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Ata Mazaheri, MD, from
Glendale Adventist Medical Center helps
answer some of your common questions
about colorectal cancer. You can also
catch him on our YouTube channels,
YouTube.com/GAMCHealthline and
YouTube.com/GAMCHealthTips.
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it’s one
of the most widespread cancers in the United
States, claiming an estimated 0,000 lives each year. Yet
colorectal cancer is highly curable if it is caught early.
More than that, it is often preventable.
Know the facts, and know your risk for this disease.
It could be lifesaving information.
{
how does colorectal cancer start?
}
“Colon cancer almost always begins in a polyp, or
a growth on the wall of the intestine,” says Ata Mazaheri,
MD, general surgeon, and the first surgeon in Glendale
to perform robotic colorectal surgery at Glendale Adventist
Medical Center. “They usually start out benignbut can grow
and become cancerous if they are not addressed early.”
{
Who is at risk?
}
The vast majority of colorectal cancers occur in
people older than 50, reports the American Cancer
Society (ACS).
Other risk factors include:
●
A history of close family members having the disease.
●
A personal history of polyps, colon cancer, Crohn’s
disease or ulcerative colitis.
●
Smoking.
●
Heavy alcohol consumption.
●
Eating a diet high in red and processed meats.
{
What are the symptoms?
}
Often there are no early symptoms. When signs
do appear, they may include: changes in the frequency
of bowel movements; diarrhea, constipation or a feeling
that the bowel isn’t completely empty; bright red or very
dark blood in the stool; stools that are narrower than
usual; abdominal discomfort, such as bloating, frequent
gas pains, fullness or cramps; unexplained weight loss;
constant fatigue; or vomiting.
{
how is it detected?
}
Several tests help detect polyps and cancer. Fecal
your colon,
also known as your large intestine,
plays an essential role in your health. As part of your
digestive system, your colon helps to remove water,
salt and certain nutrients from indigestible food mat-
ter. It also helps to form and eliminate solid waste
from your body.
However, a number of fac-
tors, such as diet and envi-
ronmental chemicals, can
affect your digestive system,
including your colon. This
causes your digestive sys-
tem to become unbalanced,
which can lead to an array
of physical and mental
conditions.
In addition to
keep your coloN HealtHy
the usual steps of maintaining a healthy weight, eating
five servings of fruits and veggies a day, not smoking, and
limiting your alcohol intake, there are many other steps
you can take to keep your colon healthy:
exercise.
Recent research has found that exercise
significantly reduces the risk of developing precancer-
ous colon polyps. Additional research has also shown
that people who were consistently active for 10 years or
longer had a significantly lower risk of dying from colon
cancer after a diagnosis.
cut back on processed and red meats.
As noted by
the World Cancer Research Fund, it appears there is no
safe level when it comes to processed meat, and you’re
better off avoiding it entirely.
Processed meats include any meat prepared by
smoking, curing (salting) or adding chemical preserva-
tives such as nitrates. This includes bacon, ham, salami,
corned beef and some sausages.
Additionally, limit your intake of red meat (such as
beef) to just over one pound a week. Healthier options
for cooking meat include steaming and poaching.
eat your veggies.
Vegetables are high in fiber, which
is known to decrease the risk of colon cancer.
In particular, don’t bypass cancer-fighting veggies
such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower and
bok choy.
consume friendly bacteria (probiotics).
The presence
of bad bacteria in your gut can lead to colon cancer. So
help optimize your gut bacteria by consuming probiotics,
available naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt,
kefir and traditionally made sauerkraut.
Maintain healthy vitamin d levels.
Adequate vitamin
D supports healthy colon and immune function through
natural screening processes.
To learn more about colon health, check
out our online health encyclopedia at
GlendaleAdventist.com
.
Source:
www.cancer.gov
occult blood tests detect blood in a stool sample. Flex-
ible sigmoidoscopy uses special instruments to examine
the inside of the lower colon. Colonoscopy is similar to
flexible sigmoidoscopy but looks at the entire colon. Your
doctor can help you decide which procedure is best for
you and how often you should be tested.
{
how is it treated?
}
“Surgery is the most common treatment for colon
cancer,” Dr. Mazaheri says.
Surgical options for colon cancer include:
local excision.
If the cancer is found at an early stage,
a surgeon like Dr. Mazaheri can remove it without cutting
through the abdominal wall. Instead, a tube is inserted
through the rectum into the colon to cut the cancer out.
resection.
The cancerous section, as well as a portion
of the tissue surrounding it, is removed and the healthy
ends are sewn back together.
resection and colostomy.
If the surgeon is not able
to sew the ends of the colon back together, an opening
is made on the outside of the body for waste to pass
through. This procedure is called a colostomy. A bag is
placed around the opening to collect the waste.
radiofrequency ablation.
This option uses a special
probe with tiny electrodes that kill cancer cells. In some
cases, this procedure can be performed with only local
anesthesia.
cryosurgery.
This is a procedure in which a special
instrument is used to freeze and destroy cancerous
cells.
Dr. Mazaheri notes that the treatment for colon cancer
is decided on an individual basis with the patient and their
doctor. “There are many factors that determine which
treatment is right for you, including the stage and type
of cancer you have,” he says.
To learn more about colorectal cancer, visit
our online health encyclopedia at
Glendale
Adventist.com
. For a referral to a GAMC general
surgeon or other health care provider, call
(818) 409-8100
.
ColoreCtAl CANCer
aNswers to coMMoN questioNs
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