need it... and plenty of it. Certainly, water may be one of the best tools in the weight loss game. It not only suppresses the appetite, but helps the body metabolise stored fat. Water keeps the body’s tissues well hydrated, so if you want smooth, line-free skin for as long as is naturally possible… drink!

Salmon and other oily fish (in moderation)

Salmon was at one time avoided in favour of white fish or sole, due it’s higher fat content. However, once we understood the value and benefit of the essential “Omega 3 fatty acids” present in salmon and other oily fish, it was back on the plate. The time has arrived however, that food-conscious individuals are steering away from oily fish again (or at least cutting down), not because of the fat content, but because of the presence of harmful chemicals and metals. Fish such as mackerel, salmon and swordfish are known to contain high levels of potentially carcinogenic chemicals, and others, including shark, marlin, swordfish and red snapper contain the highest levels of mercury. These larger, long-lived predatory fish and mammals tend to accumulate more mercury from the environment than shorter-lived fish. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that we eat 2-4 portions of fish a week, and 1-2 at least should be of an oily variety. Pregnant mothers are the only group that need to limit oily fish intake to 2 portions a week, but not to avoid fish altogether. Omega-3 fats are vital for the baby’s brain development. Many people often prefer to take an uncontaminated fish oil supplement, or stick to flax seeds as a source of Omega-3’s. Nutri’s Eskimo oil is one of the best un-contaminated fish oils on the market, and contains the fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin E to ensure the fish oils do not oxidise in the body. Remember Omega-3s ARE essential to good health, and freedom from diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis… so as I say, don’t avoid fish altogether, as fish oil is clearly the richest source of Omega 3’s we know. Important omega-3s are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) - from fish oil and algae - and alpha linolenic acid, usually from vegetable sources such as flax seed oil. In a healthy person, linolenic acid can be converted to DHA, and EPA, provided the correct enzymes are present. However, only 2% of the alpha-linolenic acid found in flax oil is actually converted to EPA… far less than we find in fish oil. EPA and DHA substantially lower your risk of heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, prevent blood platelets from becoming sticky, and can lower blood pressure. They also promote good bone health, heart health, and breast health. DHA is particularly important during brain development, so is a popular and useful supplement during pregnancy.

Re: CANNED FISH - During the canning process of tuna, all the fat is lost, so tinned tuna does not count as an oily fish. The canning process of other fish (salmon, sardines, pilchards etc.) is different to that of tuna, and does not affect the oil content of the fish. How the canning process affects the stability and integrity of the delicate fish oils has not been fully elucidated. The possible presence of mercury and toxic chemicals I would imagine is no different in canned vs. fresh fish.

Eating fruit to offset mercury absorption?

To enjoy fish while minimising your mercury exposure, eat some tropical fruit for dessert… eating antioxidant-rich tropical fruits, such as mango, pineapple, banana, and papaya, may help reduce the amount of mercury that your body absorbs, according to research published recently in Environmental Research (2003). This particular study was a 12-month prospective dietary survey, carried out with 26 adult women from a fish-eating community in the Brazilian Amazon. They found a strong relationship between fish consumption and mercury (Hg) levels in hair. Not surprising you may think…. What was surprising and very interesting was the finding that this strong relationship was significantly modified by fruit consumption: for the same number of fish meals, those who ate more tropical fruits had lower hair mercury levels. The findings of this study indicate different ways of maintaining fish consumption while reducing Hg exposure in the Amazon. A number of phytochemicals and nutritional fibres present in fruits might be interacting with Hg in several ways: absorption and excretion transport, binding to target proteins, metabolism, and sequestration. More research on larger worldwide populations would further elucidate the extent, and public health implications of the use of fruits to counteract the toxic action of methylmercury.

Lucy-Ann Prideaux MSc BSc RNutr Registered Nutritionist http://www.simply-nutrition.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy-Ann_Prideaux

colon cancer symptom : Alcohol Stimulates Cancer Development

Researchers are now making a strong association between alcohol use and cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, and mouth, whereas another study links alcohol with liver, breast, and colorectal cancers. Together, these cancers kill more than 125,000 people annually in the United States. For the first time scientists have demonstrated how alcohol stimulates tumor growth.

Their study, published in the January 15, 2005 issue of Cancer, says alcohol fuels the production of a growth factor that stimulates blood vessel development in tumors. For almost a hundred years mounting evidence has linked alcohol use to an increased risk of cancers of the stomach, esophagus, liver, breast, and colon. Researchers were never able to explain how alcohol may cause cancer.

Theories suggests that the acetaldehyde found in alcohol, dietary imbalances, and impaired nutrient metabolism and the inability of the body to detoxify due to alcohol consumption, activation of precancerous enzymes, and suppression of the immune system.

8 Times More Cancer Cells

The investigators found that compared to their control group, the subjects who had been exposed to high alcohol consumption experienced increases in tumor size, tumor blood vessel density, cancer cell infiltration of blood vessels. Tumor volume and vascular volume more than doubled.

They had more than eight times the level of cancer cell invasion of blood vessels compared to the control group.

These findings support the hypothesis that alcohol represents an important mechanism of cancer progression associated with alcoholic beverage consumption. A recent study indicates that as few as two drinks per day can suppress any beneficial effects of a "correct" diet on decreasing risk of colon cancer. Although the study suggests that a diet high in folic acid, a B vitamin found in fresh fruits and vegetables, decreases the risk for colon cancer, it also warns that alcohol consumption may counter this protective action and increase the risk for colon cancer by reducing folic acid levels.

Suppression of immune response. Alcoholism has been associated with suppression of the immune system. Immune suppression makes chronic alcohol users more susceptible to various infectious diseases, and to cancer.

by Dr Laurence Magne, publisher of Alternative Health Ebooks and Author of Cancer Free for Life

For more information go to http://www.cancer-free-for-life.com.

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colon cancer symptom : Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Depression

Research concerning omega 3 fatty acids and depression consists of clinical trials with patients suffering from bi-polar disorder, post-partum depression and mild to moderate depression. The omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are generally used together in these studies, but sometimes only one or the other is used.

Research began because of a marked lack of depression and other neurological conditions in peoples whose diets were rich in foods containing omega 3 fatty acids. In studies of the link between omega 3 fatty acids and depression researchers use fish oil specifically because it is the best and most common source of DHA and EPA. Botanical sources contain the omega 3 fatty acid ALA which must be converted by the body into DHA and EPA and this conversion process can be inefficient for many people.

Adding foods containing omega 3 fatty acids may also be inefficient, since fish is the only identified natural source of both DHA and EPA. Some people do not like fish and even eating fish three to five times per week may not supply adequate amounts of these omega 3 fatty acids. The most success has been achieved in studies of omega 3 fatty acids and depression relief, when fish oil supplements were used.

In one study, the results showed a 48-51% reductions in degree of depression when patients were given fish oil dietary supplements.

The connection between omega 3 fatty acids and depression is fairly well known. People suffering from depression generally have lower levels of DHA in their bloodstreams, probably due to the lack of foods containing omega 3 fatty acids in their diets. The connection between omega 3 fatty acids and depression is also well researched.

A study of omega 3 fatty acids and depression in London concluded that EPA was an effective treatment for bi-polar disorder. Because of the link between depression and chronic fatigue syndrome, the effectiveness of omega 3s in treating this syndrome has been studied and concluded that patients responded favorably.

Another study of omega 3 and depression consisted of studying the studies themselves, and concluded that it is likely that low levels of omega 3 fatty acids in the bloodstream are linked and may, in some cases, be the cause of depression.

These are only a few of the many studies that exist concerning omega 3 fatty acids and depression. In general, all conclusions report improvement in symptoms related to depression after supplementation of omega 3 fatty acids.

While it may be difficult to consume enough foods containing omega 3 fatty acids to reduce the symptoms of depression, taking a daily dietary supplement of fish oil is easy. No one is suggesting that anyone stop taking their anti-depressant medications, however, if you are already using them.

The link between omega 3 fatty acids and depression is still being studied and further research is needed.

Now that you know about omega 3 fatty acids and depression, learn about the fish oil supplements we ourselves take after extensive product comparison and research. Visit: http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com/Omega_3_Depression.html
colon cancer symptom
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colon cancer symptom : Eat Right and Early Detection Key to Colon Cancer Fight

Two of the best things you can do to reduce the risk of colon cancer from causing your early demise is to eat right and to seek Early detection at the first sight of a problem. Colon cancer kills about 350 people out of 100,000 people, so although the risks are not high they are high enough to be of concern.

One thing of great benefit to know is that over the last decade or so thru good education and Early detection fewer people are dying from colon cancer. But there are a few things you need to look out for such as; blood in your stool and knowledge of your family and types of cancer that run in your genetic lines. If one of your siblings or one of your parents has had colon cancer you'd be advised to be checked out as early as age 40 and every five years.

If you are a woman and you've had breast cancer or ovarian cancer you might also be susceptible. If you have an iron deficiency whether you are a woman or a man this can be of concern. The survival rate of most types of colon cancer is quite high if detected in the earlier stages and this will definitely better your chances.

It is recommended you go to the American Cancer Society's web site and read all about colon cancer if you think you might be at risk or you just want additional information and details for a loved one. I hope you will consider all of this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

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colon cancer symptom : 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

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colon cancer symptom : Fewer People Dying From Colon Cancer

Luckily fewer people are dying from Colon Cancer each year in this is due to good education and early detection of those who are potentially at risk. How do you know if you are at risk? Well if someone in your immediate family has had colon cancer you might be more susceptible.

If you are over 45 years old and you have found you are passing blood in your stool then you may want to get checked out. Then or women with iron deficiency used can also be susceptible to colon cancer. Women who have been diagnosed with other types of cancer such as ovarian cancer or breast cancer can also be susceptible to colon cancer.

So the good news is that fewer people are dying from Colon Cancer, but the bad news is if you did I get checked out that isn't that help you much if you're one who has it. About 350 people in about 100,000 will get colon cancer, so your odds are better than you think, but it makes sense to stay on the safe side and consider early detection as the best way to fight colon cancer.

There are many good web sites on the Internet, which have information on colon cancer and you may wish to check the American Cancer Society's web site which has a full listing of all the issues that have to do colon cancer. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

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colon cancer symptom : Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer

Chemotherapy is the use of very strong anticancer drugs to kill colon cancer cells. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment and will address cancer that is in the entire body which is why it is often used to prevent spread or to treat cancer that has already spread. This is not the only reason why chemotherapy is used so if you doctor suggests treatment with chemotherapy drugs do not assume that your cancer has spread and metastesized.

Chemotherapy plays a few roles in the treatment of colon cancer. used to kill colon cancer cells that might have not been removed during surgical removal of the colon cancer. reduces the size of the tumor before surgery is performed used to treat colon cancer by controlling the growth of the tumor. used to relieve some of the symptoms of the colon cancer. reduce the likelyhood of recurrence Chemotherapy is often used after surgery is performed to eliminate cancer cells that may have been left behind and not removed by surgery. The chemotherapy can be administered through an IV (intravenously) or in pill form. Once the chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream they can reach cancer cells in all parts of the body. Some studies have shown that using a regimen of chemotherapy after surgery for colon cancer can increase the surivival rates for some stages of colon and rectal cancers.

In patients with advanced colorectal cancer chemotherapy is often useful in relieving the symptoms of the cancer.

Who is given Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer? The general opinion in the medical community differs on whether chemotherapy for Stage II colon cancer will be beneficial to the patient after surgery. It is usually only advisable in very high risk patients.

Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery is the standard of care for patients with Stage III colorectal cancer. Also patients with Stage IV cancers of the colon or rectum can benefit from the use of chemotherapy as it often will help to shrink the tumor, increase life expectancy and improve the quality of life.

How is Chemotherapy Administered for Colorectal Cancer?

The use of adjuvant chemotherapy typically involves monthly administration of the chemotherapy drugs for usually 6 to 8 months. Usually on or a combination of the following drugs are administered:

5-FU (5-fluorouracil) leucovorin irinotecan oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) The standard adjuvant chemotherapy combination for colon cancer consists of 5-FU and leucovorin.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can produce some side effects. The type of side effects experiences depends upon the type of chemotherapy drugs used, how much of the drugs are given and the period of time they are administered. The side effects also depend on the individual.

The most common side effects for 5FU :

the feeling of being sick diarrhea sore mouth or mouth ulcers drop in blood cell count overall feeling of tiredness The most common side effects of irinotecan :

increased perspiration increase in the production of saliva watery eyes pain or cramps in the abdomen diarrhea overall feeling of being sick drop in blood cell count overall feeling of tiredness hair thinning or loss The most common side effects of oxaliplatin:

feeling of being sick numbness or tingling of the extremeties numbness in the lips

Bill Ransom provides information on Colon cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment at http://colon-answers.com

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colon cancer symptom : Metastatic Colon Cancer

When colon cancer cells break away from a tumor and spread to other parts of your body through the blood or lymph system, this is called metastatic colon cancer. These cancer cells can settle in new places and form new tumors.

Even when cancer has spread to a new place in the body, it is still named after the part of the body where it started. For example, if colon cancer spreads to the liver, it is called metastatic colon cancer. When cancer comes back in a person who appeared to be free of the disease after treatment, it is called a colon cancer recurrence.

Treatment for metastatic colon cancer will vary based on your individual situation. When a colon cancer metastasis is confined to the liver, or another single organ, you may benefit from a local treatment targeting toward the site of metastasis. The liver is the most common site for colon cancer to metastasize.

You may receive treatment that is similar to your primary cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and/or radiation. Your physicians may also offer treatments to relieve pain and other symptoms you may be experiencing.

copyright ©2006 International Capital & Management Company, LLLP. All rights reserved.

colon cancer symptom : Colon Cancer Detection

The first step in evaluating the condition of someone with suspected colon cancer is a complete medical history and physical exam. To aid in colon cancer detection, your physician will ask you some questions about your symptoms, any additional health problems you may have, and your risk factors for colon cancer.

Several tests may be performed to help your physician with colon cancer detection including a physical exam, digital rectal exam (DRE), fecal occult blood test (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, double contrast barium enema, colonoscopy, CT scan, PET scan, complete blood count (CBC), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) testing. These tests provide your physician with the information they need to properly detect colon cancer.

During colon cancer treatment, you will continue to have diagnostic imaging tests to monitor your response to therapy and to your treatment plan. Once your treatment is complete, you will continue routine diagnostic tests to detect for the recurrence of colon cancer. You must be diagnosed with colon cancer prior to becoming a patient at CTCA.

copyright ©2006 International Capital & Management Company, LLLP. All rights reserved.

colon cancer symptom : What symptoms are associated with bowel cancer?

The most common symptom of bowel cancer is a change in bowel habit, e.g. constipation, bleeding or diarrhoea. Other symptoms of bowel cancer may include any of the following:-

Fresh blood in the stools or black stools.
Loss of weight.
Anaemia.
Large amounts of mucus being passed with the stools.
Discomfort or pain in the abdomen or back passage.
All these symptoms can be caused by other diseases, so if you have any change in bowel habit that persists for more than 2 weeks, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. Unfortunately, many patients do not have any symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage.

Am I at risk from bowel cancer?

Some people are at greater risk of developing bowel cancer, than others. These risks may include any of the following :-

If you have a tendency to develop polyps.
Age - men and women over the age of 50.
A family history of the disease.
Previous bowel cancer - if you have the disease before you are more at risk of it returning.
Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk?

To help protect yourself against bowel cancer aim to eat a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruit and fibre. Cut down on high fat products, cut visible fats off meat and limit the alcohol you drink. You should also aim to have 20 minutes of moderate exercise 3-5 times a week.

Who is screened for bowel cancer?

If your doctor believes you are in a high risk group e.g. a strong family history of bowel cancer then you may be routinely screened. This screening will usually be an examination of the inside of your bowel, every 3-5 years. If you have had polyps removed from your bowel in the past, your doctor may also suggest you are screened every 5 years.

Home tests for the early detection of blood in stools.

Achieving a complete cure of bowel cancer depends on early diagnosis. We strongly recommend our bowel disorder test for anyone who is over the age of 50. Cancers of the colon and bowel often bleed and may show in your stool, the test we sell detects small amounts of blood in the stool (click here for more details or to buy).

Please be aware a positive result from our test does not necessarily mean you have bowel cancer, but could be a less serious condition such as piles, polyps or an ulcer. However, not all bowel cancers bleed, so if you receive a negative result, and still have other symptoms you should still consult your doctor.

The Colon Cancer Concern charity recommends home tests for bowel/colon cancer - “In the absence of a national screening program, we feel it may be helpful for people over the age of 50 to have access to a faecal occult blood test that they can do themselves in the home, because for many people diagnosis is late and cancer is well developed”

copyright Home health UK

colon cancer symptom : What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer, also known as colon and rectal cancer, is a cancer that develops as a result of abnormal changes in the cells that line the bowel. The bowel is part of the digestive system, it is divided into the small bowel (small intestine) and the large bowel (colon and rectum). The majority of cancers develop in the large bowel.

Statistically speaking, cancer in all its various forms affects one in three people in the U.K. Of these, around 30,000 people in the U.K. are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, which makes it one of the commonest cancers in this country. The good news is, if bowel cancer is caught early the cure rate can be as high as 90%.

What causes bowel cancer?

In the majority of cases it is not known why the cancer developed. However, people who have a rare disease called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (F.A.P.), have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer. F.A.P. is a condition which causes benign tumours, called polyps to develop in the bowel. Over time these polyps can develop into cancer.

There is also evidence to suggest you are more at risk of developing bowel cancer if your normal diet is high in animal fats and calories but low in fibre.

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colon cancer symptom : Colorectal Polyps

A polyp is a growth of tissue from the intestinal or rectal wall that protrudes into the intestine or rectum and may be noncancerous or cancerous. Polyps vary considerably in size; the bigger the polyp, the greater the risk that it is cancerous or precancerous. Polyps may grow with or without a stalk; those without a stalk are more likely to be cancerous than those with a stalk. Adenomatous polyps, which consist primarily of glandular cells that line the inside of the large intestine, are likely to become cancerous (that is, they are precancerous).

Some polyps are the result of hereditary conditions, such as familial polyposis, Gardner's syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. In familial polyposis, 100 or more precancerous polyps develop throughout the large intestine and rectum during childhood or adolescence. In nearly all untreated people, the polyps develop into cancer of the large intestine or rectum (colorectal cancer) before age 40. In Gardner's syndrome, various types of noncancerous tumors develop elsewhere in the body (for example, on the skin, skull, or jaw) in addition to the precancerous polyps that develop in the large intestine and rectum. In Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, small lumps called juvenile polyps develop in the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. These polyps develop before birth (in utero) or during early childhood. Although polyps in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome do not increase the risk of developing cancer of the intestinal tract, people with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome do have an increased risk of developing cancer of the pancreas, breast, lung, ovary, and uterus.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Most polyps do not cause symptoms. When they do, the most common symptom is bleeding from the rectum. A large polyp may cause cramps, abdominal pain, or obstruction. Large polyps with fingerlike projections (villous adenomas) may excrete water and salts, causing profuse watery diarrhea that may result in low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia). Rarely, a rectal polyp on a long stalk drops down and dangles through the anus. People with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome have brown skin and brown mucous membranes, especially of the lips and gums.

A doctor may be able to feel polyps by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum, but usually polyps are discovered during flexible sigmoidoscopy (examination of the lower portion of the large intestine with a viewing tube). If flexible sigmoidoscopy reveals a polyp, colonoscopy is performed to examine the entire large intestine. This more complete and reliable examination is performed because more than one polyp is usually present and may be cancerous. Colonoscopy also allows a doctor to perform a biopsy (removal of a tissue sample for examination under a microscope) of any area that appears cancerous.

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colon cancer symptom : Staging Colon Cancer

STAGE 0: Cancer is limited to the inner layer (lining) of the large intestine (colon) covering the polyp. More than 95% of people with cancer at this stage survive at least 5 years.
STAGE 1: Cancer spreads to the space between the inner layer and muscle layer of the large intestine. (This space contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymph vessels.) More than 90% of people with cancer at this stage survive at least 5 years.
STAGE 2: Cancer invades the muscle layer and outer layer of the colon. About 55 to 85% of people with cancer at this stage survive at least 5 years.
STAGE 3: Cancer extends through the outer layer of the colon into nearby lymph nodes. About 20 to 55% of people with cancer at this stage survive at least 5 years.
STAGE 4 (not shown): Cancer spreads to other organs, such as the liver, lungs, or ovaries, or to the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Fewer than 1% of people with cancer at this stage survive at least 5 years.


http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch131/ch131i.html

colon cancer symptom : X-ray Studies

X-rays often are used to evaluate digestive problems. Standard x-rays of the abdomen do not require any special preparation. These x-rays generally are used to show an obstruction or paralysis of the digestive tract or abnormal air patterns in the abdominal cavity. Standard x-rays can also show enlargement of the liver, kidneys, and spleen.

Barium studies often provide more information. X-rays are taken after a person swallows barium in a flavored liquid mixture or as barium-coated food. The barium looks white on x-rays and outlines the digestive tract, showing the contours and lining of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Barium collects in abnormal areas, showing ulcers, tumors, obstructions, erosions, and enlarged, dilated esophageal veins.

X-rays may be taken at intervals to determine where the barium is. Or, in a continuous x-ray technique called fluoroscopy, the barium is observed as it moves through the digestive tract. With this technique, doctors can see how the esophagus and stomach function, determine if their contractions are normal, and tell whether food is getting blocked in the digestive tract. The doctor may film this process for later review.

Barium also can be given in an enema to outline the lower part of the large intestine. Then, x-rays can show polyps, tumors, or other structural abnormalities. This procedure may cause crampy pain, producing slight to moderate discomfort.

Barium taken by mouth or given as an enema is eventually excreted in the stool, making the stool chalky white. Because barium can cause significant constipation, the doctor tries to make sure the barium is eliminated quickly after the studies. A gentle laxative can speed up the elimination of barium.
colon cancer symptom

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colon cancer symptom : Occult Blood Tests

Bleeding in the digestive system can be caused by something as insignificant as a little irritation or as serious as cancer. When bleeding is profuse, a person can vomit blood (hematemesis), pass bright red blood in the stool (hematochezia), or pass black, tarry stool (melena). Amounts of blood too small to be seen or to change the appearance of stool can be detected chemically, and the detection of such small amounts may provide early clues to the presence of ulcers, cancers, and other abnormalities.

During a rectal examination, the doctor obtains a small amount of stool on a gloved finger. This sample is placed on a piece of filter paper impregnated with a chemical (guaiac). After another chemical is added, the color of the sample will change if blood is present. Alternatively, the person can take home a kit containing the impregnated filter papers. The person places samples of stool from about three different bowel movements on the filter papers, which are then mailed in special containers back to the doctor for testing. If blood is detected, further examinations are needed to determine the source.

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch119/ch119c.html#sec09-ch119-ch119c-141

colon cancer symptom : What Are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials, also called cancer treatment or research studies, test new treatments in people with cancer. The goal of this research is to find better ways to treat cancer and help cancer patients. Clinical trials test many types of treatment such as new drugs, new approaches to surgery or radiation therapy, new combinations of treatments, or new methods such as gene therapy.

A clinical trial is one of the final stages of a long and careful cancer research process. The search for new treatments begins in the laboratory, where scientists first develop and test new ideas. If an approach seems promising, the next step may be testing a treatment in animals to see how it affects cancer in a living being and whether it has harmful effects. Of course, treatments that work well in the lab or in animals do not always work well in people. Studies are done with cancer patients to find out whether promising treatments are safe and effective.

Why Are Clinical Trials Important?

Clinical trials are important in two ways.

First, cancer affects us all, whether we have it, care about someone who does, or worry about getting it in the future. Clinical trials contribute to knowledge and progress against cancer. If a new treatment proves effective in a study, it may become a new standard treatment that can help many patients. Many of today's most effective standard treatments are based on previous study results. Examples include treatments for breast, colon, rectal, and childhood cancers. Clinical trials may also answer important scientific questions and suggest future research directions. Because of progress made through clinical trials, many people treated for cancer are now living longer.

Second, the patients who take part may be helped personally by the treatment(s) they receive. They get up-to-date care from cancer experts, and they receive either a new treatment being tested or the best available standard treatment for their cancer. Of course, there is no guarantee that a new treatment being tested or a standard treatment will produce good results. New treatments also may have unknown risks. But if a new treatment proves effective or more effective than standard treatment, study patients who receive it may be among the first to benefit. Some patients receive only standard treatment and benefit from it.

In the past, clinical trials were sometimes seen as a last resort for people who had no other treatment choices. Today, patients with common cancers often choose to receive their first treatment in a clinical trial.

A Service of the National Cancer Institute

colon cancer symptom : Understanding the Cancer Process

Cancer affects our cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it is helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancerous.

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide, and produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy and functioning properly. Sometimes, however, the process goes astray -- cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed. The mass of extra cells forms a growth or tumor. Tumors can be either benign or malignant.

Benign tumors are not cancer. They often can be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Most important, benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.

Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells in malignant tumors are abnormal and divide without control or order. These cancer cells can invade and destroy the tissue around them. Cancer cells can also break away from a malignant tumor. They may enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the tissues and organs that produce and store cells that fight infection and disease). This process, called metastasis, is how cancer spreads from the original (primary) tumor to form new (secondary) tumors in other parts of the body.
Understanding Colon Cancer
Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer, and cancer that begins in the rectum is called rectal cancer. Cancers affecting either of these organs may also be called colorectal cancer.

© 2003 heartspring.net

colon cancer symptom : Molly's Story

These are the words I'm trying to live by. My name is Molly McMaster and I'm a colon cancer survivor.

I was diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer on my twenty-third birthday, February 19th, 1999. Since then, I've committed myself to raising awareness of the disease that could have killed me, and has already taken the lives of many friends.

I've lived in upstate New York for most of my life, but moved to Colorado to attend Colorado State University in 1995. When I first arrived, I had visions of myself skiing, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking-basic "Colorado thoughts." Never had I dreamed of the life that I was about to begin. Hockey! The best sport in the world!

I began playing in late 1995 and quite literally fell in love with the sport. Everything about the game made my heart race. Have you ever felt sweat trickle down your face and sting your eyes after a hard shift? Or smelled the salty, wet and sweaty palm of a hockey glove or an ice rink after a big game? Those are the things that I've grown to love.

I spent four years of my life living that game and learning a lot about myself through it. Every free moment I had was spent on the ice or in the weight room, and when I saw the U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team win the Gold medal in Nagano in 1998, I began having dreams of someday representing my country on the ice.

I was having the time of my life in Colorado until everything came to an abrupt halt in February of 1999. I'd been having severe abdominal pains since October of 1998, so extreme that on some days I couldn't walk. Finally, after many tears were shed, I packed the car and drove back home to New York in hopes of finding the root of my pain. It didn't take long.

I arrived in Glens Falls at 11:30 p.m. on February 11th, and within twelve hours, I was in the Emergency Room with a total blockage in my large intestine. "Did I swallow a tennis ball?" I asked myself.

My doctor performed emergency surgery the next morning and removed over two feet of my large intestine and a tumor the size of his two fists. I spent the next eight days recovering and calling the hospital my home.

Friday, February 19th, it was my twenty-third birthday and one I'll never forget. My surgeon came to visit me that morning, and those first few moments he spent with me are still just as vivid today. He pulled the privacy curtain, sat on the edge of my bed and gripped my hand with a sweaty palm. He used big doctor words, and and "cancer" words that I'd never heard before...the ones he'd probably learned during his twenty years of medical school. Finally, he made it clear. The tumor he had removed was malignant. I had colon cancer.

I didn't hear a single word out of my doctor's mouth for the next twenty minutes, or maybe it was only five. I don't even know. Time had stopped.

Have you ever thought about what it would feel like if someone told you that you had cancer? What would you do? I was twenty-three years old and had never even considered it. My initial thought was, "I'm going to die." I'd already given up. Then I began thinking of the most perfect and painless way to kill myself. Running the car in the garage sounded good. And how could this have happened to me, anyway? I wasn't at risk. It didn't run run in my family. I was a healthy, twenty-three year old female, who worked out regularly, only had an occasional drink, didn't smoke or do drugs, and there I was with cancer.

During my chemotherapy, I had plenty of time to be angry at my doctor for misdiagnosing me with constipation, and I wanted to know why? I had had all the symptoms and she never even tested for colon cancer. I found out later that she never asked me an important question about my family history - "Do you have a family history of colon polyps?" Instead, she had only asked if there was a history of colon cancer. Soon after my diagnosis, I found out that my mother had a polyp removed at age 32, which meant that I should have been tested for it at age 22.

Since my diagnosis, I have met many more like me, young and misdiagnosed with colon cancer. I've made it my life to raise awareness by doing "crazy things" to draw attention to the disease. During the summer of 2000, I inline skated two thousand miles from New York to Colorado, in a trip called Rolling to Recovery, and my latest stunt has been the Colossal Colon.

Colon cancer is ninety percent treatable if caught early enough, and one of the only forms of cancer that can be removed before it becomes cancer, just by removing a polyp (a grapelike growth on the inside of the colon). Since the most common symptom of colon cancer is no symptom at all, everyone needs to get a colonoscopy when they turn fifty, no matter what they think their body needs.

If you are under the age of fifty and experiencing symptoms like I was, please see a doctor and be persistent. Only you know your body and only you know when something is wrong.
Today, Molly is 29-years-old and six years cancer free. She resides in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and in her free time she plays with the Arctic Foxes and the Hudson River Waves women's ice hockey teams in Clifton Park, N.Y. She has received many awards, including the 2001 American Cancer Society's Hope, Progress, Answers Award, the 2002 Adirondack Athlete of the Year, by the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board, 2002 Rotary Citizen of the Year, The Colon Cancer Alliance's 2003 Voice Award, The Colon Cancer Network's 90 in 9 Advocacy Award, and in 2003, Molly joined past winners Katie Couric and Marlo Thomas as the recipient of Memorial Sloan Kettering's Cancer Center Tavel-Reznik Award, which honors an outstanding leader in cancer education and awareness.

Molly has been able to tell her story in such publications as Parade Magazine, American Hockey Magazine and SELF Magazine, has been featured in Dave Barry's column as well as on The Today Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live! She is also currently writing a book about her experience and speaks regularly on the subject of colorectal cancer. She remains an advocate because she connects to so many different people and hopes to be able to use that connection to teach people about this highly preventable disease.

by Vincent Lombardi

colon cancer symptom : Endoscopy

Endoscopy is an examination of internal structures using a flexible viewing tube (endoscope). When passed through the mouth, an endoscope can be used to examine the esophagus (esophagoscopy), the stomach (gastroscopy), and most of the small intestine (upper gastrointestinal endoscopy). When passed through the anus, an endoscope can be used to examine the rectum (anoscopy); the lower portion of the large intestine, the rectum, and the anus (sigmoidoscopy); and the entire large intestine, the rectum, and the anus (colonoscopy). For procedures other than anoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, the person is given medication intravenously to prevent discomfort.

Endoscopes range in diameter from about ¼ inch to about ½ inch and range in length from about 1 foot to about 5 feet. The choice of endoscope depends on which part of the digestive tract is to be examined. The endoscope is flexible and provides both a lighting source and a small camera, which allows doctors to get a good view of the lining of the digestive tract. The doctor can see areas of irritation, ulcers, inflammation, and abnormal tissue growth.

Many endoscopes are equipped with a small clipper with which tissue samples can be taken. These samples can then be evaluated for evidence of inflammation, infection, or cancer. Because the lining and the inner layers of the walls of the digestive tract do not have nerves that sense pain (with the exception of the lower part of the anus), this procedure is painless.

Endoscopes can also be used for treatment. A doctor can pass different types of instruments through a small channel in the endoscope. An electric probe at the tip of the endoscope can be used to destroy abnormal tissue, to remove small growths, or to close off a blood vessel. A needle at the tip of the endoscope can be used to inject drugs into dilated veins in the esophagus and stop their bleeding.

Before having an endoscope passed through the mouth, a person usually must avoid food for several hours. Food in the stomach can obstruct the doctor's view and might be vomited up during the procedure. Before having an endoscope passed into the rectum and colon, a person usually takes laxatives and is sometimes given enemas to clear out any stool. In addition, the person must avoid food for several hours before the procedure because it might be vomited up and because it would reduce the effectiveness of the laxatives and enemas.

Complications from endoscopy are relatively rare. Although endoscopes can injure or even perforate the digestive tract, they more commonly cause only irritation of the digestive tract lining and a little bleeding.

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