Colon cancer, also called colorectal cancer, is the third most prevalent cancer in the United States. It was reported that last year alone more than 100,000 people living in the U.S. have started receiving treatment for colon cancer and this figure does not include the number of patients that succumbed to this disease in that same year. Almost 50,000 have died from it over the past year.
It is sad to think that amidst all the medical breakthroughs now available for the early detection of colon cancer, scores of people still have to die from it. Although the number of casualties is staggering, this is, in fact, a far cry from the record-high incidence of deaths caused by colon cancer back in the 80’s and early 90’s when much of the modern medical facilities we have now were still unavailable.
As with all types of cancer, the chances of anyone surviving from colon cancer is greatest when it is detected early. People who are at risk of contracting this disease should have themselves examined by a physician periodically. Men and women have about the same probability of acquiring colon cancer but there are factors that make some of us more susceptible to this disease than others.
The following conditions could make one a candidate for colon cancer:
People who don’t have any of the conditions above may less likely develop colon cancer but there has been cases, although few, in which colon cancer has been found to develop in these individuals. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to your health at all times.
See to it that none of the following symptoms are bothering you for these are manifestations of colon cancer:
If more than one of these symptoms are experienced it is advisable to consult a doctor. The presence of colon cancer can be determined by using any of several procedures now available and these are done to check on the rectal areas and the blood.
As said previously, the earlier colon cancer is treated the greater one’s chances are to recover from it. By knowing the nature of colon cancer and how vulnerable we are to the disease is one of the ways that we could help ourselves and maybe others too, to win over this malady.
It is sad to think that amidst all the medical breakthroughs now available for the early detection of colon cancer, scores of people still have to die from it. Although the number of casualties is staggering, this is, in fact, a far cry from the record-high incidence of deaths caused by colon cancer back in the 80’s and early 90’s when much of the modern medical facilities we have now were still unavailable.
As with all types of cancer, the chances of anyone surviving from colon cancer is greatest when it is detected early. People who are at risk of contracting this disease should have themselves examined by a physician periodically. Men and women have about the same probability of acquiring colon cancer but there are factors that make some of us more susceptible to this disease than others.
The following conditions could make one a candidate for colon cancer:
- Mature individuals who are at least 50 years old
- Individuals who have developed cancer in the past but who may have recovered from it.
- Known family members who have suffered from either colon or rectum cancer either polyposis or non–polyposis in nature.
- If tumors have been found in your system especially along the lining of the rectum.
- If you have a medical past on any of the two inflammatory bowel diseases (either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
- If you’ve observed that you have a genetic disease called familial adenomatous polyposis.
People who don’t have any of the conditions above may less likely develop colon cancer but there has been cases, although few, in which colon cancer has been found to develop in these individuals. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to your health at all times.
See to it that none of the following symptoms are bothering you for these are manifestations of colon cancer:
- Bowel movement patterns have changed
- Your weight has gone down and your normal activities easily wear you out.
- You experience pains in your belly or tummy which is gassy in nature.
- You are prone to diarrhea or constipation and that you still feel discomfort even after bowel movement.
- There is blood mixed in your stool.
- There’s a feeling of nausea frequently
- The appearance of your stool, particularly the size looks different from normal
If more than one of these symptoms are experienced it is advisable to consult a doctor. The presence of colon cancer can be determined by using any of several procedures now available and these are done to check on the rectal areas and the blood.
As said previously, the earlier colon cancer is treated the greater one’s chances are to recover from it. By knowing the nature of colon cancer and how vulnerable we are to the disease is one of the ways that we could help ourselves and maybe others too, to win over this malady.
