Causes Of Colon Cancer Revealed

Colon cancer is a major illness and one that can cause life altering effects. In fact, this form of cancer is one of the most common in the nation. Most colon cancer patients suffer from polyps, which are abnormal cells that form clusters. When normal cells begin to transform, a potential problem arises. As time progresses, these growths get bigger and can lead to the development of cancer. A vast majority of sufferers have a family history with the disease. In addition, the risk of developing colon cancer increases with age and is most common in those ages 50 and up. Certain individuals simply carry the genetic makeup, which can be identified through a series of tests, that may lead to colon cancer.

While there are no certain ways to pinpoint exactly who develops cancer, or why, there are several risk factors that may increase an individual’s chance of developing the illness. Among them, a previous battle with cancer, a family history with colon cancer, poor diets, smoking and obesity. With so many risk factors, one may wonder if there is anything that they can do in order to prevent colon cancer. Studies show that a lot of physical activity or exercise and a low-fat, high-fiber diet may help to reduce the risks. In addition, certain medicines may also help to prevent the disease.

As is the case with many ailments, symptoms are often very similar to those of other diseases. It can be extremely difficult to get an accurate assessment of what’s wrong when so many illnesses carry the same symptoms. For this reason, it’s important to seek medical attention if an individual experiences abnormal bleeding, weakness, pale complexion or abdominal expansion without weight gain, nausea, any change in bowel movements or weight loss. Each person is different and, as such, symptoms may vary slightly. Because symptoms may either present themselves as severe or barely noticeable, it is recommended that patients be screened regularly for the presence of cancer causing factors.

If left untreated, any type of cancerous cells have the ability to grow and spread throughout the rest of the body. This can lead to the need for further surgery, more intense treatments or, in the worst case, a cancer may become so advanced that it will not respond to treatment. When seeking medical attention, it’s important to understand that there are a series of tests that can detect and diagnose colon cancer. A physician will be able to answer any questions that a patient may have regarding treatment options and the likelihood of their success.

This article should not be construed as professional medical advice. If you, or someone that you know, is concerned about the possibility of cancer, you should seek medical attention immediately. A medical doctor can discuss various options, prevention and treatment possibilities should the presence of cancer be detected. A series of tests may be conducted in order to confirm, or rule out, any such diagnosis and can only be done by a medical doctor.

Article By: Dr. Logan Pallas (http://www.coloncancercure.info/)

Why You Should Stop Smoking...

Reduced risk of cancer
Smoking causes cancer. We’ve all heard that. Everyone knows that lung cancer is one of the most devastating side effects of smoking. However, what is less known is that it puts smokers at risk of many other types of cancers as well, for example, mouth cancer, cancer of the larynx (voice box), bladder, pancreas and cervix among several others.

Increased risk of lung disease
Smoking dramatically raises the risk of lung disease such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases are also known as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). They are progressive in nature and can eventually be life threatening.

Heart disease
The likelihood of smokers dying from heart attacks is twice that of non-smokers. It causes peripheral vascular disease, where blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles are constricted.

Makes you look bad!
If you are thirty and a chain smoker, then it should be no surprise that you have premature wrinkles. Moreover, smoking also makes your breath and clothes smell bad, and gives you yellow fingernails.

Risks for women
Women smokers are at a higher risk of having a miscarriage or a baby with lower birth weight. Women over 35, who take the ‘pill’ risk heart attack, stroke and blood clots in the legs.

Shorter life
Smoking dramatically reduces your life expectancy – by an average of 13.2 years for men and 14.5 years for women (Source: US Center for Disease Control). The bottom line is – quitting smoking will help you live longer.

It’s expensive!
Do a simple calculation – multiply how much money you spend on tobacco each day by 365. The results may astonish you. Go a step further – multiply this amount by the number of years you have been smoking and you’ll probably fall off your chair. It’s just not worth it – quit today!

Social acceptance
Smoking is no longer socially accepted as it once was. It is banned in many public places and most work places have some sort of smoking restriction. You maybe asked to smoke ‘outside’ at a party. Your job application may be rejected simply due to your smoking habit. Studies show that employees who are smokers, report sick more often that their non-smoking colleagues. Since employers pay part of the employees’ health insurance premiums, smokers increase their insurance costs.

Concern for others
Smoking not only harms you, but others around you as well. Indirect inhalation of tobacco smoke, or ‘passive smoking’ is a health risk to others. It can cause lung cancer and heart disease even in healthy non-smokers.

Hence, the case for quitting smoking is strong. Quitting will improve your life and of those around you as well. Let us all strive for a tobacco free world.

Article By: Jack Smith (http://www.iwantcontent.com)

W.H.O. Gets Cancer?

Below The World Health organization (W.H.O.) summarizes what we know about cancer from scientific research:

Cancer is largely preventable: by stopping smoking, providing healthy food and avoiding the exposure to carcinogens.

Some of the most frequent cancer types are curable by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The chance of cure increases substantially if cancer is detected early.

Quality of life of cancer patients and their families can be greatly improved by the provision of palliative care.

Cancer control is a public health approach aimed at reducing causes and consequences of cancer by translating our knowledge into practice.

Recommendations from the World Health organization concerning cancer include action in the following areas:

• Minimizing or eliminating exposure to cancer causes
• Reducing individual susceptibility to the effects of these causes
• Serving the greatest public health potential
• Identifying the most cost-effective long-term cancer control
• Tobacco control
• Obesity control
• Control of composition of the diet
• Control of consumption of alcoholic beverages

The World Health organization sees cancer prevention programs as part of integrated, national strategies. The risks they identify for cancer above are common to all noncommunicable diseases including heart, diabetes and respiratory problems. Prevention programs for all chronic diseases are able to use the same surveillance and health promotion techniques.

According to WHO recognized causes of cancer include:

• Occupational and environmental exposure to a number of chemicals
• Links between a number of infections and certain types of cancer
• Parasitic infection schistosomiasis
• Exposure to some forms of ionizing radiation
• Excessive ultraviolet radiation

W.H.O. treatment priorities:

Early detection improves chances of survival, but WHO stress only when linked to effective treatment. The WHO want to increase our awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and help set up regular screening of apparently healthy individuals.

Accurate diagnosis of cancer is the first step to effective management. Care of cancer patients starts with recognition of some kind of abnormality in the body, followed by a visit to a health care facility for diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is confirmed then the disease is staged. The patient might be referred to a specialist cancer treatment centre.

Orthodox treatment for the cancer is likely to involve a mixture of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and surgery. The primary objectives of cancer treatment are: cure, the prolongation of life and improvement of the quality of life.

Survival rates:

Survival rates in standard treatments vary according to the variety of cancer. For example the advanced treatment of cancer of the uterine corpus, breast, testis, and melanoma may produce a 5-year survival rate of 75% or more. Survival rates in cancer of the pancreas, liver, stomach, and lung are generally less than 15%. Because of the nature of cancer, many patients present themselves with advanced disease. The only realistic treatment for these patients is pain relief and palliative care. For insurance purposes, cancer is often regarded as incurable.

Article By: Simon Mitchell (http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk)

Spice It Up a Bit - It May Save Your Life

New research is showing that Curcumin to have strong cancer fighting properties. Curcumin also called turmeric is the compound that gives curry its yellow tint. Curcumin has long been known for its antioxidant properties and is being studied now for it benefits in treating several different diseases. Cancer researchers have taken an interest in Curcumin because many countries with curry-rich cuisines have lower cancer rates than Western countries have.

Researchers from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found Curcumin, blocks a key biological pathway needed for development of melanoma and other cancers. The study was published in the August 15, 2005 issue of the American Cancer Society journal "Cancer". The study tested varying doses of Curcumin on three melanoma cell lines. It showed that Curcumin stops laboratory strains of melanoma from proliferating and induced apoptosis (programmed cell suicide). The results were the same for high concentrations of Curcumin over short periods of time and smaller doses over longer periods of time.

In a study published in 2002 in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention", researcher gave three groups of mice different amounts of Curcumin extract for 15 weeks. The results showed that the group of mice given the largest amount of Curcumin found a reduction of 40 percent in benign tumors that were caused the same gene that causes mot types of colon cancer. A similar study was published in "The Prostate" in 2001. Again three groups of mice were used. All three were injected with human prostate cancer cells. One group was a placebo group that received no treatment. One group was given Curcumin when injected with the cancer cells. The other group was given Curcumin two weeks after the cancer injection. After 6 weeks the tumors in the two groups give Curcumin were to percent smaller than in the placebo groups.

A study on Curcumin and breast cancer was published in Cancer Research, Vol. 62, July 1, 2002, pp. 3868-75. This study found that the use of Curcumin was as effective in preventing the spread of breast cancer as Taxol in laboratory mice. In the study mice were induced with breast cancer then the tumors were removed such as with a mastectomy in humans. Then the mice were divided into 4 groups. One was a placebo group, one received Curcumin, one received Taxol, and the other Curcumin and Taxol. After 5 weeks the study showed that half the mice in the Curcumin group had the cancer spread to the lungs. Only 22 percent of those in the Curcumin plus Taxol group had seen the cancer spread. 75 percent of the Taxol only group saw the cancer spread. The placebo group saw 95 percent of the mice had the cancer spread to the lungs. These were amazing results.

Human studies are just beginning. But the early signs are that the simple safe spice may offer a safe way of preventing cancer and may also be a great way of aiding in the treatment of Cancer.
It should be noted that a culture study showed that Curcumin reduced the effects of several chemo drugs used for treating cancer.

Article By: Rusty Ford (http://my-local-news.com)