How can you help avoid Colon Cancer?

Comprehensive Cancer Consultation

A Comprehensive Cancer Consultation is the beginning point of your Integrative Medicine Plan of Care. The Comprehensive Colon Cancer Consultation allows us to develop a dynamic and flexible picture of the status of your health. This includes a description in Integrative Medicine terms of the causes and effects of cancer and why and how the mind and body have adapted to the stresses of having cancer.

When Colon cancer is present it changes the physical, biochemical, mental and energetic balance of the person. These changes include how the mind and body react, and how the nutritional and energetic systems shift to cope with the increased stress of cancer. These changes are unique to every person - no two people are ever the same, even when they have the same "diagnosis".

We have to carefully identify and be sensitive to these changes. Each treatment plan is highly individualized. The conventional approach of "fighting" cancer without really understanding and treating the whole person can be pretty much a futile effort.

The information gathered during a Comprehensive Cancer Consultation leads to your personal "Health Profile". The Health Profile then serves as our primary guide in developing your treatment plan. It tells us where to begin and which treatments, medications and other therapies are likely to be of the greatest benefit at each step along the way.

Keeping up with your changing needs is an important part of your Health Profile. As your mind and body gradually begin to shift from "cancer mode" to "healing mode", the need for particular medications and therapies also shifts and changes. Through frequent updating of your Health Profile we can keep up with these changing needs when and as they occur. The selection of medications is often very different from what one might expect. This is because everyone's needs are unique to them. Selection of medications is based on your own documented test results and takes into account the whole person. Choice of medications is not limited to "evidence based medicine" according to the name of the diagnosis.

A Comprehensive Cancer Consultation takes approximately 2 hours. At the conclusion of your consultation you will be given a printed copy of a recommended Integrative Medicine Program of Care based on your particular situation and needs. Most care plans begin with 6 weeks of intensive care, usually with daily treatments in the office 4 or 5 days a week. Your Health Profile is then reviewed and further recommendations are made as indicated.

A Patient Care Advisor (PCA) will be assigned to you when you make your first appointment. Your PCA will be your main contact throughout your care with us. You will have an opportunity to review your Integrative Medicine Program of Care with your Patient Care Advisor.

Your PCA will review your treatment scheduling, arrange for any medical testing that may need to be done, and review the finances of the treatment program with you.

Preparing for your Comprehensive Cancer Consultation

You should:

1. Contact the office to schedule your initial appointment. A Patient Care Advisor will be assigned to you at that time.

2. Your PCA will help collect and forward medical records to us for the doctor's review before your appointment. Bringing medical records with you also works but it may not be as efficient as getting them to us before your appointment.

3. The nature of Integrative Medicine and how we look at and understand cancer is quite different than the conventional. You are welcome to bring someone with you whose insight and opinions you trust to serve as a second set of ears. We often call this person your "Advocate".

4. Be well hydrated.

5. Avoid chewing gum or candies.

6. Remove magnetic items such as wrist bands or necklaces.

7. Jewelry items that are not magnetic do not need to be removed.

8. Remove cell phones and other electronic devices from your person.

9. Avoid using perfumes, colognes and body oils before your consultation.

10. Wash your hands and arms to the elbows just before starting your consultation. 11. You are welcome to bring a tape or electronic recorder for your consultation.

Colon Cancer Advice Symbols

 

 Colon Cancer Advice Symbols:

The colon rectal cancer symptoms are mostly non-specific and appear pronounced only when the disease is at its late stage already. The bad news is that colon rectal cancer is impossible to cure during later stage and the rate of survival is very slim as well. Often times, the early colon cancer symptoms are ignored by most affected individuals because the manifestations are not that bothersome. Most of the disease presentations are actually mistaken as common gastrointestinal upset symptoms and don't even give a slight hint that there is an existing cancerous tumor in the colon. Although symptoms are not always conclusive of colon rectal cancer, neither they exclude the possibility that the disease exists.

The Colon Rectal Cancer symptoms aggravate as the malignancy heads toward the later stage. The asymptomatic illness suddenly becomes filled with disturbing manifestations, particularly abdominal pain that is present even during the earlier stage of colon rectal cancer. This pain has something to do with the devastation cancer cells can do as the tumor becomes bigger. Aside from damaging the blood vessels, the increasing size of the tissue overgrowth puts on too much pressure on the nearby nerve endings resulting to pain. Overall, the symptom presentation of colon rectal cancer is affected by the severity of the disease, location and size of the tissue overgrowth.

Furthermore, since the colon is part of the gastrointestinal tract, the rest of the symptoms also pertain to GI system disturbance. The affected individual may manifest the following:

1. Slimmer size of feces

2. Feeling of abdominal fullness or incomplete bowel emptying;

3. Abrupt weight reduction

4. Abdominal flatulence;

5. Feeling of incomplete elimination of fecal matter or stool

6. Feeling of need to throw up (nausea) and actual vomiting

7. Bowel movement disturbances like loose bowel movement (diarrhea) or difficulty of passing hardened stool (constipation)

8. Gastrointestinal bleeding manifested by bloody stool (Melina or hematochezia)

People with colon rectal cancer may also experience fatigue associated with anemia, which is secondary to GI bleeding episodes. Moreover, pallor can also be evident among individuals with colon malignancy because blood loss depletes red blood cell count. Likewise, the tumor may absorb the necessary nutrients including iron, which may result to weight loss and further aggravate anemia due to iron deficiency.

Sooner or later, metastasis of colon rectal cancer becomes inevitable. The adjacent tissues, lymph nodes and other organs beyond the location of the tumor are reached and affected by the cancer cells. There are times when cancer invasion to other tissues becomes extensive and will bring about intestinal perforation. Thus, content from the colon like feces and others, spill out into the peritoneal cavity towards the pelvis causing infection.

Therefore, regular medical check-up is essential for prompt diagnosis and treatment of various illnesses including colon rectal cancer. Individuals who have predisposition to malignant diseases must consider enlisting annual health assessment into their priority list. Never wait for colon rectal cancer symptoms to worsen and immediately attend all health requirements accordingly. In the presence of colon rectal malignancy symptoms, never fail to seek for the expertise and advice of medical/health professionals. Moreover, diagnostic tests are necessary as confirmatory examinations like biopsy, aside from considering the disease symptoms.

Colon Cancer and Dealing Stage of Options:

Colon cancer is a very fatal disease, in particular, if diagnosed too late. However, treatment success for those who suffer from disease has increased, as has the survival rate. This is due to early prevention along with the development of new therapies for colon cancer. In fact, many early diagnosed colon cancer patients, if treated promptly, are reported to achieve a full recovery from the disease.

The course of therapy varies in different patients regarding the treatment of colon cancer. There are a number of factors that are considered including the state of health of patients and the location and the size of the tumor as well as the severity of colon cancer that are considered by Oncologists (doctors specialized in cancer diagnosis and treatment) in choosing a therapy. The three primary colon cancer treatments include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As the case may be, a combination of these treatments may be employed for the patient.

For early stages of colon cancer (Stage 0 & Stage I), surgery is the treatment of choice. These are the stages wherein cancer is confined locally and has affected a small portion of the colon only. The procedure may range from polypectmy to partial colostomy. Polypectomy is the surgical removal of a polyp in the colon and it is even possibly done during colonoscopy as long as the tumor (polyp) is small enough. On the other hand, partial colostomy is the resection of the affected portion of the colon and adjacent lymph nodes. The two procedures discussed do not require any other additional treatment like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The surgery alone can successfully eradicate the disease with a good prognosis as long as the malignant tissues were completely removed.

Regarding Phase II colon cancer treatments, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended by doctors in most cases. At this stage, where cancer has penetrated the wall of the colon and affected adjacent tissue but has not yet infected the lymph nodes, or spread (metastases). At this point, an operation is generally required to remove the tumor tissues and lymph nodes. Chemotherapy can also be performed, according to the presence of certain circumstances caused by cancer such as:

1. Perforation, or the presence of a hole or holes in the wall of the colon;

2. The presence of a high degree of malignancy;

3. No more than 12 lymph nodes removed surgically;

4. In the case of malignant cells that were removed from the colon show activity micro satellite instability (MSI);

5. Adjacent organs also infected by cancer.

6. The obstruction of the large intestine.

For stage III colon cancer, the malignancy typically involves the colon, nearby tissues and lymph nodes but not the distant parts of the body. The standard treatment recommended for this stage is partial colostomy and adjuvant chemotherapy as well as possible radiation therapy as the case requires. However, the surgical treatment can only be indicated for patients whose general health status can still tolerate the procedure. Otherwise, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are more likely the treatment of choice.

In the stage of colon cancer known as phase IV, operation is typically is the least favored option. Usually the best option in radiation therapy and chemotherapy. At this point, the malignancy is generally spread from the colon and lymphatic nodes and has distributed itself among other organs of the body. For cancer can often be detected in the lungs, liver, organs of the organs and peritoneum and the ovaries. Chemotherapy administered intravenous drugs or by mouth. These drugs are intended to destroy cancer cells. Metastases of other organs, malignant cells, not colon cancer tissue if heavy together with the operation. But if sufficiently large, chemotherapy drugs to reduce the size of the tumor prior to surgery. On the other hand, ionizing radiation and radiation therapy also be taken to reduce this tumor. But most often the procedures are performed in the interest of the comfort of the patent and do alleviate some of the symptoms of cancer, but certainly. Unfortunately, there is a very poor prognosis at this stage of cancer.

Overall, there are several options for colon cancer treatment. However, the best time to undergo such any of the treatment is during the earlier stage of the disease. It is significant that any individual risk for colon cancer undergoes certain diagnostic exams regularly for early detection because definitely cancer has a treatment and a good prognosis is possible.

 Colon Cancer: Saving Early Diagnosis:

Colon cancer is a kind of disease that is very hard to detect in its early stages. You have to consider the fact that colon cancer can be effectively treated if it is diagnosed early. When it reaches more advanced stages, the chances of getting treated for this kind of disease will decrease especially if the colon rectal cancer has spread to different parts of your body and to other organs.

First of all, the symptoms of colon cancer do not appear in all patients when the colon cancer is in its early stages. This is what makes it difficult to detect. This is one of the main reasons why physicians and oncologists recommend that people should get a regular check up for colon cancer screenings.

The fact that it is a type of cancer that is number two in the list of killer diseases, you too should get a screening for colon cancer regardless of your family history. You have to remember that the number one thing that increases the chances of colon cancer to develop in your body is unhealthy eating habits.

With all the chemicals and growth enhancers that are sprayed and injected into the food we eat today, you can never really make sure whether or not you are eating right. Furthermore, eating fatty foods and foods that are low in fiber will also increase your risk of getting this deadly disease. Although colon cancer deaths are continuing to decline, the figures are still very high. In fact, research has found that every year, over one hundred thousand people are diagnosed with this

Type of cancer. Half of those diagnosed with this killer disease will not survive or will die from the disease. As you can see, it is very important to get screened in a proper colon cancer clinic in order to detect cancer on its early stages. Even if you don't feel anything wrong with your body, you need to get screened as there may be cancerous cells lingering inside your colon waiting for the right conditions to become malignant.

Mainly, the symptoms that people with colon cancer feel is that they are constantly constipated or constantly having diarrhea problems for more than a week. The stool is a much thinner and often comes with blood. You may also feel abdominal pain, bloating and cramps and you will experience loss of weight in a short period of time.

What the clinic and the professionals will do is properly diagnose you through x-rays, CAT scans, and by taking blood and stool samples. Here, they will be able to determine if cancer cells are present. If it is, they will tell you about it and also determine if there are any tumors in your colon. If there is, they will also do some examinations to see if the tumors are benign or malignant. Usually, benign tumors are not removed as it doesn't pose any danger to the patient. However, some people get it removed for the fear that the benign tumor may transform into a malignant one.

These are the things you have to remember about colon cancer. By visiting a colon cancer clinic for regular screening, you will be able to see if you have this killer disease or not. And, if you have, it will be detected in its early stages and get treated by professionals right away.