In most cases, colon cancer begins as a tiny, pre-cancerous growth called an adenomatous polyp. Adenomatous polyps sometimes restructure and become cancerous if left untreated in the colon.
Below is a list of risk factors to consider when assessing your chances of developing polyps and of being diagnosed with colon cancer. Risk factors of colon cancer, while many are lifestyle choices within your control, are sometimes not preventable.
Natural aging. Nine out of ten patients diagnosed with colon cancer are older than the age of 50. Colon cancer among younger patients is possible, but it is much less likely. Recommended colon cancer screening typically begins at age 50 for low-risk patients.
African descent. African-Americans have a greater chance of developing colon cancer. Experts recommend that patients of African descent get screened with an initial colonoscopy earlier than age 50.
Personal history of colon cancer or polyps. If you have already been diagnosed with colon cancer or polyps, then it is likely that you may be diagnosed again.
Family history of colon cancer or polyps. If a family member of yours has been diagnosed with colon cancer, then you are more likely to develop the disease. This includes genetic syndromes such as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome) and adenomatous polyposis. Experts suggest that those patients with a medical history of colon cancer in their families get screened early, preferably at the age when the youngest family member was diagnosed.
Skin cancer is a type of cancer that affects many people. There are a variety of reasons as to why this type of cancer may form. Some people choose to ignore the warning signs of skin cancer and then find that it’s too late to get help. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of this disease so that medical attention can be received as soon as possible. While the warning signs can vary from person to person, medical professionals can help diagnose and treat individuals with this skin disease.
Each person may experience different symptoms. It’s common to have small raised lumps or moles on the skin. These lumps or moles are often pale in color and smooth to the touch. Many people with skin cancer also experience rough patches on the skin. These patches may be scaly and may be found on various parts of the body. Some individuals also experience sores that may become crusty. There are a variety of skin growths that may point to signs of skin cancer. Any new growths should not be ignored.
Many growths that are found on the body are painless. It’s important to note though, that some individuals may experience pain. This can be a warning sign that something is not right. If pain is experienced along with a mole, patch, or growth, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
The most common screening performed for colorectal cancer is a colonoscopy. For those who don’t know, a colonoscopy is a procedure in which a long flexible tube with a camera attached at the end is used to investigate a person’s colon and large intestine to check for precancerous growths. A colonoscopy is believed to be the most efficient and effective way to prevent incidences of colon cancer.
However, an alarming trend has shown over the years that indicate a large disparity in the rates at which white people and minorities receive colonoscopies. What was at first believed to be due to financial and health insurance reasons, is turning out to be based on a number of factors, including cultural differences, and existing views, alongside any cost based reasons. A study by the University of Texas showed that even in areas with a large availability of doctors, Hispanics were 32% less likely to receive colonoscopies than white counterparts, while blacks were 20% less likely.
One of the most disturbing issues with this is that African-Americans are a high risk group when it comes to colon cancer. Compared to other racial and ethnic groups, African Americans are far more likely to get colon cancer. The high cost of colonoscopy can make the procedure infeasible for some families, but that doesn’t preclude these families from preventative screening.
CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a procedure that is performed on an emergency basis to help return life to a person whose heart has stopped beating. This is not a difficult technique but it is one that most people find they understand better if they have CPR training. CPR training can provide not only the techniques but it also provides on hands training with mannequins that are designed for such a purpose. This can help a person to know if they are doing the procedure correctly or not.
There are many ways that one can take CPR training. Some hospitals and community centers will offer the training. Local parks and recreations may also offer training in CPR. A great source for training is the American Red Cross. By attending these classes one will have an instructor who will go over the techniques and then help persons to test their knowledge by working on the mannequin. The instructor can then provide feedback as to what needs to be corrected or changed so that the person is sure they have the techniques down well. Many times a certificate is given to those who pass the class and this can be of benefit in some circumstances at work and other activities.
It has been reported that cancer has killed or will kill up to 13% of the earth’s population. Cancer touches millions of lives each year. Generically, cancer is an over-proliferation of cells which grow at an uncontrolled rate and harm tissue and organs in the process. It can be caused by exposure to a carcinogen, such as tobacco or asbestos. It can also be the result of a genetic mutation that occurs within the body. Cancer is scary, and there a certain types of cancer that are scarier than others. That is because they are among the most deadly forms of cancer known to mankind.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly types of cancer. That is because most people who have pancreatic cancer don’t know it until the cancer has progressed pretty far. A tumor will form in the pancreas and will cause pain in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, dark colored urine and stool, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting. Because pancreatic cancer is pretty well advanced by the time symptoms occur and the cancer is discovered, a lot of times doctors cannot operate to remove the tumor. In addition, many times the cancer metastasizes, or moves to other areas of the body before it is discovered. That is why this form of cancer is so deadly to so many people.
Recently, a dear friend of mine lost her sixty year old mother to ovarian cancer. Even with the pain so raw, she thought to impress upon me and others about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Recognizing ovarian cancer symptoms is so important because the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths. That boils down to almost twenty thousand women per year being diagnosed with the disease and almost fifteen thousand deaths from it each year. Catching it early is one of the keys to having a successful outcome.
Ovarian cancer symptoms mimic other conditions and are more likely to be ignored than some other types of cancer symptoms. A woman with ovarian cancer may experience bloating of the abdomen as well as general pelvic area pain and pain during intercourse. She might have persistent feelings of indigestion, gas and/or nausea as well as changes in bowel habits. She might lose her appetite and have a persistent lack of energy. She might feel the need to urinate more frequently. The scary thing about all of these symptoms is that they can be explained away as the results of excess stress or depression or as a digestive problem. My friend’s mom experienced all if not all of the above-listed symptoms on and off and failed to recognize them for what they were – ovarian cancer.
Clinical cancer research is conducted every day to determine the safety and effectiveness of medications used to treat cancer as well as the safety and effectiveness of treatment regimens and/or devices used to treat cancer. Its purpose is also to identify strategies to effectively treat and cure cancer. It is carried out on actual cancer victims under close medical supervision. If you or someone you love is facing cancer, then you should know that every day thousands of highly educated doctors and researchers are gathering data to determine the best ways to fight and perhaps someday eradicate this disease altogether.
The National Cancer Institute, a branch of the United States National Institutes of Health, has a website and publishes information regarding clinical cancer research. In fact, if you or someone you know is looking to join a clinical trial for the treatment of cancer, you can search the site’s over 8,000 studies to see if you are eligible to be a participant in a specific study. In addition, the site publishes results gleaned from former clinical studies which may be of interest to you. Patients can also learn important general facts about clinical studies as well as general information about noteworthy studies. The National Cancer Institute offers a wealth of information.
The American Cancer Society is an organization that is committed to tracking and reporting the incidence of cancer in the United States. Its website offers a wealth of cancer facts & statistics. For example, the agency tracks the overall occurrence of cancer in the population as well as the mortality and survival rates for people diagnosed with different types of cancer. It also tracks important data about social behaviors that are likely to have an effect upon the risk of developing certain types of cancer (such as smoking). It also tracks data about the use of screening tests that are used to uncover a person’s likelihood of developing certain types of cancers. All of this information is vitally important to understanding the causes of cancer and hopefully, can someday be used to help in the eradication of all forms of cancer.
One set of cancer facts and statistics that the American Cancer Society provides is the percentage of people who are diagnosed with different types of cancer each year. The data is organized by gender as well as race. In 2010, the agency reported that 28% of men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Likewise, 28% of U.S. women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Fifteen percent of men and 14% of women were diagnosed with lung cancer. The American Cancer Society also determined that a man has a 1 in 6 chance of developing prostate cancer while a woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer. These cancer facts & statistics are helpful to give you an idea of your own risks for cancer.
Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. is an exciting and useful website intended to put vital tools and information at your fingertips. The acronym P.L.A.N.E.T. stands for “Plan, Link, Act, Network with Evidence-Based Tools.” Its meaning is also two-fold in that cancer affects just about every member of the planet earth in some way or another at some point in their lives. Whether it’s one’s own cancer diagnosis or the cancer diagnosis of a friend or relative, cancer affects us all. Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. strives to bring important cancer information, statistics and studies as well as links to other useful websites to public health professionals in an attempt to bring them together in a practical way to come up with real answers in the fight against cancer.
Even if you are not a public health professional, Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. has a wealth of information about cancer. With its overall goal of reducing cancer risks as well as the number of new cancer cases and the number of cancer deaths, the site brings people and information together. The site also states that it is committed to improving the quality of life for cancer survivors as well. To achieve those goals, the site is geared towards planners, researchers and other health professionals. The site is designed to be a portal which provides access to important cancer-fighting tools and information. For example, the site can provide you with information about cancer risks by state, can lead you to partner organizations that work with high risk cancer populations, and can give you understanding of cancer research conclusions.
