James S. Pendergraft
Colorectal cancer or large bowl cancer is the cancer in the colon, rectum and appendix.
These are abnormal growth of polyps that later develop cancerous.
The diagnosis is done through colonoscopy. The treatment is done by the surgery followed by chemotherapy.
Factors contributing towards colorectal cancer
Age: People in the age of 60s – 70s have higher chances of developing this cancer as the risk increases with age.
Polyps: It is believed that colon cancer arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. A history of polyps in the colon makes you more prone to the risk of cancer.
Heredity: Colorectal cancer can be inherited by a family member. If a member of the family was diagnosed with similar cancer, the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases.
Cancer History: People who have earlier developed cancer and eventually been treated of it are at a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer again. Even women with history of uterine or ovarian cancer are more prone to developing this cancer.
Environment: People who are living in industrialized countries like United States, United Kingdom etc. are at a higher risk of developing the cancer as compared to the people living in under developed countries. This is because of the reason that the traditional diet is rich in fiber content and low in fats.
Alcohol: Taking alcohol is believed to be the cause of an early arrival of cancer. People taking 45 grams of alcohol per day are at a higher risk of developing cancer than the people who take 30 grams of alcohol per day.
Smoking: People who have been smoking for a long time are more likely to develop colorectal cancer than the people who do not smoke at all. Studies have shown that inhaling or eating tobacco produces carcinogens (cancer causing cells) in the colon. Tobacco can also increase the size of the polyps present in the colon.
Diet: A balanced diet that is rich in its fiber contents and low in cholesterol and fats (mainly animal fat) is believed to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer to a large extent. A nutritious diet that is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and fish is advisable as it keeps a person healthy and fit.
Diabetes: People who are dependent on external insulin have 40% more chances of developing the colorectal cancer.
Inactive life style: People who lead an active life style are at a lower risk of developing cancer of the colon. Good and regular exercise has always lowered the risk of developing any kind of disease. Sedentary life style increases your risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): People who are suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease develop ulcers and colitis in the colon. This can further lead to Crohn’s disease, thereby increasing the risk of colorectal cancer.
Obesity: People who tend to put on more weight than the recommended weight for their body are called obese. Obese people are more prone to colorectal cancer than the people who are slim.
Virus: Exposure to some strains of viruses like human papilloma virus is believed to cause colorectal cancer.
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By: Alexandria Yates
If you're the kind of person that goes crazy for nuts, particularly pistachios, you may be doing your body a favor and reducing your risk of contracting lung cancer as well as other malignant cell growths, by snacking on a handful a day. A recent study conducted at the Houston Center at Texas Woman's University made just such a conclusion.
Pistachios are rich in a form of vitamin E, called gamma-tocopherol, which occurs naturally in plant-derived foods. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant and works by assisting the body destroy pro-aging and cancer-causing free radicals. The purpose of the study was to see if eating pistachios every day, about 2 ounces worth, would lead to an increased level of gamma-tocopherols in a person's body which would provide the benefits associated with elevated anti-oxidant levels. The study was led by Ladia M. Hernandez M.S., R.D., L.D., the senior research dietician in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and is also a doctoral candidate at Texas Woman's University. In the controlled 6-week clinical study, 18 participants made up the control group and 18 were part of the intervention group, totaling 36 healthy participants in all.
The study started out with a two week baseline period and after this, the intervention group was provided with 68 grams (two ounces or about 117 nuts) of pistachios for 4 weeks per person. The control group kept up with their normal diet.
"It is known that vitamin E provides a degree of protection against certain forms of cancer. Higher intakes of gamma-tocopherol, which is a form of vitamin E, may reduce the risk of lung cancer," said Hernandez in a news release from the American Association for Cancer Research.
During and after the study, the participants were measured for their intake response as well as their blood serum levels of gamma-tocopherol. The intake was measured using the Nutrition Data System for Research Version 2007 (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Nutrition) and the amount of pistachios consumed was observed using diet logs and by weighing the pistachios that were returned.
The Results of the Study
Hernandez and her team found an increased level of gamma-tocopherols in the group who consumed the pistachios versus the control group. This was seen as early as the third or fourth week and continued on well into the fifth and sixth week.
":Pistachios are one of those 'good-for-you' nuts, and two ounces per day could be incorporated into dietary strategies designed to reduce the risk of lung cancer without significant changes in body mass index," Hernandez said.
Eating pistachios may provide additional benefits as well.Vitamin E has been shown to decrease the damaging effects of LDL (bad) cholesterol by preventing it from
oxidizing and sticking to the artery walls as plaque. It also helps the circulatory system by improving the blood's ability to clot properly and therefore aiding in the healing of wounds.
It is important to remember that the best sources of vitamin E are from foods rather than supplements made with synthetically derived vitamin E. This usually appears on labels as dl-alpha-tocopher(y)l acetate or dl-alpha-tocopher(y)l succinate. If you prefer to supplement a healthy diet with natural vitamin E supplements then look for all-natural products, devoid of chemical fillers, with the vitamin E ingredient listed as d-alpha tocopheryl acetate or d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate without the (dl) suffix.
The reason for this distinction is because synthetic vitamin E is a byproduct of the petroleum industry and, although molecularly it may look similar to naturally derived vitamin E, the human body can tell the difference between the two and will metabolize them differently. The body knows what to do with natural vitamin E but has a hard time figuring out what to do with a toxin.
In case you are not a fan of pistachios or you would prefer a variety, other types of nuts high in gamma-tocopherols include walnuts, peanuts, pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts. The solutions for an optimal diet can truly be found in nature.
Apollo News Daily is a group of dedicated individuals that has included Alexandria Yates to their staff. Their mission is to bring as much acurate information and original material to the public so that they can educate themselves to the world around them. For More great articles visit: http://www.apollonewsdaily.com
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By Gwen Sherwood
Chemo brain has a variety of symptoms. The intensity varies as well. With some sufferers, symptoms may last a few weeks. For others it may take years to get over. With that in mind, are there standard chemo brain treatments? What can be done to speed up recovery? What is the best solution to get your life back on track?
The symptoms are temporary. With that in mind, treatment focuses on coping with symptoms. Coping until they go away sooner or later. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are no standard chemo brain treatments.
Symptoms differ from person to person. How severe and how long also differs. With this in mind, chemo brain treatments are different for every person.
Other issues may cause symptoms as well. These issues may also result from cancer treatment. Controlling these other factors may also help. These issues may include:
- Depression
- Anemia
- Sleeping problems
- Early menopause
No drug is approved for chemo brain treatments. That is also according to the Mayo Clinic. But chemo brain treatments can include drugs to treat the symptoms. Drugs used for the following may be helpful:
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Sleep disorders
- Alzheimer's disease
The cognitive problems can be very scary. You feel like you are losing your mind. Losing your mind is losing your personality and self. It is one of the hardest things to deal with.
Some ways to help cope with memory issues are:
- Tracking memory problems. You may find patterns that can help you schedule your day so you can perform better.
- Learning coping strategies. Like taking notes when you read something. Get a personal digital assistant to help track appointments is another example. Be strict about putting things like keys in a certain place.
- Stress relief. Stress can cause memory problems. Having memory problems can cause stress. Break this cycle by learning how to relax.
It is only recently that the condition is recognized as real. As more studies are done, there will be more studies on chemo brain treatments.
The symptoms are close to dementia. Age related dementia takes decades to appear. You take on coping strategies slowly, over time. You don't even notice it happening.
With chemo brain, you have just survived cancer. That is a life changing experience. The symptoms come on all at once. You are mentally and physically defeated. That's why it is so much harder to deal with.
I've done a lot of research on this topic. The best solution I've come across is brain training. It is one of the best treatments because it's usually fast acting. Many improve in a few weeks.
I encourage you to look into memory and thinking exercises. Ones that can help your brain repair broken circuits. The best are those that others have used in their own chemo brain treatments. Where they can provide tried and true results.
Thousands have trained their brains to think again. Why not you?
Many improve in just a few weeks.
By clicking through on this link, you will learn what others have used in their chemo brain treatments to get back into peak condition.
http://www.chemobrain.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gwen_Sherwood
By: Terri Richards
I don't have cancer. But my Mom and my best friend do. Two of my grandparents did too. Many times I have thought about the great strength they have shown in fighting this elusive opponent. How do you fight it? You can't see it on the outside, but you know it's there. Any given day you wonder if it is growing or if it is going away. They keep swinging away at it, sometimes taking a very bad beating. But like a prize fighter they somehow find the heart to stay in the ring.
Those of us who do not have cancer are amazed at the amount of courage and strength we see in these special people. If faced with the same diagnosis, would we find the same strength? What would we draw on in our lives to give us the same strength we see in them? I think it is universal for every human being, that we are stronger than we think.
There are many stories written about cancer patients. Not one story describes how someone just laid down and gave up. They fought it. And they did it with grace, courage and humility. In doing so, they touch many lives. Even the children teach us how to face our own fears. They teach us to embrace life, treasure each day and not sweat the small stuff.
Hope is a feeling of possibility. Faith and belief are knowing that the possibility will come true. Picture yourself holding onto an invisible rope. Feel the roughness between your hands as you start to climb. No one else can see it but you know it's there. Maybe you are starting out with a string, not a rope. That is okay. You can add more fibers, such as God, prayer, love, spirituality, gratitude, peace, knowledge, purpose and many more. The rope becomes easier to climb as it gets thicker. You can keep climbing to the top or just hang on.
My wish for you is that you will get to the top. You can even just hang on for now until you are strong enough to begin climbing again. From those of us who do not have cancer, I can truly say that we are in awe of you. We love you and pray for you. You are our true heroes.
Terri Richards is a registered nurse and author that specializes in health related issues.Visit my blog at: www.healthhelp01.wordpress.com to purchase the new eBook, "The Guide to Coping With Cancer" for only $2.99!
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