Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is cancer of the lower part of your digestive system. There are about 112,000 people diagnosed with colon cancer each year. Whether you suffer from sigmoid colon cancer or metastatic colon cancer, most cases begin as small, non cancerous polyps.

Colon cancer symptoms can be obvious or hide themselves for years. Symptoms of colon cancer may resemble other non cancerous conditions. Please discuss with your physician the colon cancer early symptoms.

Colon cancer symptoms are many, yet some of the symptoms of colon cancer are similar to those used to diagnose other conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease of any of the types of colitis.

The primary colon cancer symptom can be a change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool for more than a couple of weeks are the main. Unfortunately, this colon cancer sign can also happen in people suffering from these other GI tract conditions.

If you have rectal bleeding or blood in your stool, this also may be a symptom of colon cancer but also happens with hemorrhoids and Crohn's Disease and any type of colitis.

Other symptoms of colon cancer can include persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain, abdominal pain with a bowel movement, a feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely, weakness or fatigue and unexplained weight loss. Be careful as these colon cancer symptoms also happen in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease and all type of colitis.

If you have ANY uncomfortable symptoms associated with your gastrointestinal system and are concerned about colon cancer, please see your physician. If you do or do not have colon cancer, but have uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms, you can benefit from an all natural treatment plan designed to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This plan can restore health to your gastrointestinal system, end your symptoms, help colon cancer and possibly prevent it if you are concerned.

Colon cancer happens when healthy cells divide improperly. Colon cancer can begin as non-cancerous polyps and eventually grow to become cancerous. Sigmoid colon cancer occurs in the lower left side of your colon, between the descending colon and rectum.

Metastatic colon cancer occurs in later stages of the disease when cells penetrate the colon wall and spreads (metastasize) to other organs or to lymph nodes. 

About 90 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are older than 50, but it can occur in younger people, but it occurs less frequently. If you have already had polyps, you may have a higher risk.

Untreated inflammatory conditions of the colon such as colitis and Crohn's Disease can increase your risk of colon cancer. You are more likely to develop it if you have a family history of it and a higher risk if you have more than one family member with it.  Genetics can play a role, but colon cancers within the same family may result from shared exposure to an environmental carcinogen or from diet or lifestyle factors.

A colonoscopy is an invasive procedure that allows a physician to look inside the large intestine. Recommended for people after the age of 50 and every 10 years, the colonoscopy is also used for diagnosis of possible cancers and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's Disease and Colitis. The colonoscopy procedure is also used in patients suspected of having Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Colonoscopy enables a visual inspection of the large intestine. A scope with video camera is inserted into the rectum and can detect dysplasia (pre-cancer), cancer, polyps or any inflammatory process evident in conditions like Crohn's Disease or any type of Colitis.

The colonoscopy procedure is highly recommended for those over 50 with a family history of colon cancer.

Colonoscopy preparation requires a flushing out of the intestines with a laxative and eating a liquid diet for 2-3 days prior to the colonosocpy.  A colonoscopy sedation  is given at the beginning of the procedure to make the patient more comfortable.

Colonoscopy risks are rare but do include perforation, bleeding, infection or some residual gas after the procedure.

Something to consider after the colonoscopy test is that there are natural alternatives to what your conventional physician might recommend.

Cancer: If dysplasia (pre-cancerous tissue) is found, with proper caution, an all natural treatment protocol similar to the treatment plan Dr. Prater recommends for Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Inflammatory Bowel Disease may restore health to the tissue and rid the patient of dysplasia.

If active cancer is found, conventional treatment plans recommended by your physician are usually the best route and can be improved if you compliment it with the natural plan described by Dr. Prater mentioned above.