colon rectal cancer

Important news on colorectal cancer symptoms. If you have high HDL cholesterol levels (good cholesterol), you might also have a reduced risk of colorectol cancer according to a new study.

If future work confirms this finding, those with low HDL (good) cholesterol levels should make changes to cut their chances of developing of colon cancer according to researchers.

Doctors know that lowering bad (LDL) and increasing the good (HDL) cholesterol lowers your risk of heart disease. This work gives you yet another reason to watch those numbers - staying free of dangerous colon cancer.

In this work, the experts compared 1,238 subjects with colorectal cancer to the same number of healthy controls. Of the participants who had cancer - just under 800 had colon cancer, with around 450 diagnosed with rectal cancer.

The team looked at blood samples and diet-lifestyle questionnaires filled out by the participants and found that subjects with elevated levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, along with another blood fat known as apolipoprotein A (apoA), had the lowest chance of developing cancer of the colon. There was no impact on rectal cancer rates.

For every 16.6 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) rise in good cholesterol, colon cancer risk was reduced by 22%, while a 32% increase in apoA brought the chances of colon cancer down by 18%. For a small number of participants followed for over two years, only the HDL levels were associated with a reduced risk of cancer of the colon.

This particular relationship is independent of other markers in blood that are tied to cancer. Things like inflammation, insulin resistance and free radicals. But is it the HDL cholesterol or some other biological factor that comes with good cholesterol that's responsible for the reduction in risk?

The reduced follow up period, only 3.6 years, is considered a limitation of the research, though the study has been well designed according to experts who had no part in the research, and is the largest ever of good cholesterol and risk of cancer of the colon.

Cancer of the colon starts in the large intestine (known medically as the colon) or at the end of the colon, the rectum. The American Cancer Society points out that colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer related deaths in the U.S.

Nearly all colon cancers start out as benign polyps that develop into cancer over time. The good news is that finding the cancer early, at the polyp stage when it's small and hasn't had chance to spread, is a key to a complete cure.

The team speculates that good cholesterol's anti-inflammatory properties might be the reason for the finding, but understand that more work is needed. If other studies bear out this finding, it may be that HDL levels become useful in assessing a patient's colon cancer risks.

If you're worried about your own risks of developing colorectal cancer symptoms, the best recommendations are to try and achieve high HDL cholesterol levels by stopping smoking, being more active on a regular basis, get your weight under control and limit your intake of both red/processed meats and alcohol.

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Bowel cancer or colorectal cancer is the most common internal cancer that occurs in humans. Bowel cancer is also the second most frequent cause of death after lung cancer. Typically, bowel cancer occurs in the colon (large intestine) and the rectum (back passage). However, in some very small number of cases of this disease, it can also occur in the small intestine. Frequently, the colorectal cancer develops from polyps that grow inside the lining of the intestine wall. When the polyps become malignant, they turn into cancer. Untreated, bowel cancer can grow through the wall of the intestine and spread to other parts of the body.

While death mostly occurs in advanced stages of this disease, the chances for recovery for this cancer are very high if it is detected in its early stages. The success of the recovery can be more than 90% of all cases. Early symptoms of bowel cancer resemble minor intestinal problems such as constipation, gas, and so forth. It is very important for you to notice any changes in your bowel habits and digestion and seek medical help...

If you have any of the following symptoms for three weeks or longer, it could be a sign of colorectal cancer, and you should see your doctor immediately. These symptoms include:

- Rectal bleeding

Your back passage bleeds without any apparent reason. The blood can be found in your stool or on your toilet paper following a bowel movement. Along with that, you may also find other symptoms such as lumps, itchiness, straining and soreness around the rectum. Hemorrhoids can also cause these same symptoms. Make a habit to look into the bowl prior to flushing to watch for these symptoms.

- Changes in bowel movement habits

You may experience constant constipation or diarrhea due to the disturbance of muscles. Constipation is usually followed by a feeling of not feeling completely empty even when you already have passed the stool. Meanwhile, diarrhea causes more frequent bowel movements and often with lots of clear, jelly-like mucus.

- Pain in abdominal area

Abdominal pain can be constant or periodic. For some people, it lingers and does not go away. For some others, it comes and goes at unexpected times. When the pain becomes serious, you should contact your physician to get immediate help.

- Anemia

If you bleed often while passing a stool, there is a chance you suffer from anemia. This shows up as unexpected fatigue and breathlessness.

- A lump found in your abdomen or tummy, especially on the right side.

- Unexplained and unexpected weight loss; often along with an unexplained loss of appetite.

To find out more information about Bowel Cancer Symptoms, please visit Bowel Cancer Symptoms. You will find some useful information and tips.

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Colon cancer is a disease that progresses slowly and is highly unnoticeable. However, early diagnosis and medication for this type of cancer is very important. Having knowledge of the symptoms of colon cancer can be a good way to avoid the fatality of the disease through earlier treatment.

It is not easy to discover if one has colon cancer. This is why doctors advice people over 50 years old to undergo colonoscopy. Even if the results show negative signs for cancer, recurrent examinations every after ten years is also recommended. But if the findings yield a possibility for cancer - even if the chance is small - the patient should submit to colonoscopy every two years.

An early symptom of colon cancer that is often overlooked is excess gas. If you feel bloated and your stomach literally hardens after eating, then this may be a sign of a tumor growing within your system and blocking the path of the waste materials in your body. You may also suffer constipation due to the blockage and this will eventually lead to constant stomach or abdominal pains. Diarrhea and dehydration can also occur due to changes in bowel habits. If your bowel habits remain abnormal for more than two weeks, then this could already be an indication of colon cancer. These pains can be accompanied by swelling.

Bloody stools can also be indication of colon cancer. However, this symptom can also signify other health problems such as UTI or anal fissures. Blood in stools should not be disregarded because it often leads to more complicated diseases if not consulted to a doctor immediately.

Another possible sign of colon cancer is anemia. The type of anemia closely related to cancer is hemorrhage or excessive bleeding. Hemorrhage can be a side effect of past or current medication but if you suddenly acquired the sickness, you may be advised to undergo series of check ups to ensure that you don't have any other ailments.

You may also find your weight abruptly decreasing even if you are not making any effort in dieting. Furthermore, you will start losing appetite and will feel nauseated usually after a meal. These symptoms are similar to other less harmful diseases but if they continue after 24 hours or after medication, you should now seek more extensive diagnosis.

Diagnoses for colon cancer often include a stool test - both stool blood test and stool DNA test; Sigmoidoscopy - examination of the lower colon only; and Colonoscopy - examination of the entire colon. Colonoscopy is the most recommended diagnosis and the most accurate amongst the three. This method uses a thin tube with a camera on one end. The tube is inserted through the rectum and the camera captures the internal appearance of the colon to check for possible tumor growth and any other irregularities. These diagnostic procedures have increased the survival rights of cancer-inflicted people but may no longer be able to help once the cancer has already advanced to higher stage. Abrupt diagnosis after all coincides with abrupt treatment. So if you are experiencing any of these early symptoms of colon cancer, then it is best to contact a doctor now.

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Symptoms of colon cancer can be sneaky, because we all have some of these symptoms once in a while. The time to be concerned is if the symptoms persist for two weeks or more. We all have bowel movements and it is alright to talk to your doctor about your bowel habits.

Changes in bowel habits can be a clue to the fact that our colon is not healthy. This doesn't necessarily mean there is a significant problem, but if these changes continue over a couple weeks, it is time to talk to the doctor. A change is anything that is different for us. It may be constipation when this has never been a problem for you before or it may be diarrhea that lasts for two weeks. The first thing to consider, of course, is what have you been eating? We all have bouts of constipation, if we aren't getting enough fruits and vegetables; so the first thing we should do is increase or start eating fruits and vegetables. Diarrhea hits if we eat too many fruits and vegetables, or too much greasy food, or if we eat something that has spoiled. You should decrease the amounts of fruits and vegetables, and or the amount of fried foods, when you develop diarrhea. A bacteria or "bug" that is going around can gives you diarrhea and, in and of itself, isn't a cause to panic about symptoms of colon cancer. But if these symptoms go on for 2 or more weeks, then it is time to call your doctor.

Diarrhea is when you have loose or liquid stool or increased number of stools in a day. Constipation is when you have hard stools or you haven't had a bowel movement for 3 or more days. Everyone's bowel habits vary from time to time and what is normal for one person is not necessarily normal for the next person. It is changes that you should pay attention to.
Bright red or very dark red blood in your stools is another sign not all is well. The most common cause of blood in stools is hemorrhoids. These are tags that form in the rectum that can fill with blood and then break and bleed. The bleeding from hemorrhoids should not last for more than a day or two at the most. So when you continue to have blood in your stools this is a symptom that needs to be reported and checked by your doctor.

Narrow stools or stools that are pencil shaped are another sign that the colon is not healthy. Again if this continues it is time to call your doctor.

Another sign of trouble is increased and persistent gas pain, bloating, a feeling of fullness with or with out decreased appetite and abdominal (tummy) cramping that continues for 2 weeks.

Again symptoms of colon cancer are not that uncommon to us. We all go through times that our colons aren't healthy, but when these changes go on for 2 weeks, it is time to go to the doctor and find out why things aren't normal. Symptoms of colon cancer can be caused by other things, so why worry? Go get checked out if you have:

When you are aware of what is normal and what is not normal you are better prepared to talk to your doctor about your body.

So eat your fruits and vegetables and have your colonoscopy when you are fifty and every 5 years after that.

Wishing you good colon health and God Bless you.

I am a registered nurse with 37 years experience, specializing in cancer nursing. Offering advice, guidance, and support for cancer patients and their loved ones.
http://thecancernurse.blogspot.com/

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Colon cancer is one of the preventable cancers and its symptoms are not easily identifiable. The colon cancer, when diagnosed, is usually at the advanced stage. It is also necessary to be informed about the symptoms of colon cancer as it would help you to take care of your health.

There are many symptoms and these symptoms cannot be identified in the early stages of cancer. Hence, it is highly recommended to opt for regular health checkups once an individual attains the age of fifty.

The symptoms are classified into two types. They are Local and Systemic symptoms.

The local colon cancer symptoms are diarrhea, constipation, changes in bowel movement and frequent gas pains or cramps. The systemic colon cancer symptoms are jaundice, anemia, unexplained fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and jaundice.

It is necessary to consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms mentioned above. This will help you to do the necessary tests and also prepare yourself before doing these tests.

The different stages of colon cancer are described here:
The first stage is the stage 0 i.e. is the earliest stage. This stage can be described as the findings of a group of abnormal cells in an individual's colon. This stage is just the beginning of cancer and is not dangerous to the individual's life.The next stage is the stage I when the cancer has spread outwards beyond the inner tissue layer that exists on the wall of the individual's colon.The stage II is divided into Stage IIA and Stage IIB. In stage II A, is the cancer spreads to the middle layers of the tissue in the walls of the colon and the surrounding tissues. Stage IIB occurs when the cancer has spread into the organs in the region or into the abdominal wall.In stage III, the cancer spreads to the other organs of the body and requires aggressive treatment such as chemotherapy, surgical resection and other medical therapies.In the stage IV, this cancer spreads to other organs such as liver or lungs.

Chemotherapy is recommended for treating the stage III and stage IV along with the biologic therapies. It is sometimes also recommended for the stage II.

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Spotting colorectal cancer symptoms early is vital to the prognosis of the condition. In cancer, getting early treatment is very important. If the cancer has been spotted on time, measures might be taken to eradicate the cancer cells from your body. During the first stages of cancer development, your doctor might opt for surgery. This way, they would be able to remove the cancer cells from the body without harming your normal ones. Late stages of cancer would require chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This type of treatment would not only kill your cancer cells but would also affect your normal cells.

The symptoms of colorectal cancer usually depend on the location and the size of the mass. However, most of them are pretty much the same. So, how do we spot the symptoms of colorectal cancer? Here are the most common manifestations of the condition:

• Changes in bowel movements. Different people manifest different signs. For some, their stools are looser than usual. For others, they frequently experience constipation. There are also some that have reported not being able to defecate at all. Not being able to defecate for several days is what usually prompts them to go see a doctor.

• Bleeding. Bleeding is almost always a common symptom of cancer. This could be due to a variety of reasons. One would be because the tumor has swelled to a certain size and has ruptured certain capillaries or veins, thus causing the bleeding. Another would be that the tumor itself has ruptured. Bleeding in cancer may not always be evident. There would be times that you would really be able to see fresh blood but, more often than not, the bleeding might go undetected. Black stools are great indicators of intestinal bleeding. The black color of the stools comes from the mixture or blood with fecal matter.

• Narrow stools. Some medical practitioners refer to this as ribbon-like stools. This could be caused by the narrowing of your colon or rectal passageway. This narrowing is caused by the tumor growth in your intestines. Your stool would not be able to pass through properly, thus the change in their appearance. So, when do you get alarmed? If you observe that your stools start looking like pencils, or you start to notice that your stools look more different than usual, consult your doctor immediately. Do not wait for your symptoms to worsen.

• The feeling of wanting to defecate again after just defecating could be caused by a growth in your bowels. The feeling is caused by the mass bumping into the opposite intestinal wall. Your bowels' messages to your brain would cause you to think that this is fecal matter, and you would try to push it out.

These four manifestations would be the most common symptoms felt by a patient that is suspected to have colorectal cancer. When you notice that you are exhibiting these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. This way, he would be able to recommend some laboratory tests so that he could make an accurate colon cancer diagnosis.

For more information on Different Types of Diseases, Symptoms and Diagnoses, Please visit: Colorectal Cancer Symptoms and Colon Cancer Diagnosis.

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