24by7Article.com | Colon Cancer Avoidance; Risk Factors Uncovered.

Are you anxious concerning intestinal cancer? Late stage colorectal cancer is a very deadly disease that takes the lives of over fifty thousand annually in the US alone. What can be performed to protect your self from this disease? Here we talk about the preventive measures you may undertake to achieve optimal colon health.

The colon is commonly known as large intestine that functions as temporary storage organ for body wastes, feces in particular. It empties by the last stage of the digestive process called defecation. As a person’s age reaches 50 years old and above, the colon becomes very susceptible for contracting malignancy. Colon cancer is a deadly condition and has tagged this age group as high risk individuals. However, precautionary measures can be taken to avoid the colon malignancy.

Everyone can be susceptible to colon cancer. On the other hand, there are people who seemed to be born with some or all of the risks factors of this malignancy while others acquire or inflict themselves with the said factors. Aside from age, the individual’s choice of food, lifestyle and pre-existing polyps in the intestine also predispose a person to the aforementioned disease. In particular, high cholesterol and low fiber diet increases an individual’s chance to develop colon cancer. Carcinogens from smoking are also one of the contributory factors that lead to colon malignancy. However, intestinal polyps are most likely to progress into malignant overgrowth and are the major cause of colon cancer, especially when accompanied with the other factors.

Furthermore, it is significant to determine the variables that cause colon cancer because these are also the basis for possible preventive measures. In fact, medical practitioners came up with an idea to encourage individuals who are on their 50s to submit themselves for colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is a diagnostic test that uses a flexible tube with light and camera that enables doctors to view the colon internally from an external monitor. Through this, the presence of polyps will be determined and further interventions like surgical polyp removal can be performed as soon as possible to avoid further mutation of the tissues into cancer cells.

On the other hand, dietary factors that intensify an individual’s risk for colon cancer development are required to be modified. A diet that prevents malignancy in the colon includes foods which are high in fiber content and low in cholesterol component. Rich in fiber foods are believed to aid in good bowel habit. Regular bowel movement is considered a healthy means to get rid of body waste products like feces or stool, which often contain toxins. Fatty foods on the other hand provide an avenue for carcinogenic free-radicals to increase into an overwhelming amount.

The body releases free-radicals as by-products of regular metabolism. These free-radicals are said to be harmful in the cells and can cause cellular mutation (abnormal transformation), which is typical in cancer cells. However, these free-radicals are timely eliminated by the body through its natural antioxidants like glutathione. In the presence of high cholesterol level in the blood, these free-radicals would bind with them and turn fats into free-radicals as well. Consequently, there will be an excessive amount of free-radicals that will overwhelm the level of antioxidants. This imbalance make the free radicals attack the healthy cells and turn them to cancer cells. Moreover, the role of fiber in the elimination of wastes is more likely to avoid constipation that may cause trauma to the colon. Consistent passing of hard stool may result to constant infliction of injury to the colon tissues and may contribute to the development of polyps.

Furthermore, cigarette or tobacco is not new to the public that it contains carcinogenic substances. The introduction of these substances into the body adds insult to the cellular injury that the free-radicals bring. Thus, if one smokes, it would be best to give up the habit as early as possible and if one doesn’t smoke, keep that healthy practice.

In general, prevention of colon cancer is dependent on the determination of its possible origin such as the risk factors mentioned above. When this origin is identified, appropriate interventions can be set up to maintain a healthy colon. The elimination of these factors or decrease of exposure of individuals to them reduces the risk of developing the disease and increases the chance of preventing colon cancer.

The resources provided in this article shouldn't be a substitute intended for specialized treatment and shouldn't be used for testing or providing treatment for a medical issue or sickness. You ought seek advice from your medical provider if you happen to have or presume you could have a health problem.