colonic cleanse and certain fibers lower risks of colon cancer

A dietary intake of certain fibers has been shown through studies to alleviate the risks of colon cancer, and the fibers are also known to help ease constipation. Psyllium plays a role in promoting colon health since poor waste elimination by the body can result in a buildup of waste byproducts in the body. The waste byproducts can then lead to bacteria and viruses attacking your colon, compromising your immune system and creating sickness in the body. For this reason, regular normal bowel movements can be crucial to maintaining proper health. Other benefits of regular bowel movements can be their promotion of weight loss, and a chance at lowering low density lipoproteins, the "bad' type of cholesterol.

A colonic cleanse can clear the body of unwanted toxins that have accumulated due to environmental pollution as well as the poor eating habits of our society. Each day industrial poisons enter our bodies and they are not always eliminated. These accumulated poisons can be the source of many different diseases and a colonic cleanse eliminates them before they can become a problem.

danger colorectal cancer

The human colon is a muscular, tube-shaped organ measuring about 4 feet long. It extends from the end of your small bowel to your anus, twisting and turning through your abdomen (belly). The colon has 3 main functions.

The right side of your colon plays a major role in absorbing water and electrolytes, while the left side is responsible for storage and evacuation of stool.

Cancer is the transformation of normal cells. The transformed cells grow and multiply abnormally.

Left untreated, these cancers grow and eventually spread through the colon wall to involve the adjacent lymph nodes and organs. Ultimately, they spread to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, brain, and bones.

Cancers are dangerous because of their unbridled growth. They overwhelm healthy cells, tissues, and organs by taking their oxygen, nutrients, and space.

Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas—tumors that develop from the glands lining the colon’s inner wall.

These tumors are sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer, reflecting the fact that the rectum, the end portion of the colon, can also be affected.
Deaths from colorectal cancer rank third after lung and prostate cancer for men and third after lung and breast cancer for women.

colon cancer symptom : Why Do polyps and Colon Cancer Occur?

Both polyps as well as colon cancer occur much more frequently in industrialized, western societies. Diets low in fruits, vegetables, protein from vegetable sources and roughage are associated with a higher incidence of polyps.

Persons smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day are 250% more likely to have polyps as opposed to nonsmokers who otherwise have the same risks. Persons who drink have an 87% increased likelihood of having polyps compared to nondrinkers and those who both smoke and drink are 400% more likely to develop polyps compared to their peers who neither smoke nor drink. There is increasing evidence that diets high in calcium can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. An even more potent agent in preventing colon cancer is the eating of vegetables. Apparently it isn't the fiber but it is likely that phytochemicals in vegetables act to prevent cancer. People who exercise daily are less likely to develop colon cancer.

Polyps tend to cluster in families so that having a first degree relative ( sibling, parent or child ) with colon polyps raises ones chances of having polyps. The familial cancer syndromes such as Lynch Syndromes I and II ( rare ) carry a high risk of the development of colon and other cancers. Family adenomatous polyposis or FAP, is a rare condition characterized by thousands of adenomatous polyps throughout the large bowel. People with 1st degree relatives with inflammatory bowel disease are at increased risk and those who have a first degree relative with colon cancer have a fourfold increase in risk over the general population and should be screened earlier with colonoscopy and more often than the proposed outline for screening suggested by the American Cancer Society. There is an association of cancer risk with meat, fat or protein consumption which appear to break down in the gut into cancer causing compounds called carcinogens. A personal history of ovarian, endometrial, or breast cancer also appear to be risk factors.


Copyright© 10/13/96 by:
Donald E. Mansell, MD

colon cancer symptom : Fecal Occult Blood Testing ( FOBT )

Diagnosis of Colon Cancer
The diagnosis of colon cancer depends on a variety of methods including barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and biopsy once a mass is found.


Fecal Occult Blood Testing ( FOBT )

Other names include: Occult Blood Testing, Hemocculttm, Hemoquant,tm Hemoccult Sensatm, Hemewipestm, etc.

This is a test that detects the presence of occult ( detectable only by chemical means and not visible ) blood in the stool. Such blood may arise from anywhere along the digestive tract but is most likely to originate in the colon.

There are many ways to collect the samples. You can catch the stool on Sarantm wrap that is loosely placed over the toilet bowel and held in place by the toilet seat. Then put the sample in the clean container supplied or on the card which was given you. One test kit, Hemewipes tm, supplies a special toilet tissue that you use to collect the sample, then put the sample in a clean container. For children wearing diapers, you can line the diaper with Sarantm wrap.

Laboratory procedures vary. In one type of test, a small sample of the stool is placed on a special paper "card". A drop or two of testing solution is applied to a positive and negative control at the bottom of the card. A color change ( often blue ) indicates the presence of blood in the stool.

Do not consume red meat or fish ( contain non-human hemoglobin ) for 3 days as this can cause a false positive reading for blood. Discontinue drugs and substances that can interfere with the test such as: Vitamin C which can cause a false negative reading; Horse radish, fresh broccoli, turnips, cauliflower ( have vegatable peroxidase ) and colchicine which can give a false positive reading; Anticoagulants, Aspirin or arthritis medicine which can cause leakage of blood into the intestinal tract; Oxidizing drugs such as topical iodine, bromides, and boric acid, and reserpine need to be stopped about three days before the test as they can cause a false positive reading.

Copyright© 10/13/96 by:
Donald E. Mansell, MD

colon cancer symptom : What Are Polyps?

Polyps are growths which develop in the colon and other parts of the body as well. They vary in size and appearance. They may look like a wart when small and when they grow they may appear like a cherry on a stem or fig. They are important because they can with time turn into cancer. Sometimes they can bleed causing anemia. A polyp is defined as a growth that projects, often on a stalk, from the lining of the intestine or rectum. Polyps of the colon and rectum are almost always benign and usually produce no symptoms. They may, however, cause painless rectal bleeding or bleeding not apparent to the naked eye.

There may be single or multiple polyps. The incidence of polyps increases with age. The cumulative risk of cancer developing in an unremoved polyp is 2.5% at 5 years, 8% at 10 years, and 24% at 20 years after the diagnosis. The probability of any singular polyp becoming cancerous is dependent on its gross appearance, histologic features, and size. The relative risk of developing colon cancer after polyps have been removed is 2.3 compared to a relative risk of 8.0 for those who do not have the polyps removed. Polyps greater than 1 centimeter have a greater cancer risk associated with them than polyps under 1 centimeter.

Polyps with atypia or dysplasia are also more likely to progress on to colon cancer. The risk of cancer is much higher in sessile villous adenomas than in pedunculated tubular adenomas. Cancer is found in 40% of villous adenomas, as compared to 15% in tubular adenomas. The good news is that 65% of adenomas are tubular, with villous adenomas accounting for only 10% of adenomatous polyps. It has been shown that the removal of polyps by colonoscopy reduces the risk of getting colon cancer significantly.

Copyright© 10/13/96 by:
Donald E. Mansell, MD