Conditions

Colon cancer

• Definition
· Colon cancer is the disease of cancer of the large intestine (colon) or rectum.

• Overview
· Colon cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer.
· Colon cancer affects more than 150,000 Americans each year and 40% of them will die from the cancer.
The risk of developing Colorectal cancer increases rapidly after age 45 and most cases of Colorectal cancer are diagnosed after age 50.

· Colon cancer risk is increased in people with diets high in fats, especially red meat. Diets that are high in fiber, vegetables, nuts and fruits tend to reduce the risk of Colorectal cancer.

· Colon cancer risk is likely reduced by:
Folic acid (folate supplements)
Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and E
Aspirin
Non steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as Advil and Naprosyn
Calcium carbonate
Vitamin D

• Symptoms
· Symptoms of Colon cancer depend on the location of the cancer within the colon.
· Fatigue and weakness can be symptoms of a colon cancer-induced anemia.
· Anemia can be a sign of a colon cancer which can slowly bleed leading to blood loss and iron deficiency.
· Constipation
· Diarrhea

• Treatment
· Colon cancer that has not spread is usually treated by surgery and localized disease is usually very curable.
· Colon cancer that has spread is more difficult to treat and usually requires surgery and chemotherapy.

References

http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov.

Read more – August 31, 2009

Gastrointestinal bleeding

• Gastrointestinal bleeding is the symptom of vomiting up of blood or bleeding from the rectum.

• Gastrointestinal bleeding can come from the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon or rectum.

• Gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by:
· anal fissures
· arterial vascular malformation ( malformed blood vessels in the stomach or intestine
· aspirin use
· Celiac Disease (Nontropical sprue)
· colitis (inflammation or infection of the colon)
· colon cancer
· colonic polyp
· esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
· gastritis (stomach inflammation)
· hemorrhoids
· stomach ulcer
· stomach cancer
· Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) such as Ibuprofen(Advil/Mortin), Naprosyn (Aleve), Diclofenac

• Gastrointestinal bleeding should always be evaluated by your doctor.

Read more – May 1, 2009

Blood in the stool

• Blood in the stool is the symptom of bleeding from the rectum.

• Blood in the stool can come from the bleeding of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon or rectum.

• Blood in the stool can be caused by:
· anal fissures
· arterial vascular malformation ( malformed blood vessels in the stomach or intestine
· aspirin use
· Celiac Disease (Nontropical sprue)
· colitis (inflammation or infection of the colon)
· colon cancer
· colonic polyp
· esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
· gastritis (stomach inflammation)
· hemorrhoids
· stomach ulcer
· stomach cancer
· Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) such as Ibuprofen(Advil/Mortin), Naprosyn (Aleve), Diclofenac

• Blood in the stool should always be evaluated by your doctor

Read more

Multiple Vitamins, Cancer and Postmenopausal Women

· According to an analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, there was previously no protection offered against forms of cancer in postmenopausal women who took vitamin supplements.
· This retrospective study (an analysis of data on women from 1993 through 1998) showed that postmenopausal women who took vitamin supplements did not have a decrease in the incidence of breast, colon, endometrial, kidney, bladder, stomach, ovarian, or lung cancer.
· There was also no overall change in death rate in postmenopausal women who took vitamins verses postmenopausal women who did not take vitamins.
· However, researchers found a possibly a lower risk of heart attack in postmenopausal women taking high dose stress type B vitamins.

· Readers should keep in mind, however, that the “Women’s Health Initiative” is not the best type of study for medical research. There are too many variables that cannot be controlled, which affect the results of the study.

· Other recent studies have shown benefits from vitamin supplements. Vitamin D supplements have been shown to offer some protection from certain types of cancer and heart disease. Folic acid(another vitamin) can control homocysteine blood levels which in excess can increase heart attack risk.

· Vitamin supplements are likely beneficial to good health and we should not conclude otherwise based on the Woman’s Health Initiative.

Reference
Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(3):294-304.

February 11, 2009

Read more – February 11, 2009

GI Bleeding

• GI bleeding is the symptom of bleeding from the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon or rectum.

• GI bleeding can be caused by:
· anal fissures
· arterial vascular malformation (malformed blood vessels in the stomach or intestine)
· aspirin use
· Celiac Disease (Nontropical sprue)
· colitis (inflammation or infection of the colon)
· colon cancer
· colonic polyp
· esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
· gastritis (stomach inflammation)
· hemorrhoids
· stomach ulcer
· stomach cancer
· Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) such as Ibuprofen (Advil/Mortin), Naprosyn (Aleve),or  Diclofenac

• GI bleeding should always be evaluated by your doctor.

Read more – December 16, 2008

Gastrointestinal bleeding

• Gastrointestinal bleeding is the symptom of vomiting up of blood or bleeding from the rectum.

• Gastrointestinal bleeding can come from the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon or rectum.

• Gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by:
· anal fissures
· arterial vascular malformation ( malformed blood vessels in the stomach or intestine
· aspirin use
· Celiac Disease (Nontropical sprue)
· colitis (inflammation or infection of the colon)
· colon cancer
· colonic polyp
· esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
· gastritis (stomach inflammation)
· hemorrhoids
· stomach ulcer
· stomach cancer
· Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) such as Ibuprofen (Advil/Mortin), Naprosyn (Aleve), Diclofenac

• Gastrointestinal bleeding should always be evaluated by your doctor

Read more

Frequent bowel movements

• Frequent bowel movements are the symptom of diarrhea.

• Frequent bowel movements more than three bowel movements per day is diarrhea.

• Diarrhea is loose or liquid bowel movements.

• Diarrhea lasting less than two weeks is likely due to an infection or medications.

• Diarrhea lasting longer than two weeks should always be evaluated by your doctor.

Read more

The Truth About Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia can be the first warning sign of colon cancer. About 150,000 people, or 6% of the population will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year in the United States. About 56,000 are expected to die. This is the second most common cause of cancer death.

Colon cancer does not produce symptoms until it is advanced and screening tests are very important in catching colon cancer while in the early stages.

As part of a routine physical examination, physicians usually will obtain a complete blood cell count laboratory which can indicate iron deficiency anemia. In a man or postmenopausal woman, this can be a strong indication of colon cancer and needs to be investigated further.

November 24, 2008

Read more – November 24, 2008

Abdominal swelling

• Abdominal swelling (abdominal distention) is the symptom of an abdomen that appears larger (more distended) than is normal for you.

• Abdominal distention can be a sign of:
· excessive intestinal gas
· an accumulation of abdominal fluid (ascites)
· an intestinal obstruction (ileus).

• Abdominal distention may be an indication of a serious medical problem and should be evaluated by your doctor.

 

Read more – October 21, 2008