Colon Cancer Treatment And Prevention

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Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, or large intestine cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the U.S. Treatment is very successful in the early stages of the disease, but because it has no symptoms in the early stages, it is often not detected until it is more advanced.

Treatment is very successful in its early stages and treatment can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. In addition, diet, nutrition, and herbal remedies have shown to work in conjunction with conventional therapy.

Listed below are useful recommendations that may help in colon cancer treatment and prevention. The use of these recommendations should be approved and monitored by your physician.

High Fiber Diet

Eating fiber-rich food at every meal as soon as possible after treatment may help prevent the recurrence of colon cancer.

The minimum amount of fiber needed everyday to prevent colon cancer is 20 grams, which can be obtained by consuming at least 6-8 servings of fruits, vegetables, or legumes (beans, lentils, or peas) each day.

Do not eat extra fiber if you have an active tumor.

Colon Cancer Treatment Using Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Supplement your diet with omega-3 fatty acids by eating 2-3 servings a week of cold-water fish (mackerel, salmon, or tuna), or by taking flaxseed oil, MaxEPA fish oil, or vegetarian DHA (such as Neuromins) as directed on label. Borage or evening primrose oil is also helpful.

Consuming Omega-3s, which activate gene53, can not only reduce the risk that cancer will develop and spread, it can also make colon cancer more responsive to chemotherapy with cisplatin (Platinol), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), or vincristine (Oncovin).

Low-fat Dairy Products Enriched with Vitamin D

Eating 2-3 servings of daily vitamin D-enriched dairy may help in colon cancer treatment. The kidneys turn vitamin D into hormone that attaches to and deactivates colon cancer cells. Even modest amounts of D vitamin can hasten recovery from stage I colon tumors and produce a 50% reduction in the risk of new cancer development.

If you don't eat dairy foods, expose yourself to sunlight or full-spectrum light for 20 minutes daily -- do not use sunscreen during this time period, because the PABA types of sunscreen block the kind of ultraviolet light that is needed by the body to make vitamin D.

Vitamin C

Taking 500-1000 milligrams of vitamin C daily can help in maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D and may help with colon cancer treatment and prevention.

Calcium Supplement for Colon Cancer Treatment?

Taking 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily may reduce the risk of cancer development by 75%.

Calcium combines with toxins to form insoluble soaps. These soaps are repelled from the walls of the digestive tract and are eliminated through the stool.

Always take calcium with magnesium to avoid imbalance between the two minerals. Take twice as much calcium as magnesium, measured "elemental calcium" and "elemental magnesium" on the label.

Complete Mineral Supplement

Take complete mineral supplement containing copper but not iron. Copper slows down the formation of cell abnormalities found in the anal canal, but iron supplements and iron-rich foods, such as organ meats, hasten colon damage.

Avoid Red Meat

One study show that women who ate pork, lamb, or beef as their main dish everyday are two-and-a-half times more at risk of developing colon cancer than women who ate such foods less than once a month. Processed meats and liver were also linked with increased risk, while eating fish or chicken without skin was believed to decrease the risk.

Other Considerations

Aspirin slows the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. Check with your doctor before using aspirin therapy, because aspirin can cause bleeding.

Sulindac, a prescription drug for arthritis, may act against pre-cancerous conditions of the colon and rectum. Use of this drug has been linked to lowered risk of developing new polyps after colon surgery, or if you have a diagnosis of slow-growing (desmoid) colon cancer. Talk to your physician about sulindac therapy.

A study in Taiwan found that men between the ages of 33-80 years who drink more than eight glasses of water everyday have 92% lower risk of developing colon cancer than men who drink fewer than 5 glasses a day, even when all other factors are included into consideration.

Melanoma, a cancer that originates in the skin may develop in the rectum.

Recommended Reading

Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (2002), NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc.

Here's what one customer of Amazon.com has to say about it...

 "I had this book when I had cancer in 2003; it was wonderful. It was the most extensive and knowledgeable book on herbs for cancer that I have ever seen. It's chock full of information. What I also appreciated very much is that she discusses the various chemotherapies and what herbs to take to complement them. I had never seen anything like that. And when she said that anybody who had Hodgkin's should never take ascorbic acid, that was information never seen. It was a wonderful companion during my illness and I am very grateful for it. I wish that it was updated."

Information on Colon Cancer Treatment and Prevention Obtained From...

Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (2006). Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fourth Edition. NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc.

This book offers a practical A-to-Z reference to drug-free remedies using vitamins, minerals, and food supplements that everyone must know about. Click link to read book reviews written by customers!!!