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I remember the day I found out I had colon cancer like it was yesterday. I knew something wasn't right back in December, but it never occurred me that it could be cancer. Both of my parents have been healthy their entire lives with no history of cancer, so that thought seemed farfetched and remote. But, as the weeks went on, things began to take a turn for the worse and what started out as slight discomfort eventually became extreme abdominal pain that would hover for hours at a time.
I knew it was serious when my doctor requested several tests including an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and blood work. After being cleared of any blockages or signs of infection, they opted to perform a colonoscopy — an exam I was already dreading due to the uncomfortable prep process involved in advance of the procedure itself. With little hope left in my heart and a suddenly sour stomach I entered the room expecting nothing but bad news or inconvenience at best; yet within minutes after hearing inexplicable chatter among staff members running in and out of my room — complete with bewildered but solemn expressions — made me realize there were much more serious issues at play here than what was initially perceived.
Once all out-of-the-ordinary growths were identified on both sides of my colon during the procedure by Dr Arnault (who is now my go-to doctor) he quickly worked with his team to schedule aggressive removal treatments shortly thereafter; with results from subsequent lab studies confirming severe levels of colorectal cancer too widespread for early stage removal operations via cytoreduction — essentially “the bad cells had spread”…all over! It was then that I knew this “little pain” from months back had become something very large and deadly if not treated urgently - source: COLON CANCER!!!!! So this is how I discovered a few months ago after submitting to various standard tests at various intervals that indeed I have Colon Cancer… still today is unbelieveable & hard to swallow!
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What were the symptoms that alerted me to possible colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a serious medical condition that affects many individuals each year. Knowing the symptoms of colon cancer can help you detect it early and make necessary lifestyle changes that could help prevent it. This blog post will discuss some of the common symptoms that may alert you to a possible diagnosis of colon cancer.
The first symptom to look out for is changes in your bowel habits, specifically constipation or diarrhea that doesn't seem to be improving no matter what treatments you take for it. Unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain and cramping and fatigue can also be warning signs of colon cancer. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible about getting tested for the disease.
Another symptom related to colon cancer is the presence of blood in stools or rectal bleeding; however, many digestive disorder such as hemorrhoids can cause this symptom as well. If you experience rectal bleeding, be sure to speak with your doctor right away so they can determine its cause and rule out any underlying health issues like colorectal cancer.
Finally, some other potential signs include nausea or vomiting which could be tied to an infection or obstruction caused by a tumor present in the colon while other vague symptoms, such as feelings of fullness even after small meals, constant gas pains or unexplained weakness could also indicate something serious like a tumor in the large intestine area. Again if suspicious—or unexplained—symptoms are present make sure to raise awareness on them with your doctor for further investigation into possible causes including colon cancer diagnoses if deemed necessary by medical professionals.
Overall recognizing these certain signs and hanging onto any ones suspicion is key when it comes down t diagnosing colorectal cancers early one —it’s not always easy but early precautious attention on symptoms and educated visits especially with family practitioners upon frequent recommendation can ensure much larger chances in catching anything earlier rather than later on if left too long unchecked potentially realigning all outcomes during processes too late further down the line thereof. Make sure monitor yourself closely should any new occurrings seem unfamiliar especially without expecting closure automatically without professional inclination at least once checked up upon for solidified outcomes there in itself alone!
Explore further: Colon Cleanse
How did I eventually find out that I had colon cancer?
I was completely blindsided when my doctor told me that I had colon cancer. Like many people, I had never paid a lot of attention to news or signs related to the disease, so the diagnosis was both a shock and a surprise. The thing is, colon cancer is something that really can sneak up on you.
A few months prior to my diagnosis, I had been feeling relatively normal but I started having occasional discomfort in my abdomen. Although it wasn’t a major issue, it didn’t feel right either so I figured it was probably worth getting checked out by a doctor. My primary care physician proceeded to order some tests which showed slight inflammation in my lower intestines and suggested that I follow up with a gastroenterologist for further evaluation.
The next step in the process took me to a colorectal specialist who used an extensive evaluation process and various tests including bowel resection (where tissue samples are taken for biopsy) and colonoscopies. It was through these tests that revealed some very concerning results—there were tumors present in my colon walls which upon further testing turned out to be stage 3 adenocarcinomas (a type of cancerous cell). It finally hit me –what all the general discomfort was leading up too: Colon Cancer!.
At this point after discussing treatment options with medical professionals, chemo therapy and radiation were suggested as possible courses of action as well as regular monitoring of cells going forward depending on how successful the treatments were in removing or reducing tumor activity. Being adequately informed about what lay ahead helped make sense relating to why certain symptoms surfaced as they did over time such as abdominal pain/discomfort and changes to digestive system habits/movement patterns etc since these are common indicators for potentially abnormal growths found during evaluations/scans within any organs related directly with digestion – from esophagus down direct into your crucial lower intestine may have seeded more than just food/liquid : Colon Cancer.
In conclusion, getting diagnosed with colon cancer certainly caught me off guard--I would never have expected it--however catching potential early warning signs soon after they appear instead of waiting until what did actually later revealed its presence iis definitely key! Make sure you pay attention if anything even remotely strange appears body-wise & take note don't put off seeking his professional advice\evaluations & not get any suspicious abnormalities or irregularities check
What screening tests confirmed my colon cancer diagnosis?
Screening tests are often recommended by physicians to detect the presence of disease before it can spread or cause any concerning symptoms. Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and has a high rate of recovery when detected early. It is recommended that adults, age 50 and over, looking to stay up to date on their health receive regular screening tests such as colonoscopies. If bowel tissue shows suspicious signs like polyps or abnormalities, further testing may be required to confirm a diagnosis of cancer.
When it comes to diagnosing colon cancer in particular, there are several exams that can partake as part of the diagnosis process. Commonly performed diagnostic tests for colorectal cancer include an endoscopic biopsy and imaging diagnosis using modalities such as X-ray, CT scan and colonoscopy with a brushing and lavage sample exam can also help confirm results from an initial screening test.
An endoscopic biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue from the inner lining or outer surface of your colon using an endoscope (camera). The sample is then placed under a microscope for analysis by pathologists in order to check for any signs of abnormality or cancerous cells present in the area being examined. Imaging diagnosis such as X-rays and CT scans will provide useful information about whether dangerous tumors have already grown large enough outside your colon that they need further treatment along with surgery. Finally, during a colonoscopy with brushing/lavage test, prior notice samples can be obtained through scraping off tumor cells gently during this procedure so these cells are checked in laboratories for confirmation purposes.
Overall, there is no single test which can provide an authoritative diagnosis; however various types screenings combined together produce reliable results –polyps found through general screenings like X-ray or CT scan could lead to more intensive screenings like endoscopic biopsies which would provide ultimately yield promising results when used simultaneously. Ultimately one needs to consider comobinatorical screening methods implemented together since individual testing cannot guarantee accuracy in every case but combining them will determine if you have indeed been diagnosed with colorectal cancer
Take a look at this: Cancer Man Test
What risk factors have been associated with my colon cancer?
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. It affects both men and women, and risk factors for its development are numerous, but largely preventable. In this blog post, we will explore what some of these risk factors may be for developing colon cancer.
The first risk factor to consider is lifestyle choices. People who consume diets high in red or processed meat are at an increased risk for colorectal cancer. excessive alcohol consumption and smoking have also been associated with this type of cancer, as well as being overweight or obese and leading a sedentary lifestyle. All of these lifestyle changes can be made to decrease your risk for colorectal cancer, such as eating a balanced diet that limits red meat and opting for physical activities instead of sitting on the couch all day.
A second major influencing factor are pre-existing medical conditions; if you have had a history of inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, then your chances for developing colon cancer increase significantly versus those who do not have these conditions already present in their bodies. If there is a strong family history of colon or rectal cancers then this too poses an additional risk increase should you also possess such genes.
Finally, age plays a single most significant factor in determining your chances for developing colon cancer; the older one gets increases their chance with age increments beyond 50 years old exponentially increasing your risks with each passing year. Though any person can develop colorectal cancers regardless of age everyone after fifty should begin paying extra attention to any deviations they may experience in regard to regularity within bowel movements amongst other symptoms which could signify something sinister lurking within their digestive systems
In summary, lifestyle changes like maintaining healthy diets low in saturated fats, increasing physical activity levels as well as avoidance or moderation when drinking alcohol can greatly reduceone’s susceptibility to develop colon cancers later on down the line. With preconditions like Crohn's disease further raising ones risks along side issues related towards genetics plus age playing it's part by increasinrisk and likelihood towards such dreaded diseases under handedlyit's clear that certain steps can be taken via preventive measures to reduce ones chances towards developing coloncancers significantlyforall people throughout every stageof life!
What treatments have been most effective in treating my colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a serious diagnosis and a frightening reality for many people. However, with the proper medical treatments and lifestyle habits, it is possible to beat this form of cancer.
One of the most effective treatments for colon cancer is surgery. In almost all cases, surgery is the first step in fighting colon cancer. This involves removing either part or all of a person’s diseased bowel depending on the severity and stage of their condition – by doing so, it eliminates any spread or recurrence of disease.
In addition to surgical intervention, many patients will have chemotherapy or radiation therapy to stop their tumor from growing back after surgery. These therapies are used to treat both local tumors that may have spread beyond the original site as well as metastatic tumors that originated elsewhere in the body but spread to the colon. The oncologist will determine which type(s) of treatment are appropriate for each individual case depending on how advanced and aggressive the cancer cells may be more likely to respond to a certain treatment protocol vs another patient's tumor cells whose cells may respond differently with varying treatment protocols as every individual patient case is different
Another method used in battling colon cancer is immunotherapy also known as biologic therapy or immuno-oncology which works by strengthening your own immune system- The physician can prescribe medications which serve as an injection, IV infusion or oral pill dosage-accordingly. This type of therapy helps alleviate any symptoms associated with procedures such as fatigue brought on by chemotherapies while enhancing patient outcomes related to other treatments such as radiation therapies with less side effects often caused by chemotherapies specifically such weight loss etc
The goal for successful outcomes related to treating colon cancer also depends on how applied holistic approach into one’s lifestyle (nutrition plan,exercise/ movement/activity levels) -because what you “put into” your body (food nutrition) -dietary intake can go along away in conjunction with medical treatments coordinated and recommended by medical professionals. For example incorporating fiber rich foods, minimizing added & processed sugars, limiting unhealthy processed fats within one’s diet can aid in improving insulin sensitivity & metabolic health that are essential components within an overall anti-inflammatory diet & lifestyle model.
Although there are several types oftreatment available for people fighting coloncancer, these three – surgery, chemotherapy/radiation therapy, along with immunotherapy – are typically seen as someofthe most successful forms oftreatmentfor this formofcancer when combined together efficiently and effectively coordinated between Health care providers / specialists,Family/caregivers & Patients alike.
What lifestyle changes can I make to reduce my risk of colon cancer recurrence?
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that affects the large intestine and can be quite dangerous if not caught early. Unfortunately, many people struggle with recurrence of the disease after it has been initially treated. Fortunately, there are several lifestyle changes that you can make to reduce your risk of colon cancer recurrence.
First, it is important to eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins. Studies have shownthat diets higher in processed foods and fried fatty meats can increase the risk of colon cancer recurrence. Additionally, incorporating plenty of fiber into your diet helps to keep your digestive system regular and reduce inflammation in the body which decreases overall risk factors for colon cancer.
Next, regular physical activity should also be part of a preventive plan for lowering the risk for colon cancer recurrence. Exercise helps to reduce inflammation throughout the body which may help fight off any extra residual cells post treatment as well as those that might cause cell mutation leading to development or onset of the disease later on down the line. Aiming for at least 150 minutes per week is recommended but even smaller lifestyle modifications such as taking walks after work or dinner can go a long way in staving off disease progression or development over time.
Finally, not smoking or participating in other invasive activities such as vaping is key when it comes to reducing risks associated with any form of cancer including colorectal cancers. Evidence suggests that smoking increases tumor development quickly due to its highly carcinogenic nature making it essential people remain smoke-free when aiming to lower their risks for any form overall health complications including colon cancer recurrences down the road.
By following these guidelines and making lifestyle changes tailored towards better health outcomes we may be able to effectively delay or even prevent further occurrences from developing from already existing cancers within our bodies altogether!
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