Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Preventing Colorectal
Cancer by Colonscopy
last update April 19, 2007

Recently, there is a report that the demand for colonoscopy at
New York City Hospitals has been increased sharply in 2004.
Officials attributed the increase to wide-scale public education.
The increased number of tests might prevent hundreds of
additional cases of cancer and colon cancer deaths in the years
to come. Colon cancer screenings can actually prevent cancer
by finding pre-cancerous lesions that can be removed before
the cancer develops [3]. People in higher risk groups for colon
cancer are less likely to get a colon cancer screening. These
include: men, older adults, smokers and people who do not
exercise regularly. African-American men have the highest
overall death rate from colon cancer in the New York City [1].

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the
United States, with about 150,000 new cases yearly [1]. And,
every year, more than 945000 people develop colorectal
cancer worldwide, and around 492000 patients die [5].
Colorectal cancers usually develop slowly and over several
years. They usually start as benign polyps, then, convert into
cancerous polyps, e.g. adenomas and dysplasia. Once cancer
forms within a polyp, it may eventually spread into blood vessels
and the cancer cells may travel to distant parts of the body-
metastasis.

In most cases, especially at the initial stage, colorectal cancers
fail to produce any symptoms. When they do, the symptoms are
painless rectal bleeding or a change in bowel habits such as
constipation, increased frequency or diarrhea. Screening using
colonoscopy is the best way to diagnose and treat either polyps
or cancers. When caught early enough, more than 80 percent
of people can be cured of this disease. Some researchers even
suggested to use stool tests together with colonoscopy for early
detection or prevention of colorectal cancers. [4]

In general, cleansing of one's colon is needed the day before
the procedure. On the day of the procedure, the patient
receives an intra-venous sedative for relaxation. During the
test, the patient is asked to turn on their side for gentle insertion
of the colonoscope and air is insufflated to allow visualization of
the colon. It is recommended by most medical, surgical and
cancer organizations to start screening people of average risk
by age 50.

ARTICLES
REVIEW-COLORECTAL CANCER PREVENTION
FIGHT AGAINST THE CANCER

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References

[1] Colonoscopies at New York City Hospitals Double in 2004, i-Newswire, 2005-03-22
[2] Detailed Guide: Colon and Rectum Cancer What Is Colorectal Cancer? American
Cancer Society, Inc, on-line publications.
[3] Pabby A et al, Analysis of colorectal cancer occurrence during surveillance
colonoscopy in the dietary Polyp Prevention Trial, Gastrointest Endosc. 2005 Mar;61
(3):385-91.

[4] Haug U et al, A Simulation Model for Colorectal Cancer Screening: Potential of
Stool Tests with Various Performance Characteristics Compared with Screening
Colonoscopy, Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005 Feb;14(2):422-428
[5] Weitz J et al, Colorectal cancer, Lancet. 2005 Jan 8;365 (9454):153-65

CANCER AWARENESS
updated on April 20, 2007

Cancer Prevention
Anti-cancer Herbs
Anti-cancer / Cancer Prevention Diets
Cancer Prevention Foods
Turkish Diet
Mediterranean (low fat) Diet
Compounds in broccoli
What can help prevent colon cancer?
Pancreatic Cancer & Veggie

Cancer Diagnostics
Colonscopy
Optical Stretcher Test

Cancer Treatment
Anti-cancer Drugs
Focal Cryoablation
Pain Treatment for Bone Tumors

Cancer Physiology
Chemo Brain
Role of Collagen VII
Diabetes and Cancer

Cancer Promotors
Fried Food
Red Meat (FE) / Iron
KimChi / High Salt Diet