Monday, January 28, 2013

How true that colon cancer cell's progression is slow, occurs while young but shows symptoms by age 50's

How true that colon cancer cell's progression is slow, occurs while young but shows symptoms by age 50's?
as i am in my late 30's only(?), my doctor is puzzled that i being younger to exhibit symptoms of the disease...am the youngest in the brood of 5 and the only one in the family to have it (or any cancer for that matter)..the rest of my siblings will follow suit w/ colonoscopy soon...any of them may be positive w/c worries me more...please help me clarify this notion medical people or not...thank you...
Cancer - 5 Answers
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1 :
there are no symptoms for colon cancer, that is why screening is so important
2 :
it is growing dubling, so its later age will be less and exractly it is fast depending cells cound
3 :
As a broad generalization the statement has an element of truth, but as you have experienced there are many exceptions. Many persons, especially those with a family history of colon cancer, have pre-cancerous polyps in their colon. In most individuals these grow very slowly. Some never become cancerous, some become cancerous in the late '40's and beyond. Most still grow slowly, but eventually they spread into the mesenteric lymph nodes and from there to the liver. These pre-cancerous polyps can be removed via colonoscopy. Protocols differ, but one is that persons with no family history of colon cancer should have a colonoscopy every 10 years after age 40; if family history is positive, every 5 years; and if polyps are found, 3 years after that. Your gastroenterologist or the American Cancer Society is a better source of information.
4 :
No one knows the answer to this question. It is possible that malignant cells can remain dormant in the body, this happens to cancer patients who experience relapse. So, it may not be a slow cancer you are describing but a dormant cancer cell that has not yet begun to grow. At some point, perhaps age . . or some carcingoen . . or hormones . . something triggers that dormant cell to begin growing uncontrollably. But, it is not clear why. My son has a rare cancer that seemed to come out of nowhere. He actually had a well physical in December of that year so he could play sports. He had a complete physical and was found healthy. A month later in January he was not recovering from the flu. By early March he was diagnosed with stage IV sarcoma. I asked this same question . . could this have started when he was really little and been growing all along? And, I was told, probably not . . that the cancer can absolutely grow that aggressively and fast in only a few months. Since that time I have met other patients with this disease . . sometimes the cancer grows in as little as weeks . . but sometimes for unknown reasons it will sit dormant and not grow at all.
5 :
Some colon cancers are slow growers and would exist many years before symptoms showed up. Hubby has colon cancer diagnosed at 42, started in the appendix and estimated to have taken 5 - 10 years to grow to the stage where it burst the appendix. Others are faster growing. Even with the slow growers, 50's is not always the age of diagnosis. Talking with others in the chemo ward, many there are in their 60's and 70's and only recently diagnosed. So even if their tumours took 15 years to get going, that means they didn't START until 50's. Colon cancer is rare in the under 60's according to our oncologist. So you and my hubby are rather special :-) They have only just found a genetic marker for higher risk of colon cancer (read the article last weekend). So far, they are still not certain that there is a familial link - research is still ongoing and patients in UK (and I think US) are being asked to participate in a study to give their family history plus blood tests so that the familial links can be investigated. Colon cancer is very treatable if found early. By having colonoscopy when there are no symptoms, there is a good chance that IF cancer is found it will be early stage. But try to focus on the postive - just because you have cancer, does not mean your older siblings do too. Just that they get the chance to have a thorough check-over (oh, how they will be looking forward to that colonoscopy, *ahem*) Hubby's older sister is fine. good luck!

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Scared of colon cancer or something bad

Scared of colon cancer or something bad?
About a month ago I went to the bathroom and when I wiped there was bright red blood on the toilet tissue, nomoral color stool and no blood in the bowl. It only has happened twice in the past couple months. Then this week I had to nights that I woke up about 5 in the am with stomach pains like I was starving, I ate something and it helped but this is not normal for me. Then yesterday cause of the stomach problems I tried taking Peptobismo which helped. Also during this time I couldn't go #2 then when I did it was small I wound up having to go 3 times to feel like I emptyed out. Now today I went and it looked real dark almost black but when I wiped it looked like a very dark green. I am going to see a doctor but any ideas would be appreciated.
Cancer - 8 Answers
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1 :
Bright red blood may be from a tear or hemorrhoids. Usually if you have hard stools or strain when going to the restroom this could be the cause. Usually eating more fiber and drinking water and taking a stool softener can help out. Black stools indicate digested blood which may be from an ulcer, chrons, or other gastro problems. It sounds like you were constipated, but the green indicates some type of infection. I would try to relax until you see your doctor. Or you can do a little research on www.webmd.com hope you get better soon.,
2 :
Bright red blood sounds like a hemorrhoid or a cut from straining, especially if it is just on the paper. You don't say how old you are but I am sure that the doc can put you at ease. I am no doctor but we all go through this kind of stuff. Good luck.
3 :
Don't fear the worst. Could be parasites or burst pollops etc. Definately get checked.
4 :
Colon Cancer takes years to develop. Bright red blood after wiping is probably an indication of hemorrhoids, dark blood is usually an indicator that something "bigger" is going on. My thoughts are possibly IBS, but without diet information etc just a guess. Go to your primary, if he/she is concerned after testing the will send you to the GI. I think you will be OK from your symptoms.
5 :
Go to GNC for a parasite cleansing kit
6 :
If you are as sick as you sound (Your symptoms sound...depressingly...familiar). Don't get scared, get TESTED! I've been to the mountaintop on this, at 29 I had my first visit from "aunt flow", needless to say for a guy in his late 20's this was more than a little disturbing....all things considered. If nothing else, one thing you will develop, is a sense of humor - whether you want to or not. Get your ass to the doctor, let them know what's going on, and get there TOMORROW, take off work/school if you have to , don't screw around. Call your primary, get a referral to a gastroenterologist and get yourself a colonoscopy. Do not get a sigmoidoscopy- that's a waste of time and money, and is literally getting screwed "without the common courtesy of a reach around" (a sigmoidoscopy does not allow access to all the turns and twists of your large intestine) a colonoscopy literally turns and reaches around the 3 bends in your gut. In contrast to what many Americans think, when doctors think something is ACTUALLY wrong with you, the medical system moves suprisingly fast. You will know if you are in the flow if when calling in the morning for an appointment, instead of suggesting the 3rd of next month for your follow-up appointment, they suggest that _you_ can be squeezed in for a 11:30 appointment. A word of advice, unless they ship you directly to an imaging center, you will have about 2 days to prepare for your colonoscopy. They will have you get you two things to drink, First is something called phosphosoda and it costs about 79 cents, and for the most part it's pure EVIL. It tastes like a slightly oily salty mixture - (pretty much that's what it is), and has THE most God awful aftertaste. Your doctor may recommend what we in my chemotherapy group referred to as the "Gallon of Evil" which is a large container with the dehydrated salts inside, (just add water) - this is a MISTAKE of the first order. Unless your doctor explicitly tells you to, MY doctor told me a secret to avoiding the "Gallon of EVIL"....the secret was...the "Jigger of Evil", its a concentrated small bottle of liquid salts, containing about 2-3 shots worth of the stuff. My Dr's recommendation, Drink one shot with a glass of ice cold water (no ice), followed by at least 1/2 gallon of a clear juice or water of your choice (this does NOT include gin, scotch or other booze or any fluid which could possibly look red or blue while in your gut - so most gatorades and such are out), my personal recommendation is clear apple juice or clear grape juice. Repeat until the Jigger is empty. Here's a tip , Have three things, one, unfettered access to a toilet for about an hour or two, a tremendous supply of TP, and three a new appreciation for the term in patience that this too shall pass. Afterwards your gut will be clean and clear. You are now ready for your close up. Having intimate relations with a camera inside what looked to me like a remote control garden hose, is not everything it's cracked up to be but you've just survived the "Jigger of Evil" and afterwards you'll find that pretty after that experience, anything else - short of the doctor giving you the "get your affairs in order" talk is all downhill (so to speak). The second fun-filled fluid is called contrast, this is a more or less unavoidable evil. You can and should load up on fluids that are EASY on your kidneys, since contrast can stress your kidneys (they are not used to having to process either barium or radioactive stuff), so cranberry juice, apple juice or something similarly easy on your GI tract is perfect. They may or may not have you take an MRI before your colonoscopy - which involves you drinking a rather neutral tasting white substance (irradiated barium) which lights up your gut like a Christmas tree for the MRI machine. Please feel free to e-mail me off-line if you have any other questions or comments. And as always , don't believe a word I say without checking with your doctor first, since your mileage may vary, results not guaranteed yada yada.
7 :
Arrange for a colonoscopy, this minor procedure could save your life.
8 :
When you said that your bowel movement was small, did you mean that it was thin? Like a pencil? This is usually means you have a blockage. Mention it to your GP along with your other symptoms. Good luck.

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Sunday, January 20, 2013

Colon Cancer questions

Colon Cancer questions?
Well, I have a friend and he has colon cancer. He is worried because his doctor has not told him what stage his cancer is at. He has had blood in his stool once or twice. I was just wondering what stage he might be in. Thanks, for your help(: The doctor has said that it has spread a little on the descending colon. I didn't want to ask much because it really upset him. And he's not a really close friend, but I am worried for him.
Cancer - 6 Answers
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1 :
Unable to tell without knowing about whether it has spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body, which is how staging is determined
2 :
Visible blood in the stool is not a sign of cancer. And your friend needs a new doctor if this one did not give any staging information... Colon cancer isn't any fun, but it's certainly one of the preferable cancers to get if you absolutely insist on having cancer, since it is close to 100% fixable.
3 :
if the dr has not told him the dr may not know yet...with cancer fast detection and treatment is the best way to make it through... your friend should be seeking advanced help from a specialist starting NOW regardless of the stage... if he is waiting on the dr for treatment he needs to take control of his health care and move things forward... believe or not you can do that...good luck to you & friend
4 :
You can't tell the stage of cancer like this...he shd ask his doc about the stage as there are diagnostics tests that need to be done to determine how far the cancer has spread.
5 :
Colon cancer is staged on two levels, the degree of spread as evidenced by surgical exploration and/or medical imaging; and the tumor pathology as demonstrated by microscopic exam. Your question cannot be answered with the info you gave, but you should put "staging colon cancer" on your search engine.
6 :
When was he told he had colon cancer and what tests has he had? You cannot find out straight away. Usually a ct scan is done, which determines whether it is confined to the bowel or not. That rules out stage four. It is only after surgery he knows exactly what stage he is at, as they perform a biopsy which looks at how much of the colon wall it has penetrated and whether it has spread to lymph nodes. Then he will be told what stage he is at.

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Colon cancer symptoms

Colon cancer symptoms?
My 31 year old husband has pretty much every symptom of colon cancer. I'm so worried about him and I'm just wondering what else it could be? The only symptom he doesn't have is fatigue. He is scheduled for a colonoscopy next week, but I'm just wondering if anyone knows if it could be anything besides cancer. He does have blood every so often.
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
polyps ulcerative colitis Crohn's Disease diverticulitis Don't worry. It could very possibly be a non-serious thing. http://www.medicinenet.com/colonoscopy/article.htm
2 :
If could be other things, the colonoscopy will find cancer or rule out cancer. If he isn't fatiqued then he must not be losing blood, having blood in the stool is one of the symptoms as a tumor bleeds.
3 :
There are many, many diseases which have the same symptoms as colon cancer, such as irritable bowel syndrome. If you look at webmd on the symptom checker, you'll see a long list. The blood could also be a symptom of many things, and the brighter the blood, the further down the colon it is. Even if it is colon cancer, it's one of the most survivable types of cancer. Stage 1 has about a 95% cure rate, stage 2 has over an 85% cure rate, and even stage 3 (mine) has about a 75% cure rate with chemo.

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Saturday, January 12, 2013

I'm a 17 year old girl and i think i might have colon cancer....please help

I'm a 17 year old girl and i think i might have colon cancer....please help.?
omg. once i read all the sypmtoms my eyes bursted with tears. i couldnt stop crying. cancer/surgery are my biggest fears. someone telling me i have cancer is a death sentence to me. :((( i havent had a stool in 4-5 days. i have a hemmoroid. (doctor checked it) i have bloody stools. and now my lower left side of my abdomin kind of hurts. i am scared for my life! i've also been having a lot of gas.
Cancer - 8 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Calm down and make a doctor's appointment. It is probably not colon cancer. More likely is irritable bowel syndrome. There are about a thousand other things it could be other than cancer. Also, even if it is cancer, you can live without most of your colon. Colon cancer is fairly easy to treat.
2 :
theres alot of other things it could be, more than likely its not colon cancer
3 :
awww :[ it's okay! it's probably something else. i'll pray for you :]
4 :
then why did FArrah Fawcett die if treating that is so easy?
5 :
Not having a stool in 4-5 days is just constipation, I wouldn't be concerned about that at all - if you feel bloated get some laxatives from your pharmacy. Bloody stools will probably be because of your hemorrhoid! So calm down! And pain in the abdomen is probably due to the constipation! Get some laxatives, you'll be as good as new! Honestly, it's nothig to worry about. If you still feel afraid then see your doctor to clear it all up officially.
6 :
first of all relax.now my grandad is in hospital at the moment because he had a tumur in his colon and they removed the colon and now he has 2 bags.the only thing is before he went to the doctor to get it checked out he said he had a sharp pain like a toothache that comes and goes on his left side just under his ribs which may be what you are experiencing.talk to your parents about it and get a scan coz dats wot my grandad got done.its not life threating you can get your colon removed but you wil have a bag after to collect your waste. x
7 :
Cancer is age specific . . colon cancer occurs in older adults .. which is why a colonoscopy is recommended for that age group. So, it is unlikely that you are dealing with cancer. That doesn't mean you shouldn't make an appointment to see a doctor. You may have a fissure - which is a small tear, like a cut inside the rectal area and can be caused by constipation. Constipation can hurt. You can read more about the types of cancer that teens and young adults can get (leukemia, lymphoma, sarcoma, testicular, ovarian, germ cell, skin cancers): http://www.cancer.net/patient/Coping/Age-Specific+Information/Cancer+in+Teens It would be very, very rare for a teen to have colon cancer.
8 :
See a doc, drink lots of water, eat fiber, I went to the ER for right side pain, ended up with stuck bowel, yuck, enema, yuck, then okay, don't think the worst

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I wan't to know about colon cancer? and how to prevent

I wan't to know about colon cancer? and how to prevent?
Symptoms, detection, prevention and cure of colon cancer.
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
My Dad had colon cancer. It is a tough one. The gold standard is detection thru a colonoscopy which is a tube put in your butt and they look for growths They see them and remove them before they turn into cancer. It is not too bad a procedure, better than I thought. Aside from that, lead a healthy life, low fat diet, lots of vegtables and no smoking and little alchol. Good Luck
2 :
Foods for it are cabbage, brussel sprouts. Colon cancer is not as deadly as it used to be. there are many new treatments for it.
3 :
Colon Cancer Causes Most colorectal cancers arise from adenomatous polypsâ€”clusters of abnormal cells in the glands covering the inner wall of the colon. Over time, these abnormal growths enlarge and ultimately degenerate to become adenocarcinomas. People with any of several conditions known as adenomatous polyposis syndromes have a greater-than-normal risk of colorectal cancer. In these conditions, numerous adenomatous polyps develop in the colon, ultimately leading to colon cancer. The cancer usually occurs before age 40 years. Adenomatous polyposis syndromes tend to run in families. Such cases are referred to as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Celecoxib (Celebrex) has been FDA approved for FAP. After 6 months, celecoxib reduced the mean number of rectal and colon polyps by 28% compared to placebo (sugar pill) 5%. Colon Cancer Symptoms Cancer of the colon and rectum can exhibit itself in several ways. If you have any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical help. You may notice bleeding from your rectum or blood mixed with your stool. People commonly attribute all rectal bleeding to hemorrhoids, thus preventing early diagnosis owing to lack of concern over "bleeding hemorrhoids." Rectal bleeding may be hidden and chronic and may show up as an iron deficiency anemia. It may be associated with fatigue and pale skin. It usually, but not always, can be detected through a fecal occult (hidden) blood test, in which samples of stool are submitted to a lab for detection of blood. If the tumor gets large enough, it may completely or partially block your colon. You may notice the following symptoms of bowel obstruction: Abdominal distension: Your belly sticks out more than it did before without weight gain. Abdominal pain: This is rare in colon cancer. One cause is tearing (perforation) of the bowel. Leaking of bowel contents into the pelvis can cause inflammation (peritonitis) and infection. Unexplained, persistent nausea or vomiting Unexplained weight loss Change in frequency or character of stool (bowel movements) Small-caliber (narrow) or ribbon-like stools Sensation of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement Rectal pain: Pain rarely occurs with colon cancer and usually indicates a bulky tumor in the rectum that may invade surrounding tissue. Studies suggest that the average duration of symptoms (from onset to diagnosis) is 14 weeks. There is no association between overall duration of symptoms and the stage of your tumor. Prevention Your best prevention is to detect colon cancer and treat it early in its formation. People who have regular screening for colon cancer, including fecal occult blood tests, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, and polyp removal, greatly reduce their risk of having a colorectal cancer. Other things you can do to lower your risk include the following: Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes has been clearly linked with higher risk of colon cancer (as well as many other conditions). Take an aspirin or baby aspirin every day. Because of potential side effects, this is not recommended for everyone. Talk to your health care provider first. Take a safe dose of folic acid (for example, 1 mg) every day. Engage in physical activity every day. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. The US Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recommends screening for colon cancer in people older than 50 years who have an average risk for the disease and in people aged 40 years and older who have a family history of colorectal cancer. The agency recommends that one of the following screening techniques be used: Fecal occult blood testing every year combined with flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years Double-contrast barium enema every 5-10 years Colonoscopy every 10 years: Colonoscopy remains the most sensitive test for detecting colon polyps and tumors. Once polyps have been identified, they should be removed. After you have had polyps, even one polyp, you should begin to have more frequent colonoscopies. Appropriate preventive screening for people with ulcerative colitis includes the following: Colonoscopy every 1-2 years in the following cases: If you have known you have the disease for 7-8 years If the cancer involves the entire colon Beginning 12-15 years after the diagnosis of left-sided colitis Random colon biopsies taken during colonoscopy People with ulcerative colitis in whom biopsies show premalignant changes should undergo surgical removal of their colons. Outlook Recovery from colon cancer depends on the extent of your disease before your surgery. If your tumor is limited to the inner layers of your colon, you can expect to live 5 years or more. If cancer has spread to your lymph nodes adjacent to the colon, the chance of living 5 years is 65%. If the cancer has already spread to other organs, the chance of living 5 years drops to 8%. If the cancer has reached your liver but no other organs, removing part of your liver may prolong your life. 1

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Friday, January 4, 2013

Who can get colon cancer

Who can get colon cancer?
my 13 year old friend says she might have colon cancer because she has all the symptoms...and my mom says that shes too young, but i dont knooow... i need to know whats the age limit is...or if there even is an age limit. shes going to the doctors tomarrow.. :/ soo.. HELP!
Cancer - 8 Answers
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1 :
Cancer has no age limit, but it would be EXTREMELY rare for a 13 year old to have it. It effects mostly those over 50. That is probably not what she has.
2 :
Both men and women can get colorectal cancer. It is most common in people who are 50 years old or older.
3 :
Anyone can get any type of cancer at any age. (apart from the obvious - testicular cancer, obviously only males can get this) Generally it's caused by your DNA getting damaged and it doesn't repair quite correctly causing an uncontrolled growth of cells. The older you get the more likely cancer becomes as your DNA has wen't through many replications and has been damaged many times. I would say the chances of your friend having colon cancer are extremely low so I wouldn't worry - the above is just to inform you on the way of things. If
4 :
At 13.. no. That would be beyond rare. Lets put it this way, even if you family history of colon cancer, most docs dont recd a colonoscopy until age 35 at the earliest. And if you dont have a family history, its ussualy more like 50. Thats how rare it is to get colon cancer at a young age.
5 :
You and your friend should listen to your mum. The trouble with reading lists of symptoms is that you're likely to cinvince yourself you have them. The single greatest risk factor for colon cancer is age; 83% of all those diagnosed with it are over 60. Colon cancer in a teenager - or someone in their 20s or 30s - is extremely unlikely. Most of the symptoms she will have seen listed for colon cancer are far more likely to be symptoms of something less serious.
6 :
Listen to your mother. You cannot get any cancer at any age and there is a reason colon cancer screening starts at 50 years old. Teenagers who are at risk for colon cancer know it and start screening in their teens. These are people who have a rare hereditary colon cancer in their family and have had several family members diagnosed with it.
7 :
you get colon cancer from chemicals on foods you eat most vegetables are sprayed with posion then for market wax is put on them you cant wash posion cause of waxand in some cases it genetics you inherit it other ways are sticking object up and not clean not all doctors are sterile to clean toolsi also beleave a person gets cancer from dogs who lick people in mouth a dog will lick his butt or privates also water with lots of clorine in it some times 2 much you get cancers from animals thats been given drugs
8 :
Technically speaking anyone -can- get colon cancer. There's no such thing as an age limit on any time of cancer. But some cancers are more common in the old or the young--and colon cancer is extremely, extremely rare in young people. I've never heard of someone that young getting it. Seeing her doctor should help. He can determine what other things could cause her symptoms and what further tests need to be done. Digestive health can be tricky because there are many things that can irritate the bowels and give colon cancer-like symptoms. At her age I'd say it's far more likely to be something else like an infection or a dietary problem than colon cancer

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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Could I have colon cancer

Could I have colon cancer?
For the past two weeks my stool has been loose. Not diarreha but not hard. For the past two days I've had bright red blood and mucus in my stool. I think I've lost around 8-10 lbs. Could this be colon cancer. I've very scared.
Cancer - 7 Answers
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1 :
Since I'm not a doctor, I can't be positive about this response, so I would definitely suggest seeing one. However, it sounds like your bowels are just irritated from the loose stool. This can be brought on my stress, diet, and other factors. If you go to the doctor, they will probably ask you about the kinds of foods you eat, if you're stressed out, and how much fiber is in your diet. There's no reason for you to jump to conclusions and automatically assume that you have cancer. I would definitely see a doctor asap, though.
2 :
dont worry... this might be disentry! the best think is have good diet and go see a doctor as soon as possilble! u should see a doctor before it becomes a serious case so if u can then see a doctor today u should not ingnore it... good luck
3 :
Well, to answer your question...Yes. Any Bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR) is abnormal. You could have hemmorhoids or a fissure, but I doubt it. A change in stool habits, blood and weight loss can be indicative of Colo-rectal cancer. The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor...soon. DO NOT put this off. Colon cancer is treatable if caught early enough. You will need a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy for diagnoses (With a biopsy). ANyway...good luck, hope it turns out to be nothing!
4 :
Sounds more like C-diff but you need to go see a doc ASAP and get this checked out. If your regular doc can't see you then go to an urgent care or walk in clinic and get checked. Get off the computer and go now.
5 :
Not likely.. Bright red blood indicates blood coming from close to the anal opening..as in a hemorrhoid (which I BET you have right now) as well as the mucus... DARK blood (usually appears black) is when you worry...it is doubtful any weight-loss you've had comes from this...since you have not had diarrhea (the main way to loose LBS)...or any other symptoms, I'd say you're JUST FINE... My Uncle, who died of colon cancer, didn't even know he had a problem until he awoke one night soaked in dark red blood that was hemorrhaging from his rectum.... I really think you have NOTHING to worry about...however, if things get worse, see your Dr...always the next step in making sure you're OK...
6 :
There is an old saying about a doctor who teats himself has a fool for a patient. The best way and my factual way to find out if you have cancer is to see a doctor.
7 :
Get yourself to the doctor and have it checked out . It does not mean you have cancer, but it warrants a trip to see the doc. INSIST on a colonoscopy!!

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