In the United States alone, 1 in 17 people will develop colon cancer. The colon spreads from your anus to your small intestine. The small intestine is about 4 feet long and twists and intertwines around other organs in the body. It digests and absorbs nutrients and helps to expel waste out of the body. Because the colon lies so close to other structures in the body, if colon cancer is left undetected, it can easily spread through the walls to adjacent structures such as lymph nodes and organs. Eventually, it can spread to organs that are farther away like the lungs.
Cancer occurs when cells transform and grow abnormally. This type of unhealthy growth overwhelms healthy cells and tissues by taking away the oxygen supply, nutrients, and space. This is why it is so important that cancer is detected at an early stage. Prognosis is better if the cancer is caught earlier rather than later.
Causes
As with any other type of cancer, the exact cause of why the cells begin to transform to unhealthy levels is unknown. Most forms of colon cancer are caused by clusters of these abnormal cells on the inside wall of the colon. This form of cancer usually occurs before the patient turns 40, but not always.
Symptoms
Rectal bleeding, fatigue, pale skin, and iron deficiency are all associated with colon cancer. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician immediately. It is imperative that you seek help as soon as you show the signs and symptoms. Do not automatically assume that any rectal bleeding you experience is the result of hemorrhoids, because this is not always the case. As for the iron deficiency, rectal bleeding can show up as either being chronic or as an iron deficiency anemia.
If the mass gets big enough, it may actually block the colon off. Symptoms include:
· Abdominal pain
· Abdominal distension
· Unexplained, constant vomiting or nausea
· Unexplained weight loss
· Change in bowel habits or consistency
· Feeling like you still need to evacuate even after you have
· Small, ribbon-like stools
· Rectal pain
If you experience any of the above symptoms, contact your physician immediately. Sometimes the symptoms may take several weeks to several months to become prevalent, so it is imperative that you seek medical attention immediately once you have noticed something. Do not automatically assume that your symptoms are caused by something else.
Prevention - The earlier you detect colon cancer, the better the prognosis will be. You need to schedule a regular colon screening so that you have a better chance of detecting this cancer at an earlier stage, especially if you fall into any of the risk categories.
Other things that you can do to help reduce your risk of developing colon cancer are:
· Stop smoking
· Take an aspirin daily (talk to your doctor first because this is not recommended for everyone)
· Maintain physical activity
· Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits daily
· Take a safe dose of folic acid daily
By following these guidelines, you will help to reduce your chances of developing colon cancer.
Go to the new Prostate Cancer Community to get your free ebooks on Prostate Cancer at Colon Cancer. The new Prostate Cancer Community also has information on Causes of Colon Cancer along with a lot of other free information. Come by our new Prostate Cancer Community site today for free ebooks and other free information that can help you today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Brennan
No comments:
Post a Comment