This article explains a lot of facts about what colon cancer is and what is the main sign of colon cancer. Colon cancer is a definition that is used to describe colo-rectal (or bowel) cancer. The colon is part of the intestines. Those intestines consist of the small intestine (between the stomach and the appendix) and the large intestine (from the appendix to the anus). The large intestine is divided into the long colon and a short rectum, just before the anus. Two thirds of these cancers occur in the colon and one third in the rectum.

There is a range of different symptoms related to colon cancer. The main signs of colon cancer include abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation, blood in the faeces. But fact is that all symptoms vary from person to person so you can never tell for sure, and there even cases without any signs at all. If you discover any sign of colon cancer, contact a doctor immediately. It could be bleeding from your rectum or blood mixed with your stool. Quite often though, people think that this is related to hemorrhoids, which prevents them from getting the correct diagnosis and treatment at the early stages when the chances are highest.

Here is a list of colon cancer signs: Pain in the lower abdominal area, Chronic colon problems with bowel movements, Diarrhea lasting more than several days, Chronic colon problems with bowel movements, obstruction of bowel movements, iron deficiency anemia which may indicate bleeding in the colon, blood in the stool, significant weight loss, abdominal mass or hardness in the abdomen, significant change in bowel habit, appendix pain as colon cancer signs.

A sign of colon cancer is an indication that something is not right in the body. But signs are defined as things that can be seen by a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional. But a single sign may not be enough to define the exact condition. There are cases where cancers start in places where it does not cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown quite large.

So in this chain of thoughts, it must be pointed out that having any of the colon cancer signs listed above doesn’t mean that you have cancer as there are many other conditions that can cause the exact same signs and symptoms. There could be a different cause for each of these signs, but the idea is to let the doctor know of this so that it can be investigated.

You can find out more about the Signs Of Colon Cancer as well as much more information on everything to do with colon health at http://www.ColonHealthTips.com
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Colon cancer was one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S in 2005. 72,000 men and 69,000 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. About 26,700 and 26,200 died from colorectal cancer. It is a disease that is very common in today’s world, but the good news is that the survival rate has been going up for the last 20 years.

The reason for this is better health care, faster treatment and modern advances. Doctors believe that colon cancer could almost be completely prevented if people went to regular screenings such as a colonoscopy. Today many new techniques for screening are being discovered, they are less intrusive and take less time, so going on routine screenings is easier than ever.

The average survival rate for patients that have been struck by colon cancer is:

62% in Austria
43% in Europe
68% in Korea
62% in the United States of America

It also depends on which stage the cancer is caught. The earlier the stage, the better your chances of survival. For example, if the disease is caught at its earliest stage, all that is needed is a small incision to remove the growth and you’re done. At its earliest stage, the survival rate is above 95%. Getting regular screenings is crucial to discovering the disease in time and increasing your chances of survival.

It is said that if Americans were screened regularly, it would save about 25,000 lives each and every year. You can also decrease the chances that you will get cancer by eating healthy foods and living a healthy life.

Do you want to learn what foods increase your wellbeing? Visit Colon Health Advice and read up on how you can prevent colon cancer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henri_Junttila

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Colon cancer is on the rise and is becoming the number two leading cancer causes for death. Should this be a surprise with the diets and chemicals being distributed among our foods today. Read on to find out a few simple things you can do to prevent colon cancer from afflicting you.

Don’t let the word Cancer scare you, if you want to be scared be scared by the amount of junk that’s in our water and food.

Two ways to reduce the risk of colon cancer

They say life and death begin in your colon. These are two ways that will increase your chances for a better life.

1. Meal Times – eating earlier will reduce the burden you put on your colon to process foods and will reduce your chances of undigested foods fermenting in your colonic area. The later you eat the better chance you food will not digest properly, this means the opportunity for more toxins to settle in your colon exists. Over time you can see how this habit can damage your insides.

2. Meal Frequencies – eat less at each meal, but eat more meals. This way you take the load off of you digestive system which lightens the load on your colon. Especially during times that you are rushed to eat and stress can disrupt your digestive process.

Of course exercise, diet, sleep are other factors to consider, but the above are simple changes that can have a huge impact over time.

Your colon is where absorption takes place and the delivery of nutrients starts. When this system has problems it can lead to many other problems that you might not relate to your colon. By taking care of your colon you will find other health issues could very well be solved.

There is more to health. Start by going to the Health Hub for more information on this subject. It’s time to take back your Health. It’s time to enjoy life again and it’s your time to find out about all the choices you have for Good Health.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ric_Bai

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Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. It is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of death among cancers in the Western world.

Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. These mushroom-like growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time. The majority of the time, the diagnosis of localized colon cancer is through colonoscopy.

Therapy is usually through surgery, which in many cases is followed by chemotherapy. Colorectal cancer can take many years to develop and early detection of colorectal cancer greatly improves the chances of a cure.

Therefore, screening for the disease is recommended in individuals who are at increased risk. There are several different tests available for this purpose.Surgical treatment is by far the most likely to result in a cure of colon cancer if the tumor is localized.

Very early cancer that develops within a polyp can often be cured by removing the polyp at the time of colonoscopy. More advanced cancers typically require surgical removal of the section of colon containing the tumor leaving sufficient margins to reduce likelihood of re-growth.

If possible, the remaining parts of colon are anastomosed together to create a functioning colon. In cases when anastomosis is not possible, a stoma (artificial orifice) is created. While surgery is not usually offered if significant metastasis is present, surgical removal of isolated liver metastases is common. Improved chemotherapy has increased the number of patients who are offered surgical removal of isolated liver metastases.

Laparoscopic assist resection of the colon for tumour can reduce the size of painful incision and minimize the risk of infection.

As with any surgical procedure, colorectal surgery can in rare cases result in complications. These may include infection, abscess, fistula or bowel obstruction.

About the Author :Colorectal or colon cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer related deaths. This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com

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Colon cancer also known as colorectal cancer is cancer cells that are present in the long tube known as the large intestine and rectum. Some tumors found in this area are called polyps are not cancerous; however, tumors that are malignant are cancer. The polyps can be removed without the worry of spreading the disease, as they are not cancerous. Cancer of the colon or rectum on the other hand, can spread to other areas of the body and tissue. This occurs when cancer cells break away from the tumor and travel to other areas of the body, which is called metastasis, and can spread to the liver or the lungs. After metastasis occurs, the prognosis for a full recovery is dim.

The causes of Colon Cancer

As with practically all cancers, the exact causes are not known, however, risk factors that are present may help lead scientists to the answer. The risk factors for developing colon cancer include the following.

Diet

Individuals that eat a diet high in fat are at a higher risk of developing colon cancer. Those that eat a balanced diet and include such things as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables decrease their chances of developing colon cancer.

Colon polyps

Physicians believe that untreated polyps develop into colon cancer. In the majority of cases, these polyps are benign; however, over years without being removed the cells can change due to chromosome damage, which can become cancerous.

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis can be a cause of colon cancer. This disorder brings on inflammation to the inner lining of the colon. In the majority of individuals with ulcerative colitis their chances of colon cancer begins to increase after 8 to 10 years of living with the disorder. Research shows colon cancer and individuals with ulcerative colitis include after 10 years 2.5% had colon cancer, after 30 years the rate rose to 7.6%, and after 50 years, it had risen to 10.8%.

Heredity

Past history of relatives with colon cancer increases the risk of this type of cancer. However, 80 percent of all patients do not have a family history of the disease.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Many people do not realize they have colon cancer due to the fact that the symptoms may not be present for many years after the development of the cancer cells. The symptoms can differ according to the location of the cancer or the tumor. The right colon is very large and in most cases, the symptoms are not apparent except for the possibility of becoming anemic due to iron deficiency due to the cancer. The left colon on the other hand is smaller and can cause partial or complete obstruction of the bowel bringing on constipation, diarrhea, cramps, bloating, and abdominal pain.

The main symptoms that are present with colon cancer include weakness, fatigue, change in bowel movements, shortness of breath, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, cramps, bloating, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulosis.

About the Author:Amdre Smith is a webmaster that runs the site Howtoall, a site with how to advice and tips. Understanding bladder cancer Different types of cancer
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How to Understand Causes of Colon Cancer