Colon Cancer Causes and Prevention Methods

If curing colon cancer is very difficult, it is quite contrary to prevent it. In fact, the majority of cancers of the rectum and colon could be prevented through regular checkup (examination or inspection), healthy lifestyle (eating healthy foods, regular colon cleansing, exercise, etc.), and chemoprevention.

Annual Check-up - Annual health checkups is recommended to help detect health problems in their early stages. Early medical visit is the best preventive method to save your life from bowel cancer. Bowel cancer tends to develop in the polyps. Most polyps are present no symptoms at early stage, they are usually discovered at the time of colon cancer screening (digital rectal exam, flexible sigmoidoscopy, Barium enema, colonoscopy or virtual colonoscopy). Being present microscopically, benign colon polyps tend to transform with time into colon cancer. These abnormalities can be detected and removed early during a colonoscopy (a visual examination of examination of the large colon and the distal part of the small bowel) to avoid complications. It is estimated that this procedure could be reduced by 80% the risk of occurrence of intestinal cancer when you begin these tests at around 45, then every 5 or 10 years.

Diet and Lifestyle - It is no doubt that your lifestyle can increase the risk of cancer. The incidence of colorectal cancer (colon cancer or large bowel cancer) is very frequent in places where people practice the following: physical inactivity, excess calories intake (especially of saturated fat, protein, and sugar), alcohol abuse, consumption of a diet rich in red meat, sausages and hot dogs. Conversely, physical activity and a eating a diet rich in fruit and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, watercress, bok choy, etc.) containing antioxidant micronutrients would reduce the risk of cancer or its reoccurrence. In fact, these foods can be used as preventive and curative methods; a diet composed mostly of fruits, cruciferous veggies and fish may reduce the risk or cure certain bowel cancers at their genesis.

Chemoprevention - This method consist of the use of natural or synthetic substances in order to prevent, reverse, or delay the development of cancer cells. Micronutrients such as iron, cobalt, chromium, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc and molybdenum, as well as other nutrients like calcium, folic acid (Vitamin B9), and certain medications such as aspirin may inhibit cancerogenesis, according to some studies in animals. Others studies show significant inhibition of spontaneous intestinal polyps in mice and rats.

Other substances used in chemoprevention include Cyclooxygenase-2-Selective Inhibitors (COX2), a form of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that directly targets COX-2, an enzyme responsible for inflammation and peptic ulceration. When it comes to your health, prevention is always better than treatment, which does always lead to cure; make your first step today to prevent or eradicate colon cancer; visit cancer of colon.