Colon Disease And Nutrition Studies
The most severe colon disease is the colon cancer which is also known as colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is the 2nd most death cause for cancers in the US. Colon cancer is actually a condition that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon).
The colon is the part of the gastro intestinal tract or digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end most part of the colon adjacent to the anus and together they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine which is also known as the large bowel. Tumors of that region, in the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the colon mainly in the large intestine are called polyps. Colon cancer is the forth most common colon disease in the United States in men and women. This disease is also the third most common form of acute cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related premature death in the Western world. Colorectal cancer causes around 655,000 deaths worldwide per year. Most of the colorectal cancers are said to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. These mushroom-like small growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time.
Sometimes, colon cancer causes no visible symptoms until it has reached a relatively advanced stage; therefore most of the organizations recommend periodic screening for the disease with fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy. It is common in the Western country, and is rare in Asia and Africa. In the countries where the people have normally adopted western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing. Most of the cases of colon cancer start as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps.
Polyps or tumors of the colon and rectum are almost always benign and usually produce no visible symptoms. However, the polyps may cause painless rectal bleeding or bleeding not apparent to the naked eye. There may be single or several polyps. Polyps sized greater than 1 centimeter have a greater cancer risk associated with them than polyps sized below 1 centimeter. Polyps in the colon with atypia or dysplasia are also more likely to progress on to colon cancer. The risk of colon cancer is much higher in sessile villous adenomas than in pedunculated tubular adenomas. Chemotherapy in this case is also used to treat patients with stage IV colon cancer. Surgery in the affected region remains the primary treatment while chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be recommended depending on the individual patient's staging.
Normally the high-fiber foods help to move waste product through the digestive tract faster, so harmful substances do not have much contact with the lining of the intestine. High-fiber foods also contain phytonutrients, which appear to protect against several forms of cancer. Calcium and vitamin D also seem to help protect against colorectal cancer. There is certainly just as much drone about folate and colorectal cancer prevention as there has been about calcium. Taking nutrional food with antioxidants, such as vitamin C or carotenoids, may reduce cancer risk but other studies have failed to back up these results. Vegetables that are high in folate, like leafy greens, seem to offer particular protection from colon cancer, especially for those who drink alcohol. Cruciferous fresh vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, also contain phytochemicals that may prevent damage to colon cells.