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| Take care of your Colon |
Do you have a poor diet? (Meaning… you eat anything you want, disregarding calories, fats and nutritional values?)
Are you obese? (As in, you exceed the ideal weight for your height, age and built? Worse if you’re way far overboard!)
Do you exercise regularly? (As in sweat it out and get really physical, according to Olivia Newton John’s prodding?)
Well, if you answered YES, YES and NO to the above questions, that means you have not been taking much care of yourself and you are increasing your risks towards COLON CANCER!
More questions:
Does colon cancer run in your family? (Particularly in first-degree relations like parents and siblings; or even second-degree relations like aunts and uncles, grandparents and half-siblings? If yes, don’t wait for symptoms. Ask your doctor for best advice .)
Are you in your golden years or approaching it? (Yes, are you 50 years old or above? Because as we age, we are more prone to develop colon cancer; the most probable time for cells to become cancerous.)
Do you love red meat? (As in you like veggies the least and prefer animal meat in your meals? Well, the higher fat content places you at a high risk, so think three times before you bite on that jumbo burger!)
Do you love your couch so much? (That when you’re home, you can’t stay away from that very comfortable softness? A lot of people don’t have the determination to get up, sweat it out, run, brisk walk, swim; anything physical that could be categorized as exercise or physical exertion.)
Do you drink heavily or have a history of heavy drinking? (As in consume more than eight drinks of hard liquor or beer per week? If it’s yes… you’re prone to develop substances called carcinogens which can cause or aggravate cancer. If you’ve been drinking wine, you’re less likely to acquire colon cancer, according to some research. But non-drinkers, of course, are more less prone!)
Do you have worrisome changes in your body like abdominal pain, constipation or change in stool size, blood in your stool and anemia? Pray you don’t have these symptoms because colon cancer doesn’t show these symptoms until it’s much too late. Most likely, you already have polyps which has to be removed while they’re still considerably small.
If you answered YES to all of the last six questions or have more YES than NO, you should have that screening called Colonoscopy… immediately.
COLONOSCOPY ? …. yikes!
Colonoscopy (Photo Credit: Nursingcrib)
Colonoscopy (Photo Credit: Nursingcrib)
Yes, it’s a dreadful word. No one dreams of having a colonoscopy; more so because it’s done starting on your most hidden doorway. That procedure which involves having a video camera inserted into your colon to examine it for precancerous polyps or clumps of cells is a truly dreadful scene to conjure in one’s imagination.
Likewise, there’s a preparation one has to undergo, too; that diet of Jell-O and laxatives – a day before the grand procedure, which is a necessary prerequisite so your health care professional could examine your bowel walls for any growth called polyps or any other irregularity.
It may be dreadful to undergo, but screening your colon is more important than shame or apprehensions. Early detection of any irregularity could save you from the getting into deeper colon problems, or possible colorectal cancer. You might even be spared from the torments of chemotherapy and radiation which are used to treat cancers of the colon and rectum.
If you have a majority of NO answers, it is best to cut your risk and prevent colon cancer by eating lots of high-fiber fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, such as fish and chicken.
It is always best to undergo screening regularly, exercise and eat healthily so you can minimize your risk for colon cancer by 90%. You’ll save yourself some big cash and you’ll be spared from the devastating treatments for cancer patients.
Take Note: Forewarned is forearmed. ^__^
Web Sources:
http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/cancer/articles/colon_cancer_are_you_at_risk.aspx
http://coloncancer.about.com/od/faqs/f/SignColonCancer.htm
http://cancer.about.com/od/coloncancer/p/colonsymptoms.htm
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