Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer Awareness Is Most Important For Fighting Colon Cancer

Colon cancer awareness for colon cancer or colorectal cancer (disease in the tissues of the colon or the rectum) is imperative for everyone to diagnose it at an early stage. This write up is meant only to spread awareness about this disease.

Part of the digestive system, it removes and processes nutrients, minerals, fats, proteins and water from the good ingested and helps pass the waste out of the body.  The first 6 feet of the large intestine are called the large or colon. The last 6 inches are the rectum (rectal).

Cancer in the colon is called colon cancer, and that which begins in the rectum and is called rectal cancer. However, being part of the same chain of tissues, whether it is called colon cancer or colorectal cancer it can be taken as one and the same thing.

This disease is one of the major causes of death the world over. In the United States, it is the second leading cause of death from cancer.  The number of colorectal cancer cases is on the decrease and thus subsequent deaths as colorectal cancer awareness is increasing among the people with passage of time.

Colorectal cancer awareness is very important. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent debilitating disease and early death.

Increasing protective methods and avoiding risk-related factors will help prevent colorectal cancer. It is very difficult to determine why some are predisposed to it, and why most people, who should be at risk, are not affected at all.  You should talk to your physician about what precautions you should take, if you are at risk.

After the age of 40, and as you grow older, the risk increases. Obesity and lack of exercise is another predisposition factor. A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk, as does the use of alcohol. Diet is also a factor. If you are eating lots of nutrition filled meals and limit usage of meat, have a high level of vegetables eating, etc., chances are you may have less risk.

The following protective factors decrease the chance of colorectal cancer occurrence:

Hormone replacement therapy that includes both estrogen and progesterone lowers the risk of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women.  Be aware that the use of hormones may increase your risk of heart disease, blood clots and breast cancer.

The removal of polyps in the colon and rectum may reduce the risk. Most polyps generally turn out be adenomas, which may develop into cancer.

The effect of the following factors on the risk of colorectal cancer is not known:

It is not yet clear as of yet whether use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, lower the risk of colorectal cancer. While this may be so, use of these drugs increases other risks like heart attacks or strokes. Internal bleeding is possible.

Vitamins usage such as taking vitamin D or folic acid, if taken in high doses, decreases the chance that you can have colorectal cancer. Some studies have shown that a diet high in fat, meat, calories and protein increases the risk. There is as yet to be a consensus on this matter.

NEVER do anything without professional advice. It is for your physician to decide your profile for this disease. See additional material that may be on the internet or elsewhere.

This is meant only for creating awareness, and is not an authoritative article on the subject.

Colon Cancer