What is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is a disease that starts in the colon or rectum. The colon is the last part of your digestive tract, and the rectum is the end of your large intestine.

The colon and rectum are part of your digestive system, which takes food and breaks it down into smaller amounts that can be absorbed into your bloodstream. Colon cancer begins when cells in the lining of the colon or rectum begin to grow out of control. These cells form a mass called a tumor. Tumors may be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

A malignant tumor can invade nearby tissues and spread to distant sites in the body through lymph nodes and blood vessels. If not contained by surgery, metastases often lead to death from colon cancer.

What are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, but it’s also one of the most preventable. It’s essential to be aware of the symptoms of colon cancer and take action if you think you have it.

Colon cancer symptoms

The symptoms of colon cancer vary by person. Some people don’t have any signs or symptoms until their disease has progressed too far for treatment to be effective. If a doctor finds a polyp during a screening exam, you may not experience symptoms until the polyp turns into cancer or another problem develops from its presence.

Common symptoms include:

• Blood in your stool (feces)
• Itching around the rectum or anus
• Pain in your abdomen or rectum that doesn’t go away after eating or passing stool
• Change in bowel habits
• Indigestion
• Bloating and gas
• Rectal bleeding (bright red blood)

How is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?

Colon cancer is diagnosed with a combination of tests, including:

Blood Tests

Three main types of blood tests can be used to detect colon cancer:

A blood test called CA19-9 is a good indicator of inflammation in the body and is often elevated in people with colon cancer or polyps. This test is also used to monitor patients who have had surgery for colon cancer.

Anemia (low red blood cell count) may indicate that your intestines are bleeding, which can signify colon cancer.

Cholesterol levels may rise if you have advanced cancer in the small intestine, which can cause blockages that lead to intestinal bleeding.

CT Scan (computed tomography)

A CT scan uses a computer and special X-rays to create images of the inside of your body. The CT scan can show how far cancer has spread and other conditions that may be causing your symptoms.

Your doctor may also order a colonoscopy to check for precancerous growths, polyps, or other abnormalities. This test involves looking at the lining of your colon with a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscopy.

Endoscopy with biopsy

A colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure to look inside the colon (large intestine). It’s the most effective way to diagnose and prevent colorectal cancer, as well as other conditions of the colon, such as polyps and inflammatory bowel disease.

Colonoscopy is a safe procedure done by a gastroenterologist. The scope is inserted into your rectum, then pushed through the entire length of your colon (about 5 feet long), providing a view of any abnormal tissues along the way. A biopsy may be taken during this procedure if necessary.

Colonoscopy can also help diagnose other gastrointestinal problems such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, and hemorrhoids.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests can help find signs of colon or rectal cancer in the body. These include:

• Ultrasound: Sound waves are used to create pictures of the inside of your body. This test can show any mass changes in your colon or rectal area. It is also helpful in checking for bowel obstructions that may require surgery.
• Colonoscopy: A long flexible tube (endoscope) with a light and camera on end is inserted into your rectum to look at the lining of your colon and remove small samples (biopsies) for testing if necessary. The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes and requires general anesthesia or sedation so that you’re asleep.

Is Colon Cancer Hereditary?

Colon cancer is not hereditary. But your risk for developing this disease can increase if you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps; you may have an increased risk of the illness. Genetic and lifestyle factors most often cause colon cancer.

The following are some risk factors that can increase your chances of developing colon cancer:

• Age. Colon cancer is more common in people over age 50.
• Obesity. People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of colon cancer and other digestive tract cancers.
• Family history. Having a parent or sibling with colon cancer increases your chances of developing the disease by three times compared to those without such a family history.
• Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol in excess can also raise your risk.

How Long Does it Take to Recover from a Colonoscopy?

It’s a relatively simple procedure, but it can take a few hours to a few days to recover.

You may need to take it easy for a few days after colonoscopy. Most people can return to their normal activities within a day or two.

Call your doctor immediately if you have any bleeding or discomfort after the procedure. You may need pain medicine or antibiotics.

Remembering your colonoscopy appointments is a critical way to keep yourself safe. While most people find the test uncomfortable and inconvenient, it’s worth it. Colon cancer develops slowly and is easily treatable if caught early. However, it can grow so large that it takes over organs in the body and kills a person before they even know something is wrong, so getting screened for the cancer is crucial.

The post Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Colon Cancer appeared first on Cancer Prevention.

This article will look at how technology helps make cancer treatment more manageable.

1. X-Ray Machines

Doctors use these devices to test tumors and identify other problems that may be causing pain or other issues. People mainly used X-ray machines for imaging in the past, but now they’re also used in cancer treatment. 

This means that doctors can take a detailed look at how a tumor is growing and how it’s affecting the rest of the body. By doing so, they can better determine how best to treat it.

2. PET Scanners

 PET Scanners are a type of nuclear medicine test that uses radiation to create images of organs or tissues in the body. They detect cancer, monitor responses to treatment, and rule out other diseases.

PET scanning uses a radioisotope (a radioactive chemical) instead of X-rays or other forms of radiation. Radioisotopes emit their energy as photons, which can penetrate tissue easily and leave no harmful residue when interacting with their target.

PET scans image tumors throughout the body and helps doctors determine if cancer cells exist in an organ or tissue. The radioactivity of the radioisotope used in a PET scan is taken up by the tumor and converted into specific compounds that emit light when made into a photographic image. This process allows doctors to see photos of tumors in detail without causing any harm to surrounding healthy tissue.

3. Smartphone Apps

Smartphone apps are an essential part of cancer treatment. They provide caregivers with a way to track the patient’s condition, alert them to potential problems, and help them make decisions about what they can do for their loved ones. The following apps are effective in helping patients manage their conditions:

1. Families Connected allows caregivers to communicate with each other through text, phone calls and video calls.

2. CancerCare lets patients keep track of their disease and access information about treatments through an app on their phone or tablet.

3. Cancer Tracker Lite helps users track their symptoms and medication dosages using a mobile device.

4. Checkup for Kids provides family members with tools for tracking health conditions and medications in children between the ages of 2-17 who are being treated for cancer.

4. Ultrasound Scans

Ultrasound is a form of non-invasive imaging that uses sound waves to generate an image of the body. It can detect and diagnose many types of cancer, including breast, prostate, lung and colon.

Ultrasounds are painless and highly accurate. Most patients do not even need anesthesia or sedation for their scans. Patients may repeat the scan multiple times to improve the accuracy of the images.

An ultrasound can confirm a patient’s diagnosis of cancer. It can determine any signs of spread in the body, such as lymph nodes that may indicate metastatic disease elsewhere in the body. 

Ultrasound also plays a vital role in helping doctors determine whether a patient responds well to treatment for their cancer (i.e., a cure).

5. Wearable Devices

 A wearable device is a small electronic device worn on the body, often as a medical device. Wearable devices may monitor vital signs and collect and transmit data to a physician. Some wearable devices are used in health care settings to record information and send it to a central location for analysis.

Wearable devices have been used to monitor patients’ vital signs and collect and transmit data to doctors for years. Now, wearable devices are being developed specifically for cancer care. Wearable devices are already used for many other purposes, such as monitoring blood pressure and heart rate during exercise or sleep, collecting information about physical activity levels and providing feedback that helps people improve their performance.

6. Breast Implants With Sensors

 Breast implants are another example of how technology changes how cancer is treated.

While there are many different types of breast implants, some have sensors that detect if a tumor is growing or spreading. The implant then sends an alarm to the patient’s doctor, who can take action immediately.

This is a massive improvement over the current system, requiring patients to return to the hospital every few months for checkups or biopsies. The implants themselves are expensive and require surgery as well. But if doctors could detect changes in the tumor’s size and location remotely and quickly, they could save on costs and time spent on follow-up visits.

7. CTs

CT scans are beneficial for diagnosing certain types of cancer. For example, they can help doctors determine if a patient has lung cancer by showing them how far a tumor has spread and what body parts it affects.

CT scans can also help doctors determine whether a patient should have surgery, chemotherapy, or both as part of their treatment plan. A tiny tumor may not cause any problems for years before it becomes large enough to start causing symptoms again. But if several tumors grow together inside one area — such as in someone’s brain — they could cause problems sooner than expected.

By using CT scans to look at many different parts of a person’s body at once, doctors can see how the various tumors are growing and make sure they know exactly where to cut out any tissue that needs removing.

8. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scans

To identify the type of tumor, doctors use a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This test uses pulses of powerful magnetic fields and radio waves, which interact with atoms in the body. The MRI machine sends out a sequence of those pulses and records how they affect different tissues. The result is an image showing which tissues are being affected.

The results are more detailed than CT scans because the MRI can capture more tissue. This makes it possible to see small tumors even in areas that were not visible on a CT scan. The MRI lets doctors distinguish between benign and malignant tumors because it captures images at different depths within the body’s tissues.

9. 3D Printers for Making Tumors

3D printing is a process that creates three-dimensional objects from digital models by depositing layers of material, one on top of the other, to create the thing.

The technology allows for the fabrication of prosthetic limbs and to develop tumors for cancer research.

A 3D printer would allow researchers to make tumors more accurately than ever before, taking them out of a Petri dish and placing them in a living patient.

10. VR Simulations for Surgeons

 VR simulations, also known as virtual reality surgery, allow surgeons to practice on a virtual patient before they perform the procedure on a real one.

Virtual reality simulation allows patients to experience what it might be like to undergo a surgery they may have been afraid of due to their symptoms or past surgeries that didn’t go well. Patients can then visualize what it would feel like during and after the procedure.

Technology Is the Future of Everything!

It’s hard to deny the ground-breaking potential of medical tech in cancer treatment, and it’s thrilling to see where it will go in the future. As long as technology improves cancer treatment and general healthcare, the world will continue to get healthier and more sustainable. 

The post 10 Ways Technology Is Making Cancer Treatment Better appeared first on Cancer Prevention.

With modern medicine, millions of cancer survivors continue to learn how to live better. One of the best ways is to take steps to control your health. It’s never too early to start. Whether recently diagnosed, going through treatment, or post-treatment, these 10 tips will help boost your health.

1.      Stop smoking

It is very important that you avoid tobacco and also avoid people who are smoking. Stopping smoking and staying clear of secondhand smoke will help you stay healthier and help you avoid getting another type of cancer.

It might seem hard to stop at first but try your level best for the sake of your health. If it becomes quite hard for you, you should seek help from your doctor to help you quit smoking.

2.      Limit alcohol

Drinking can also increase your chance of getting other kinds of cancer. Additionally, when alcohol mixes with some medication during treatment can cause adverse side effects.

Hence alcohol is an unhealthy way to deal with stress that emanates from cancer. Always ask your doctor if it is okay to have a glass or two of wine. However, if you don’t drink, don’t start.

3.      Connect with family and friends

Family and close friends will be very willing to help during this time. Don’t be afraid to accept help, whether running errands or preparing meals to accompany you to your doctor’s appointment. Having a support system is important when you need it.

It is also important that you encourage your family to accept help. A cancer diagnosis affects the family, adding stress to the primary caregivers. Accepting help from neighbors or other friends will go a long way in avoiding burnout for the caregivers.

4.      Eat healthily

It would be best to choose a balanced diet that gives you energy and strength, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean poultry, and fish. Cut back on processed foods, red meat, and high-fat dairy.

While going through treatment, you might need extra protein and calories. However, side effects such as nausea, constipation, and trouble swallowing might make it hard for you to feel the urge to eat. When this arises, it would be best if you talk to your nutritionist or doctor. They will give you the best advice on the best healthy diet changes.

5.      Do things you love

It is easier said than done since you might think that everything has changed when you have cancer. However, this is the perfect time to continue doing all your favorite things, such as casino games or honing your knitting skills. Check the list of great casinos to play at https://topcasinoer.net/casino-kampagner/.

You must normalize your life after diagnosis, but keep an open mind to changes.

6.      Keep your doctor’s appointment.

Visiting the hospital often might feel like a bad routine. However, it is crucial that you stay in touch with your doctor and not miss any appointments. In doing so, you will know what symptoms to look for and which follow-up screening tests you need.

The appointments are good for you as you can ask questions about how you feel or what to expect. The doctors also monitor your progress and address any points of concern during the routine checkup visits.

7.      Keep a healthy weight

You might have come across cancer patients that have lost a lot of weight during treatment. It arises from not eating due to the effect of eating while on treatment. However, other treatments, especially those associated with hormones like breast or prostate, can lead to weight gain.

Your doctor will advise you on the healthy weight goal for you. Work towards this as advised by the doctor or nutritionist.

8.      Exercise

Being active every day is great for your physical and mental health. Some days, you will not have the strength to exercise, but try as much as possible to keep moving. Exercise improves your balance and makes your muscles stronger.

Set aside 30 minutes daily to walk, swim or slow run. These activities will get your heart pumping and help build your muscles. However, it’s good to talk to your doctor first to be advised on the best exercises and the routine.

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9.      Connect with other cancer patients

At times, it might feel as if people who haven’t experienced cancer don’t fully understand how you feel. In such a situation, you must interact and talk to people who have been diagnosed. When you listen to the experiences of other cancer survivors, you get more insights into what to expect during treatment.

There are several cancer support groups that you can join. You can ask around or even find these groups online in your local area. Ask your doctor to guide you to connect to a support group if you have any trouble. In the support groups, you will not only talk about issues, but you can enjoy games and great conversations.

10.  Fight stigma

There are old stigmas that are associated with cancer. For example, some friends may wonder if your cancer is contagious, while colleagues may wonder whether you are healthy enough to work. As a result, some people may withdraw from your circle for fear of saying or asking the wrong questions.

It is good that you know how to address these issues or how to behave while in their company. From how you behave, that’s how your friends will treat you. Additionally, it would be best if you reminded them that even though cancer is a very frightening part of life, they should be afraid to interact with you.

Conclusion

Even though cancer diagnosis and treatment can be a frightening part of life, there is still hope that you can live a long life. Millions of people have made it possible to believe this fact. The mentioned tips will help you feel at ease as you enjoy your life even in a very difficult moment.

The post Top 10 Approved Tips to Help Living with Cancer appeared first on Cancer Prevention.

Did you know that there are over 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses reported in the US each year? Foodborne illnesses usually occur within one to three days after eating a contaminated food and symptoms may include abdominal pain and diarrhea, as well as body aches and fevers. So if you eat a food that contains a harmful bacteria, such as E. coli or salmonella, your immune system may not recognize and eliminate that bacteria as easily during your cancer treatment. Consequently, you could become very sick. Preventing a foodborne illness is important.

How to minimize your risk of developing a foodborne illness by following six food safety tips ?

1. Foods safety tip – wash your hands.

And at least 50% of foodborne illnesses could be prevented by proper hand washing. So make sure that you wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Wash your hands throughout the day, including after using the bathroom and playing with your pets. And avoid spreading bacteria by washing your hands after handling food and during meal preparation, especially when handling raw meats and produce.

2. Food Safety tip – rinse fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.

Rinse both fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables under running water, as they may carry harmful bacteria from harvesting or transport from farm to grocer. So make sure that you rent all fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, including those with edible skins, rinds and peels. For example, apples, peppers, oranges and bananas can be eaten as long as you’ve rinsed them first. Rinse leafy greens in a salad spinner and rinse fresh and frozen berries in a colander. Even rinse bags spinach or lettuce or salads that are labeled pre washed or double triple washed. Scrubbed from produce like potatoes and cantaloupes with a clean vegetable brush. Store bought fresh juices are safe to drink as long as the container says heat treated. Don’t eat any raw sprouts like alfalfa sprouts or bean sprouts. And don’t eat any raw fresh fruits or vegetables that are prepared outside of your home. That means don’t buy pre cut fresh fruits and vegetables. And don’t eat raw fruits and vegetables from restaurants or someone else’s home. Only eat cooked.

3. Food safety tip – cook meats and eggs to proper temperature.

Be sure that fully cook meats and eggs as the cooking process can destroy harmful bacteria found in raw meats and raw eggs. Fully cooked meats such as beef, pork, lamb, poultry, fish and seafood, to proper temperature. The Food and Drug Administration or the FDA has a helpful chart available on their website that provides the safe minimum internal temperatures to follow for different food types. Make sure to cook eggs so the yolks and the whites are firm, not runny. They don’t eat any raw sushi oysters or ceviche. And don’t eat any runny egg yolks or raw eggs like in some salad dressings or raw cookie dough.

4. Food Safety tip – avoid unpasteurized dairy products.

Pasteurization is the process of heating liquids or foods to destroy bacteria and other contaminants. In the grocery store are for pasteurized dairy products, like milk and cheese. Look at the ingredient list the dairy product container and make sure that it says “Made with pasteurized milk”. To store all dairy products at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the refrigerator or the freezer. And don’t drink raw milk or eat raw cheese unless heated like in a hot drink or a casserole.

5. Food Safety tip – prevent cross contamination.

We want to prevent cross contamination which means spreading unwanted bacteria from one surface to another. When grocery shopping separate raw meats from all other items in your grocery cart, in your grocery bags and in your refrigerator when you get home. Use different cutting boards prepare meats and produce or thoroughly wash your cutting board with hot water and soap between uses. Don’t clean your kitchen surfaces with a cloth towel, use a clean paper towel instead.

6. Food safety tip -refrigerate foods and leftovers.

Bacteria tends to grow more in a warm, moist environment. To prevent this, refrigerate your foods and leftovers promptly. Refrigerate perishable foods such as meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, produce and leftovers within one to two hours of cooking or purchasing. Defrost foods like meat some leftovers in the refrigerator. Leftovers are fine to eat as long as you eat them within three days. Or you can freeze leftovers within three days and eat them later. And don’t leave milk and other refrigerator items on the kitchen counter for several hours – refrigerate them.

In summary

During cancer treatment, your immune system may not be as strong as it usually is. So it may have a harder time fighting off a foodborne illness. Therefore it’s important to follow these six tips to ensure food safety. And remember to wash your hands throughout the day with soap and water. Thoroughly rinse fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. Fully cooked meats too well done, eggs so that they’re not running. Avoid unpasteurized dairy products. Prevent cross contamination. And finally, keep foods in the refrigerator that belong in the refrigerator.

Please note that your physician may have more personalized recommendations for you. If you would like a printable food safety guide, or you’d like to learn more about the oncology nutrition program please visit our website.

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Types of radiation therapy:

Remote.
Contact.

The external irradiation method (remote radiation therapy) is used for patients with different types of cancer. External type radiation therapy involves irradiating the patient with a special apparatus that affects the ionizing rays.

Internal radiation (contact radiation therapy) involves injecting a substance into the patient’s body. There are two types of internal radiation: with solid objects (brachytherapy) or with a liquid substance. It is injected intravenously, spreads through the body and helps to kill cancer cells.

Radiation therapy is most effective when combined with surgery. Preoperative radiation, like chemotherapy, helps shrink the cancerous tumor. After surgery, radiation therapy is used to destroy the remaining malignant cells.

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Surgical treatment can be done in two ways:

• Complete removal of the tumor.
• Partial excision of the tumor.

The first method is used if a cancerous tumor has been diagnosed at an early stage, before it has spread to nearby tissues and organs. In this case, after surgery and whole tumor removal, doctors prescribe chemotherapy courses to destroy cancer cells. This helps avoid recurrence of the cancer.

Partial excision of a tumor is an operation which involves the removal of some parts of the tumor. This type of surgery is most often done at the later stages of cancer. Partial excision of the tumor improves the patient’s condition and enhances the effect of chemotherapy.

In some cases, depending on the size of the tumor and the risks of recurrence, doctors perform operations to remove an entire organ, such as removal of the breast or ovaries. Such surgeries can cause discomfort and disrupt the normal cycle of life, but are the most effective, and sometimes unavoidable, for maintaining health.

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• Before surgery.
• After surgery.

Before surgery, chemotherapy is given to stop the growth of the tumor. The most effective way is to take medications that stop the growth of the tumor and help shrink its size. When the tumor is smaller, it is easier for oncologic surgeons to operate to remove it without damaging neighboring tissues.

Chemotherapy after surgery is prescribed in almost all cases to destroy the remaining cancer cells in the patient’s body. If the residual cancer cells are not removed, there is a high risk that the tumor will recur.

Chemotherapy may also be prescribed when it is necessary to enhance the effect of other treatments or to reduce the chance of a recurrence of the disease.

Chemotherapy may be given as pills and capsules, as well as intravenous injections. The method of chemotherapy and the number of courses is prescribed by the attending specialist. Therapy at the TomoClinic is carried out on a day hospital under the supervision of doctors. For cancer treatment, they use gentle medications from leading Western pharmaceutical companies. Thanks to the high quality of the medication, the risk of side effects is minimized. The use of medications and procedures gives the patient a chance to avoid a relapse.

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