Colon Cancer Facts
Colon cancer is a killer disease that affects a lot of people. It is the third most deadly type of cancer among male, and the fourth deadliest among female. Those who suffer from colon cancer are people who follow a diet typical of Westerners compared to people in Africa and Asia who eat an Eastern-type of diet.
But what exactly is a colon? The colon is the bottom part of the gastrointestinal system. It processes waste materials of the body. The colon also holds the rectum at its end portion, from which waste materials pass through. The walls around the gut may be attacked by polyps without resulting to any health concerns. These polyps can be found during colonscopy and can be removed with such process. Polyps are not malignant or harmless.
But polyps which are not taken away from large intestines can pose serious medical risks especially if they go unnoticed for a substantial amount of time. Malignant tumors likewise can cause harm to the tissues and nearby organs. When the cancer cells spread to nearby area, this condition is called mestasis. This condition can be fatal especially if the condition is not diagnoses promptly.
In the past, colorectal cancer was thought as something associated with diet and family history. But it seems that there are people who are more likely to get this kind of cancer regardless of the lifestyle and the diet that they have. For the most part, however, people who like to eat high fat foods are more likely to get colorectal cancer compared to people that opt for a healthy and well balanced diet. There is also research suggesting that trans fatty acids found in numerous foods can cause colorectal cancer. Those who eat fresh vegetables, whole grain and high fiber foods as well as low fat meat or fish are less likely to get colorectal cancer or obesity.
Individuals who have had history of ulcerative colitis may also be at risk of colon cancer, thus they must be closely monitored. Prolonged condition of ulcerative colitis can also lead to the growth of colon polyps. Those afflicted with ulcerative colitis for more than a decade have greater risks of colon cancer.
Those who have family members who had been previously afflicted with colon cancer are also more likely to get the disease compared to those who do not have family history of colon cancer.
