Bowel Cancer

There are many forms of cancer. Bowel cancer is one of the least talked about but still one of the deadliest forms. It is also known as colorectal cancer or colon cancer and occurs anywhere in the colon or the rectum.

Bowel cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the lining of the bowel. Small lumps called polyps begin to form known as tumors. The growth of polyps can be harmless or can become malignant tumors. If left untreated, these can spread to other parts of the body.
Bowel Cancer Symptoms

Physicians’ advice on the importance of cancer screening every two years. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, it you should see one as soon as possible.

• Blood in stools, especially if the blood appears dark in color,
• Abdominal pain or discomfort. You may feel swollen and sore and may experience unexplained loss of weight.
• Mucus in the stool
• Changes in your bowel movements.

Treatment of Bowel Cancer

Once you have been diagnosed with colon cancer, your treatment will depend on a number of factors:

1. Size and location of cancer,
2. Stage of development of the cancer,
3. Whether this is a cancer recurrence, and
4. Your overall health.

Surgery is the most common treatment for colon cancer. This would involve the removal of the affected polyps and the lymph nodes that are close by. If the rectum needs to be removed, a colostomy bag will be attached for drainage. This is a temporary measure unless it is a severe case.

If surgery does not work, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used to remove the rectal tumors. Both can be used before surgery in an effort to reduce the size of the tumor.

Prevention of Bowel Cancer

The exact cause of bowel cancer is not known. There are some things that one can do to reduce its severity. The most important is early detection. You can have regular screenings of bowel cancer if...

• You previously had the condition,
• You are over 60 years of age,
• You have a close relative with the condition, or
• You have another condition like Crohn’s disease.

A healthy diet high in high-fibre with plenty of fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates will reduce the risk of getting bowel cancer. Limit the amount of processed meat and red meat in your diet.

Maintaining a healthy weight without constant weight fluctuation will help. Exercise regularly to maintain this weight.

Miracles for Men encourage those with a high risk of getting bowel cancer to schedule regular visits with their physician. A healthy lifestyle is also encouraged.

Bookmark this:

Bookmark this page