Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a form of the disease that targets both the colon and rectal area of the body.  It focuses on the digestive system of the patient, which focuses in extracting and distributing nutrients from food before helping the body rid itself of the remains.  The body parts included in the digestive system includes the intestines or bowels, your stomach and esophagus.  Those over 50 and have either a family history of colon cancer or issues and who've had colon-related illnesses such as Crohn's disease or ulcers in the large intestine are those most at risk of acquiring it.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most-common cancer in women in the US and third among men.  The disease quite often doesn't show symptoms early in its development and thus is a form of cancer that is very reliant on regular testing to ensure the further spread and growth of the illness.  You can get a colonoscopy or a barium enema to confirm the presence of cancer cells and depending on different factors such as size and whether it spread, can begin treatment.  Treatment options include surgery to remove the cells and infected areas to radiation and chemotherapy.

There are several things you can do to prevent yourself from getting colorectal cancer.  Improving your diet to a vegetable and fruit rich, high-fibre diet that is low in fat and cancer producing carcinogens is important because the nutrients can also combat against the bad ones.  You should also keep getting regular scans for colon polyps, which can easily be targeted to be targeted by cancer.  If you can have these successfully removed, you are preventing the potentially-infected cells from building up the strength to spread the cancer through your body.  If you've ever had experience with a colitis-type illness or have long-standing colon concerns, you should be regularly tested, not only for the presence of cancer but to get medical advice particular to your symptoms on how best to prevent it.

There are several resources both online and in publication for learning more about the types of colorectal cancers, the genetics and hereditary make-up of your risk and the types of treatments and testing available  However it always best to get advice formal health care professional who knows your particular situation.