What you should know about colon cancer

by Jerry George 30.MAR.07

He was known as the Scourge of batsmen. For more than a decade batsmen trembled in their dressing rooms when it was their turn to go out and face the bowling of Malcolm Marshall. He was a great athlete. At just five feet tall he generated such awesome pace that when coupled with deadly accurate deliveries, he regularly dislodged most of the world’s best batsmen who at times just didn’t know how to negotiate his bowling.

As the Caribbean hosts Cricket World Cup for the first time, Malcolm Marshall is missing. He was taken out of action early by Colon Cancer at the age of 41.{{more}}

It was during the Cricket World Cup of 1999 where he was a coach, that he complained of pains in his stomach. When he was taken from the ground to hospital, he subsequently underwent surgery where it was discovered he had colon cancer. A few months later he was dead.

Before he died, one of his last wishes was that the people of the region be made aware of the dangers of colon cancer.

Around the world, this month is observed as Colorectal Cancer month and the SVG Cancer Society is taking this opportunity to share some information on this cancer which is becoming more prevalent here in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

Rising Incidents of Digestive Problems

No one would doubt that a growing number of persons are complaining about problems of their digestive system, such as persistent heartburn, problems with acid reflux, stomach ulcers and battles with constipation. These are all symptoms of a digestive system that is sick.

Each of these complaints relate to the system through which the food you eat is passed on its way to be absorbed into your blood stream.

This system begins with the mouth and ends at the anus. In between there is the stomach, the small intestines and large intestines. Each has its role in digesting the food you eat and then getting rid of the waste.

Today we want to focus on the lower end of the digestive system. This is called the colorectal system and consists of the colon and the rectum.

The Colon – What is it?

The colon is about six feet long and is the part of the body’s digestive system that moves the waste material leftover from what you eat out of the small intestine into the rectum and then out of your body. The small intestine is responsible for sucking all the nutrients out of what you ate and then passing what is leftover to the large intestine, the first part of which is the colon.

In the colon, whatever water remains in the food waste is absorbed as it moves on its way toward the rectum. What must be remembered is that this waste material also contains harmful materials or poisons which you unintentionally ingested when you ate. The longer the waste stays in the colon, the greater the chance of the colon absorbing these poisons and harmful materials causing damage to your health.

This is why keeping the colon clean and active is vital to your overall health and to reducing your chances of developing colon cancer.

The bulk and fibre found naturally in the foods such as fruit and vegetables help the intestine move food along during digestion. The second thing necessary is regular exercise which helps to stimulate the digestive system and keep it active.

Damaging Effects of Processed Foods

Sadly, because of the increased consumption of processed foods today, much of this fibre is missing. As a result, instead of bulk in the intestines to stimulate the muscles into action, moving the waste along, the left over from these overprocessed foods is more of a tarry paste that sticks to the sides of the colon walls building up layer after layer.

But this is the result of diets which consists of too much junk food, pizzas, mash potatoes, french fries, macaroni, breakfast cereals or similar proceesed foods.

Due to the lack of bulk and fibre the waste from these foods, have a tendency to stick to the sides of the intestines not allowing the proper absorption of the very little nutrients they posssess and prevent the little waste they do generate from passing through the system in a timely fashion.

When this happens the toxic or poisonous waste which should be rejected by the body stays in the intestines far too long, often caked onto the sides of the intestines where they begin to damage the cells there. The longer they stay there the more damage they can do.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines and much of the Caribbean, this should never be the case because access to natural high quality fruits and vegetables and other foods which provide an excellent source of complex carbohydrates and bulk such as ground provisions like dasheens, tannias and cassava is very easy, but sadly our people are scorning these natural foods for the possessed foods which have had much of their life giving nutrients removed or tampered with the result is they are killing us slowly, but regularly.

What is Cancer?

Cancers form when cells in the body begin to behave in an abnormal manner. Instead of dying off when they should, they continue doing their own thing, multiplying uncontrollably and demanding more and more of the body’s nutrients. This could happen as a result of the impact of some poison or other substance on a cell which damages or changes the DNA of the cell.

Once this takes place, if this abnormality is not detected early, then that cell goes into a state of rapid multiplication demanding more than its fair share of the blood supply and soon a cancer site develops often as polyps in the colon. Much of this development takes place without any pain or discomfort until the growth gets large enough to begin to affect the normal functioning of the colon. Only then do you get the signal that something is wrong.

So, how can cancer of the colon be prevented?

First, a properly functioning colon must be able to absorb nutrients from the foods you eat and secondly it must move the waste out of your body in a timely fashion.

If this does not happen, the waste begins to ferment and rot in the colon and the body begins to re-absorb the poisonous waste that it should get rid of. It does not take long for this rotting waste to be taken up through the colon wall, into the bloodstream and begin to damage other organs as well.

To prevent colon cancer, ensure that your colon is kept active and clean.

How do you know if you have a problem with your digestive system?

Did you have a bowel movement today? Do you have one at least 2 – 3 times a day? This is how it should work. For each meal we eat, we should have the waste from one meal passed out of our system but if we did not take in sufficient bulk and fibre there will be very little none or to pass out.

Amazingly, some of us carry four or five days worth of food waste in our system without having a bowel movement. This is simply not good.

Do you suffer from constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, severe gas and bloating, weight gain, chronic fatigue, acid reflux, parasites (worms, etc.), stomach pain, diverticulitis, skin and hair problems and many other common ailments? These are a few of the telltale warning signs that you should heed and check whether your digestive system is in need of repair.

Conclusion

Starting at age 50, men and women are at average risk for the disease and should get screened. People of African descent are at increased risk, and tend to develop colorectal cancer at younger ages,

hence should be screened even earlier.

Symptoms do sometimes present themselves in the later stages of the disease and include rectal bleeding, bright red blood in or on the stool, change in bowel habits, stools that are narrower than usual, general stomach discomfort, diarrhea, constipation, frequent gas pains, unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, and vomiting. Persistence of any of these symptoms for more than two weeks warrant an immediate visit with a health professional.

Colorectal cancer – cancer of the colon or rectum – is a disease that affects both men and women and is preventable nearly 90 percent of the time.

The SVG Cancer Society recommends you remembering these important points:

Colorectal cancer can be prevented.

• Screening for the disease can identify polyps which are grape-sized growths in the colon and/or rectum — that can be removed to prevent cancer from developing.

• The magic age for screening is 50 — unless you have an increased risk for the disease, i.e you are of African descent like the late Malcolm Marshall.

• Colorectal cancer is

treatable.

• Regardless of your age, know the risk factors, know the symptoms, and know your family history.

• Talk with your health professional about colorectal cancer and your own risk for the disease.