Tuesday, December 1, 2009

What's the best way to prevent colon cancer

What's the best way to prevent colon cancer?
what are its causes, whats the medical procedure to check for it and how to prevent it? People that have relatives who had colon cancer are more likely to get it?
Cancer - 5 Answers
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1 :
Causes - don't know. Standard medical procedure is a colonoscopy - they give you an anaesthetic and stick a few feet of bendy tube up your bum with a camera. Prevention - decent diet (particularly fibre), also, low-dose soluable aspirin has been shown to guard against many common cancers. Yes, if you have a family member with colon cancer, it does increase your risk. Your doctor should be able to advise you on any necessary screening, but you shouldn't need to worry until you're over 50.
2 :
Yes, it's familial, so blood relatives having had it mean you're more likely to get it. There appears to be some tie-in with diet, specifically inadequate consumption of fiber, and colon cancer. The specifics causing a polyp to mutate into a cancer are not fully understood. The big preventive measure is colonoscopy, which is uncomfortable, embarrassing, and expensive. The doctor can remove any polyps found, meaning he's removing potential future cancers.
3 :
Most colon cancers should be preventable, through increased surveillance, improved lifestyle, and, probably, the use of dietary chemopreventative agents.
4 :
The risk factors for colon cancer are: Getting older; your risk of developing colon cancer increases with age; 80% of cases are diagnosed in people over 60. Being overweight or obese Being inactive increases the risk of colon cancer - at least half an hourof moderate exercise five times a week can help lower the likelihood of the disease developing. A diet that is high in red or processed meat and fat, and low in fibre, fruit and vegetables can increase the risk Smoking may increase risk, particularly in heavy drinkers. Alcohol consumption may increase risk, especially in those with low levels of folate in their diet. If you have previously had a polyp in your bowel, especially a type called an adenomatous polyp, you are at increased risk of developing colon cancer. You are at increased risk if you have had colon cancer before. People with severe ulcerative colitis, or who have had Crohn's disease for many years, have a slightly increased risk of developing colon cancer. You can't guarantee prevention, but you can do your best to prevent it byavoiding those risk factors that are avoidable. Like other cancers, it's rarely hereditary. Fewer than 5% of colon cancer cases are hereditary. As with other cancers, where there is a strong family history of colon cancer - several members of the same side of the family having had it, particularly if some have been diagnosed at a younger than usual age - that is an indication that it may well be hereditary.
5 :
some suggestions to decrease chances of colon cancer. -eat vegetables and fruits more. they contain antioxidants and fibers which prevent colon cancer by decreasing gene damage. -take less of meat and other non vegetarian foods as they carry the risk of colon cancer. -take less smoky and pickled food as it also contains many known carcinogens. -eat fresh. avoid packaged foods. -if you have a familial history of colon cancer, better have your diagnostic colonoscopy done every year atleast after age of 40.

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