The body is made up of many integral parts. One of these parts is the colon. Without a colon, we wouldn’t be able to digest food and would ultimately die. As part of the digestive system, the colon (or large intestine) removes the water from the food we eat. Some of that food is digested, while the rest is excreted from our body at a later time.

So, what are polyps and what do they have to do with your colon? If polyps are benign they can be removed from your colon upon detection. If they are not removed, or if they go undetected, they may turn into a malignant tumor. This tumor obviously has deadly consequences. Benign polyps, while scary, are ultimately harmless. They won’t spread throughout the body and can’t cause any bodily harm in their current state. However, if you don’t know they are there, your body may be at serious risk.

It all comes down to making sure you get a colonoscopy when necessary. If cancer runs in your family, you should notify your doctor immediately. He or she will tell you when you should start having colonoscopies and how frequently they should be. For the average person, a colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years after the age of 50.

The myth that colon cancer only affects men is not true. Much like breast cancer, it affects both sexes. Cancer doesn’t discriminate, especially colon cancer. It is true that men are more susceptible. However, you should still follow your doctor’s orders when it comes to your health.

You might have friends who have already gone through a colonoscopy and complained about it. It’s not that big of a deal. For 30 minutes a doctor uses a special camera in your colon to detect any polyps. You are given anesthesia so you won’t feel a thing. Afterwards, you might feel a little woozy. The discomfort is worth it. Take care of yourself now so you can live a long and healthy life.

These colon polyps can now be detected using non-invasive methods as well. Doctors are improving this technology everyday. So, you may not even have to worry about being uncomfortable when it comes to this procedure.

Benign colon polyps are not a threat. However, like weeds, you don’t want them to grow into something more hideous. The medical community has said that those who have polyps removed significantly decrease the chances of future polyps existing. That should be reason enough to schedule your appointment right away with your doctor.

While the procedure itself does not take long to complete, the real work is done at home while you are preparing for it. In most cases, your doctor will require you to go on a liquid diet a day or two before the procedure. The purpose of this is to clean out your colon. While changing your diet will help you tremendously with cleansing your colon, you will still have to do more to insure it has been thoroughly cleaned before the procedure. To do this, you will be given 1 or 2 enemas. An enema is given by injecting liquid directly into the rectum.

When you discuss having a colonoscopy done with your doctor, be sure to tell him all special medical conditions you have. Even if they seem trivial and unrelated to the procedure, your doctor needs to be aware of them. Such conditions include lung conditions, allergies to any medications, pregnancy, diabetes, and heart conditions. You should also talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking. You may be required to stop taking your medications for a short time before the procedure is performed or they may need to be adjusted slightly. In many cases, you will be able to continue taking your medication as directed, but it is always in your best interest to double-check with your doctor first.

The colonoscopy will only last 30-60 minutes. During this time you will be asked to lay on your left side while an experienced doctor uses the colonoscope to examine the colon lining for any abnormalities. The colonoscope is a flexible, long, tubular instrument that is only ½ inch in diameter. This instrument provides your doctor with images of your colon lining while the procedure is being done. It also has the ability to small amounts of tissue for a biopsy. The scope will be inserted through your rectum and will gently wind its way through your colon.

When the procedure is finished, you will be taken to a recovery room for observation, but should be allowed to leave within 30 minutes. You will need to have someone to drive you home because you will have sedative medication in your system, which inhibits you from driving for at least 8 hours following the procedure. Once you are home, you will be able to resume your normal diet and routine. However, if you notice abnormal rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fever or chills, call your doctor immediately.

When it comes to keeping your colon healthy the first step in doing so includes eating a healthy diet. This diet should not last one week, or two weeks, or even a couple of months. Instead, this diet should last your entire lifetime if you want your colon to always be healthy enough to keep the rest of your body healthy too. One of the best food groups to include in your healthy diet is fiber. Fiber helps people have more frequent and healthier bowel movements as it absorbs excess undigested food when moving through a person’s system. Fiber cannot be digested, which means that it will be less in fat and calories than other foods we might eat. Eating a good amount of fiber can help to keep a person’s weight down and prevent the onset of diabetes.

Fiber is divided into two main categories, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is fiber that can dissolve in water while insoluble fiber is fiber than cannot dissolve in water. Soluble fiber helps to regulate the blood sugar of a person while insoluble fiber helps to move waste through the intestine while removing toxins from the person’s colon. Insoluble fiber also helps to balance the acidity levels of the person’s large and small intestines.

Doctors recommend that drinking water will help to improve the health of the colon. Experts say to drink half of your body weight in ounces to help prevent different problems within the colon, such as constipation. It is already recommended that people drink 6-8 large glasses of water per day to keep their body healthy, which is in place of Iced Tea or soda, and water can also help to keep the colon clean. Water helps to cleanse the colon naturally and helps to relieve constipation for most people. It is important that the body is provided with a sufficient amount of water on a daily basis, not just for the colon, but also for the remainder of the body to stay healthy without having to pump a lot of medicine into it or visit the doctor too often. For the most part, it is recommended that people eat a large serving of fruits and vegetables each day to promote colon health. Fruits include apples, pears, oranges, bananas, grapes and strawberries. Vegetables include salad, string beans, broccoli and much more.

Constipation usually happens when the colon takes in too much water from the food that a person ingests during the day. This happens when the food moves through the gastro-intestinal tract too slowly, and results in feces that are too hard and dry. It may be extremely painful to have a bowel movement when constipated. The most serious of cases, known as obstipation, occurs when the person cannot have a bowel movement and cannot pass gas. Constipation can be caused by a lack of exercise, the diet the person is eating, medications the person is taking, an illness the person is suffering from, a disorder, hormones or anatomical. Treating constipation includes the use of laxatives, changing exercise habits, and changing diet habits. If constipation is being caused by an obstruction in the bowel, such as a tumor, then other treatments such as surgery could be in order.

A doctor will consider a patient to be constipated if they suffer from two or more of the following items for at least a period of three months:

• More than 25 percent of the time the patient will strain during a bowel movement.
• More than 25 percent of the time the patient will have hard stools.
• More than 25 percent of the time the patient will suffer from an incomplete evacuation of the bowels.
• The patient will have two or fewer bowel movements during a week’s time.

Constipation can be caused by one or more of the following factors:

• Not drinking enough water
• Not eating enough fiber
• A lack of exercise or immobility
• Having too many dairy products in the diet
• Stress
• Using laxatives too much
• Medicine
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Colon cancer

Constipation can sometimes cause the abdominal area of the body to become swollen and filled with extreme pain. Constipation can often cause the patient to vomit regularly. This is a symptom that is not uncommon for some people with severe cases of constipation.

What exactly is colon cancer? It is when a tumor, that is malignant, starts in the large intestine and grows. Unlike malignant tumors, there are benign tumors. These benign tumors are known as polyps. Benign polyps do not spread throughout the body or cause health complications within the skin tissue in the rectal region. However, they should be removed upon detection by a trained professional. Removal is essential because these benign polyps may turn into a cancerous tumor/s over time. These polyps can be detected through a routine colonoscopy. Many medical professionals believe that many tumors in the colon are the result of not detecting or removing benign polyps.

The reason why colon cancer is such a dangerous form of cancer is because of its location. Once a malignant tumor is present, it can spread from vital organ to vital organ. For example, the cancer may start in an individual’s colon but spread to his or her liver and then his or her lungs. This can drastically decrease the individual’s chances of survival. It can also decrease this person’s length and quality of life in a hurry.

Thankfully, colon cancer can be prevented and if it is detected at an early age, it can be cured. Colon cancer is more prevalent in men and it can be detected through a colonoscopy. This is also known as a colon cancer screening.

A colonoscopy is when a doctor uses a camera to determine whether or not polyps exist in the individual’s colon. While the standard is to use a fiber optic camera, or a similar alternative, there have been recent developments in non-invasive colon cancer screening methods. The most popular method is known as a virtual colonoscopy. It uses two, three-dimensional images gathered from computer tomography scans, and nuclear magnetic resonance scans.

A traditional colonoscopy lasts about 30 minutes. While it is best to ask your doctor when you should have one done, the rule of thumb is at least once every 10 years if you are over 50 years old.

A cancer screening is conducted by a gastroenterologist. This kind of doctor specializes in the digestive track. He or she knows what to look for.

After the screening, most people feel OK. However, you will more than likely still feel the effects of the anesthesia you were given prior to the procedure.

A colon cancer screening is an essential part of staying healthy as one gets older. Early detection and action is the key to surviving colon cancer. This is even more important if colon cancer runs in your family.

The study released included the monitoring of 1,071 people that have Lynch syndrome, which is a genetic condition that can boost the risk of developing colon cancer and a couple of other forms of cancer. Researchers feel that people who are at a higher risk for developing colon cancer can help to stave off the disease by taking a daily dose of aspirin. Aspirin can help to alleviate pain and migraines but if taken too often it can cause bleeding while also irritating the stomach and intestines. This study was recently released, in early September, and the sample size was less than 1,500 people so experts across the globe have yet to clearly define aspirin as the best way to prevent colon cancer.

Aside from taking aspirin on a daily basis, there are other methods to prevent the development of colon cancer not only in high risk patients but also patients at average or low risk levels of developing the disease. Doctors recommend that regular colon cancer screening begin at the age of 50 for those who are at a high risk for developing the disease. The American Cancer Society has released screening guidelines that include annual fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, double contrast barium enema every five years, colonoscopy every 10 years, virtual colonoscopy every five years and stool DNA testing.

Doctors also recommend people who are at high risk of developing colon cancer to make lifestyle changes if they wish to prevent the development of the disease. Certain lifestyle changes include eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains; drink alcohol in moderation, if at all stop smoking immediately, exercise as many days out of the week as possible and maintain a healthy weight. Four other options for reducing the risk of colon cancer include aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs other than aspirin, Celecoxib and surgery to prevent cancer. Not all of these options are viable choices for those at high risk of developing colon cancer when it comes to preventing the development of the disease. If you are at a high risk for developing the disease, you should speak with your doctor for the best treatment options possible before making any life altering decisions involving your diet and exercise regimen.

Those with Stage IV Colon Cancer are often split up into two groups; patients with unresectable, or widespread, that cannot be treated and patients whose cancer has grown in just a single area. If a patient falls into the latter category, it is possible for them to receive a targeted treatment specified to that area to help them. However, a majority of those with Stage IV Colon Cancer fall into the first category. In years past, treatments and attempts to cure the area have not been effective. With today’s technology though, there are more chemotherapy drugs along with these specified therapies that are increasing the chances of survival. The following will entail normal colon cancer treatments.

For the longest time, the drug fluorouracil was the basic treatment administered to those with widespread cancer. Fluorouracil, also known as 5-FU, is given along with Leucovorin. Through this combination, the drugs bind together and can stay inside the cell for an extended amount of time, which enhances the anticancer effects for a long time.

In addition to that, the drugs Eloxatin or Camptosar may be used as well. With this theory, experimented with by Italian researchers, it was found that around one third of those patients had an anticancer response to the additional drugs. Those with Eloxatin survived for 15 months and those who were given Camptosar survived for 14 months

Another treatment for colon cancer is Avastin. Avastin is a targeted therapy that cuts off VEGF. VEGF is a protein that is a big part of the blood vessel producing process. Through this, it takes away nutrients and oxygen from the cancer and limits its growth. Additionally, it is believed that through Avastin, the delivery of chemotherapy to the area will be improved. Avastin is used often in addition to 5-FU. It has been proven that patients treated with chemotherapy and Avastin, lived longer than those who were solely treated with chemotherapy.

Oral chemotherapy is another form of treatment for those with Stage IV Colon Cancer. Xeloda, a pill

form of 5-FU, is taken orally rather than having an injection to the vein. Xeloda is beneficial, as it produces similar outcomes to 5-FU while allowing patients to be treated from home with the pill.

For those who have had their cancer spread to a single site, there are a few options for treatment. One is surgery. According to the Mayo Clinic, those who select surgery have a chance to live longer. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic, attempted the surgeries on a select number of patients. Five years later, 55% of the patients remained cancer free.

Hepatic Artery Infusion is another option. This route of treatment, directs chemotherapy into the vessel that gives blood to the liver. Like, Avastin, this type of treatment helped those live longer than patients who solely went with chemotherapy.

Radiofrequency ablation is another path of treatment. RFA fights off cancer cells with extreme heat produced by high-frequency radio waves. A more grueling route to go, it does have its benefits with studies showing that patients survived for an average of 28 months.

New drugs and chemotherapy techniques are constantly being developed in hopes of doctors trailing them with patients. Stage IV Colon Cancer is tough to beat, but there are ways of doing it and hopefully, there are more treatments on the way.

An abnormal pouch swelling inside the intestines characterizes diverticulitis. The presence alone of these random pouches is called diverticulosis. These pouches normally do not develop early in life, with most cases of diverticulitis coming in adults over the age of 40. They do develop because of high or abnormal pressure inside the colon. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom. It is most often felt in lower left side, but is not limited to that sole area. Fever, vomiting, the chills, and weight loss are all possible symptoms of diverticulitis. If it is just a small case, more often than not it can be simply treated with antibiotics. However, there a few cases where surgery is necessary. If there is a hole in the colon, if there is a buildup of pus surrounded by swelling, or if abnormal connections between different areas of the colon are present, surgery will be needed to remove it. Prevention of this disease can be taken care of with a high fiber diet and cutting out nuts and seeds.

Clostridium difficile is a complication that can cause a wide array of symptoms from something as minor as diarrhea to something as major as colon inflammation to the life threatening extent. Believe it or not, C-Diff can come about from taking antibiotics. Mild cases of Clostridium difficile do not have the most glaring symptoms. They include watery diarrhea three plus times a day for two or more days as well as mild ab cramps or tenderness. C-Diff is known to inflame the colon or to create patches of tissue that will bleed or produce pus. Loss of appetite, nausea, fever as well as watery diarrhea 10 to 15 times a day along with severe cases of abdominal pain and cramping can signal a severe infection. C-Diff can essentially be found anywhere. It can be in water, dirt, and the air, along with human or animal feces. A few healthy people living in the world even naturally carry it. Taking antibiotics can sometimes kill off some of the helpful bacteria that are in the intestines that protect us from illness. Without these helpful bacteria, C-Diff can grow extensively where it creates toxins that attack the intestinal lining. This is how inflammation of the colon and other complications come about. As earlier mentioned, a different antibiotic can treat C-Diff. Metronidazoleis often used for mild cases while Vancomycin is used for more severe cases. These stop C-Diff from growing and allow normal bacteria to be abundantly present again. Other precautions to protect oneself from C-Diff. Include washing of hands, household cleaning, and not using antibiotics if possible.

“The data from BOXER shows that Avastin in combination with standard chemotherapy has the ability to shrink metastatic lesions which might allow surgical removal and therefore offer a potential for cure for 2/5 patients with advanced disease,” said Professor David Cunningham. Cunningham is the Head of the Gastrointestinal Unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital, UK. Other information obtained from the results of the study include the time period patients lived without the disease advancing. Patients aged 65 years or younger lived 10.8 months without their disease advancing, patients aged between 65 and 74 lived 11.2 months without their disease advancing, and patients aged 75 years or older lived 10 months without their disease advancing.

Another drug studied in the Avastin study was Xelox. “We know that XELOX helps keep patients free from recurrence of their cancer longer,’’ said Dr Dan Haller. Haller is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “These results now confirm that patients have an additional option for the treatment of stage III colon cancer. In these potentially curable patients, XELOX offers the additional benefit of an oral medication, Xeloda.’’

“Colorectal cancer sadly claims more than 600,000 lives each year, despite the treatment advances made in the last decade” said William M. Burns. Burns is the CEO of Roche’s Pharmaceuticals. “Today’s announcements about Avastin and Xeloda are therefore very welcome news for patients and their families as they offer more options for fighting this disease and hope that some patients may even have the potential to be cured” said Burns.

It is estimated that more than 500,000 patients across the globe have been treated with Avastin so far when it comes to fighting colon cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer across the globe today. Other trials are being conducted regarding the use of Avastin to treat other forms of cancerous tumors including colorectal, breast, 4/5 non-small cell lung, brain, gastric, ovarian, prostate and many other forms of cancer. If the studies turn out to show that Avastin can treat these forms of cancers then this will be a major medical breakthrough regarding the treatment of cancer.

One of these small breakthroughs is something that will not only make it easier to fight and prevent colorectal cancer, but it will also make the lives of cancer patients a little easier. This new discovery will also put many people who are at risk of colon cancer at ease, because it may mean fewer colonoscopies! These uncomfortable procedures are situations that no one looks forward to. Colonoscopies have been improved somewhat in the last year or so, but they are still painful and awkward procedures, and hopefully the day will come when we can discover a newer, more comfortable colon cancer detecting procedure! Until then however, we will have to settle for a new blood test that scientists at Tel Aviv University have recently discovered.

People who have this blood test will still have to have regular colonoscopies, but taking the test may result in fewer colonoscopies. This new blood test can detect colon cancer polyp cells, which are precursors to colon cancer in the blood. This blood test will also help those who are not at risk for colon cancer to get checked out. Not many people will volunteer themselves for a colonoscopy, even though the procedure may save their life, but most people would gladly do a blood test to check for colon cancer. If the test reveals that everything is fine and you have no polyp cells in your colon, then you don’t have to worry about getting a painful colonoscopy. However, if the blood test shows that there are polyps, then a colonoscopy will be unavoidable.

This new blood test is painless, inexpensive and non invasive. It is conducted very similarly to any other routine blood test and it is very fast to do, which also makes it a great alternative to the colonoscopy, which takes up a large chunk of time to complete. Another reason this new blood test is a great discovery is because it can detect colon cancer, even when there are only low levels of it in your blood. The earlier you can catch colon cancer, the greater your chances of beating it are, and getting this blood test will save many people’s lives. If you are afraid of colonoscopies, like many people are, go and get this blood test – you may still have to undergo the uncomfortable procedure, but if you get positive results from the blood test, you won’t have to worry about getting a colonoscopy.