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Colon Cancer, colon cancer symptom, colon cancer treatment
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Colon cancer is one of the most preventable kinds of cancer. We can prevent over half of all cases by making lifestyle changes and getting screened regularly. To access your Colon Cancer Risk completely, at ScienceofLife we have produced a general questionnaire with a fair knowledge of risk Factors and related knowlegebase.

Questionnaire : To estimate  your  risk  of  colon  cancer , take about   2 to 3 minutes to answer some questions about your health, lifestyle and personal background. Please fill in these questions to access your risk of Colon Cancer.

1. What is your sex?
2. What is Your Age?
Years
3. Have you ever had any type of cancer (except  for non-melanoma skin cancer)?
4. What is your height?
Feets    inches
5.  what is your weight
6. Have you taken aspirin every day for 15 or more years?
7. Have you had chronic inflammatory bowel disease for 10 or more years? This includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
8. Do you eat more than 2-3 servings of red meat a week? 1 serving is 4 ounces - about the size of a deck of cards.
9. Do you eat 3 or more servings of vegetables a day? 1 serving is about 1 cup of raw leafy greens or ½ cup of other vegetables, raw or cooked.
10. How many servings of alcohol do you have on a typical day? One serving is a can of beer, a glass of wine or a shot of hard liquor.
11. Do you take a multivitamin on most days?
12. Do you walk (or do other moderate activity) for at least 30 minutes on most days, or at least 3 hours per week?
13. Has your brother, sister or parent ever had colon cancer?
14. Have you been screened for Colon Cancer in the last ten years?

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Risk factors : Most scientists agree that these things affect the risk of colon cancer. Some may apply to you, but others may not.

Age and colon cancer : The risk of colon cancer goes up with age. Over 90 percent of cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 50. The average age the disease is found is 73.

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Height and colon cancer : Tall people have a higher risk of colon cancer. Scientists aren't sure why. One reason may be that tall people have more cells in their bodies, which increases the number of cells that could become cancerous. Another reason may be that tall people grow faster as children. Faster growth is linked to changes in the genetic structure (DNA) of the body's cells, eventually causing them to become cancerous. Tall men also have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Tall women also have a higher risk of breast cancer.

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Weight and colon cancer : People who maintain a healthy weight have a lower risk of colon cancer. Scientists aren't sure why. One reason may be that weight is related to the level of insulin-like growth factors in the body. Insulin-like growth factors are hormones that cause cells to grow. High levels of these hormones may cause cells in the colon to become cancerous. People who maintain a healthy weight also have a lower risk of kidney cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke, And women have a lower risk of breast cancer and uterine cancer.

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Red meat and colon cancer : People who eat less than 1 serving of red meat a day have a lower risk of colon cancer. Although scientists aren't sure why, one reason may be that cooked meat contains chemicals that can cause cells to become cancerous. Red meat includes beef, pork, veal and lamb. 1 serving is 4 ounces, about the size of a deck of cards.

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Vegetables and colon cancer : People who eat at least 3 servings of vegetables a day have a lower risk of colon cancer. Vegetables contain folate (folic acid), a B-vitamin that helps keep cells in the colon from becoming cancerous. 1 serving of vegetables is: 1 cup of raw leafy greens like lettuce or spinach 1/2 cup of other vegetables, raw or cooked 1/2 cup of cooked beans or peas People who eat vegetables also have a lower risk of pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. And women who eat vegetables have a lower risk of breast cancer.

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Alcohol and colon cancer : People who have less than 1 drink a day have a lower risk of colon cancer. Scientists aren't sure why, but one reason may be that limiting alcohol protects the levels of folate (folic acid) in the body. Folate is a B-vitamin that helps keep cells from becoming cancerous. It's found in fruits, vegetables, beans, grains and multivitamins. A drink is a can of beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of hard liquor. People who limit alcohol also have a lower risk of high blood pressure, and stroke. And women have a lower risk of breast cancer. But drinking moderate amounts has benefits too. People who drink moderate amounts have a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

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Multivitamins and colon cancer : People who take a multivitamin with folate (folic acid) every day have a lower risk of colon cancer. Folate is a B-vitamin that helps keep cells in the colon from becoming cancerous. Folate doesn't just protect against colon cancer. People who take a multivitamin with folate can have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. And it lowers the risk of birth defects when taken by women before pregnancy or during the early stages.

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Physical activity and colon cancer : People who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of colon cancer, possibly because physical activity cuts down on the time it takes for the body's waste to move through the colon. Physically active people also have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. heart And activity helps maintain a healthy weight.

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Birth control pills and colon cancer : Women who take birth control pills for at least 5 years have a lower risk of colon cancer. The longer a woman takes the pill, the more she lowers her risk. Scientists aren't sure why. One reason may be that birth control pills lower levels of digestive chemicals in the body. High levels of these chemicals may cause cells in the colon to become cancerous. Birth control pills can have positive and negative effects on a woman's health. If taken for at least 5 years, birth control pills can lower a woman's risk of colon cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer. But while she's taking them, they raise her risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. For some women, they can also cause side effects like nausea and vomiting.

WARNING: Smoking and taking birth control pills can be a deadly combination. Together, they greatly increase the risk of a heart attack and stroke. All women who smoke should quit good as soon as possible.

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Post-menopausal hormones and colon cancer : Post-menopausal hormones are medications that help ease the symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. They contain hormones that are similar to the female reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone, which the body stops making in large quantities after menopause. Women who take post-menopausal hormones for at least 5 years have a lower risk of colon cancer. Although scientists aren't sure why, it may be that post-menopausal hormones lower the levels of certain chemicals needed for digestion. High levels of these chemicals may cause cells in the colon to become cancerous. Post-menopausal hormones can have positive and negative effects on a woman's health. They can lower a woman's risk of colon cancer and osteoporosis (bone loss). But they can raise her risk of breast and uterine cancer. And, although post-menopausal hormones were once thought to lower the risk of heart disease, it is now unclear exactly how they affect the risk of the disease.

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Aspirin and colon cancer : People who take aspirin regularly for more than 15 years have a lower risk of colon cancer. Scientists aren't sure why. One reason may be that aspirin prevents the growth of polyps by blocking the production of certain chemicals in the body. Polyps are small, non-cancerous tumors in the colon or rectum, which sometimes turn into cancer. Aspirin has both risks and benefits. It can lower the risk of colon cancer and heart attack, but it can raise the risk of stroke. And it's sometimes linked to bleeding in the stomach, intestine and brain. Talk to a doctor about aspirin's risks and benefits before taking it regularly.

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Inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer : Inflammatory bowel disease occurs when parts of the intestine swell for a long period of time. It may be caused by the body's reaction to a virus or bacterium. The two main types are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. People who have inflammatory bowel disease for 10 or more years have a higher risk of colon cancer. This is probably because it causes cells in the colon to grow and divide too quickly. During this process, the cells have less chance to repair DNA damage that may have taken place. DNA damage can lead to colon cancer.

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Family history and colon cancer : A family history of colon cancer can increase the risk of the disease. This is because some colon cancer is linked to mutations in the genetic structure (DNA) of the body's cells. These mutations can be passed on from generation to generation. People with a family history of colon cancer may need to get screening tests for the disease earlier and more often than most people. Click here for more on family history and colon cancer screening.

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Screening and colon cancer : People who get screened regularly for colon cancer have a lower risk of the disease. Screening tests can prevent colon cancer by finding polyps and then removing them. Polyps are small, non-cancerous tumors in the colon or rectum, which sometimes turn into cancer.

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Fact Analysis

What is colon cancer? Colon cancer occurs when the cells in the colon grow out of control and form a small group of abnormal cells. These cells grow into a lump called a polyp. A polyp is a small, non-cancerous tumor that sometimes turns into cancer. The colon is the upper 5 to 6 feet of the large intestine. The large intestine is the long, muscular tube that food passes through during digestion.

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How common is colon cancer? Cancer of the colon and rectum is the third most common cancer among men and women in the US. And it's more common among older men and women.

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Who is at risk of getting colon cancer? Anyone can get colon cancer, but it usually strikes people over age 50. And the risk quickly goes up with age. People with a family history of colon cancer have a higher chance of getting the disease.

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How do you prevent colon cancer?

  • Get regular screening tests beginning at age 50
  • Eat less red meat
  • Take a multivitamin with folate every day
  • Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
  • Eat more vegetables
  • Take an aspirin every day (check with your doctor first)

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Who should get regular screening tests for colon cancer? All women and men over age 50 should be screened for colon cancer regularly. The need for screening before age 50 depends on a person's family history of the disease. Getting regular screening tests is the single best way to lower colon cancer risk. Screening tests can prevent colon cancer by finding polyps and then removing them. Polyps are small, non-cancerous tumors in the colon or rectum, which sometimes turn into cancer.

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What are the symptoms of colon cancer? Colon cancer may have no symptoms in the early stages. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include: A change in bowel habits A change in the way bowel movements look Diarrhea or constipation Blood in bowel movements Frequent gas pains These symptoms can also be caused by something less serious, like an ulcer, swelling of the colon, or hemorrhoids. If you have these symptoms for the first time, talk to a doctor. The symptoms of bladder cancer may include:

  • A change in bowel habits
  • A change in the way bowel movements look
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Blood in bowel movements
  • Frequent gas pains

These symptoms can also be caused by something less serious, like an ulcer, swelling of the colon, or hemorrhoids. If you have these symptoms for the first time, talk to a doctor.

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