Colorectal cancer is a major health concern and public health problem in
most of the Western countries despite widespread use of screening technique
to detect early stages of this disease. In the United States alone more than
148,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. Over 55,000
deaths occur in the United States due to colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is
a very common disease and it is the third most common type of cancer in both
sexes. In men it ranks third after prostate and lung cancer and in women
after lung and breast cancer. Colorectal cancer ranks second after lung
cancer in terms of number of deaths from cancer.

Majority of colorectal cancers (72%) start in the colon and smaller fraction
(28%) arises in the rectum. The lifetime risk of being diagnosed with
colorectal cancer in the United States is 5.9% for men and 5.5% for women.

There are several known risk factors for colorectal cancer. Being a male
poses higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to being female. Increasing
age is associated with an increase in the risk of colorectal cancer.
Incidence of colorectal cancer is higher among African Americans compared to
Caucasians. Risk of developing colorectal cancer is much higher for people
living in the industrialized nations compared to less industrialized
nations.

Diet, rich in fat and cholesterol, is linked to higher risk of developing
colorectal cancer. Lack of proper exercise, presence of inflammatory bowel
disease, some types of polyps and history of family members with diagnosis
of colorectal cancer have been associated with higher risk of development of
colorectal cancer.

Early stages of colorectal cancer may not cause any symptoms. Some people
might experience vague symptoms like mild abdominal pain, flatulence or
diarrhea. Occasionally there might be microscopic bleeding and the diagnosis
of colorectal cancer would be suspected because of presence of anemia from
chronic bleeding. Some people might develop frank bleeding or symptoms of
bowel obstruction.

Screening for colorectal cancer can detect the disease at an early stage. A
rectal examination and examination of the stool specimen for the presence of
microscopic quantity of blood are very common screening tools. Sigmoidocopy
and colonoscopy are more invasive investigations, which can detect and
remove some polyps that might be precursors of cancer. Less invasive
techniques like barium enema, virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan machine
are also often used in screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Adults
having an average risk of colorectal cancer should start colorectal cancer
screening beginning at age 50.

Treatment of colorectal cancer depends upon the stage of the disease. Early
stages of colorectal cancers are treated with surgery alone, later stages of
colorectal cancer are treated with surgery followed by chemotherapy with or
without radiation treatment. Rectal cancers are more often treated with
radiation therapy compared to colon cancer. Advanced stages of colorectal
cancer, where the disease has spread to other organs, are usually treated
with chemotherapy alone. There are several new chemotherapeutic agents and
biological drugs available for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Treatment
of colorectal cancer has undergone marked changes in the last 10 years. The
newer drugs are showing much improved efficacy and prolonging life
expectancy in patients with advanced stage colorectal cancer.

The author is a paramedical professional and a freelance health information
writer. Author contributes work on various websites including

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What do you suppose the first thought a person just diagnosed with cancer has? Do they think about death? Do they think about chemotherapy and other medical treatments? What would you think of first if you found out you had cancer?

For me, I’ve already decided that if I ever do get cancer, I will not seek out the conventional medical cancer interventions and treatments that are the society standard today. I’ve decided I will seek a natural route, one that does not involve chemotherapy and the destruction of my healthy cells as well as cancer cells. I’ve decided I will seek a treatment that does not weaken me physically, but rather helps to empower and strengthen my body.

This decision has come to me over my lifetime, and personally seeing relatives suffer through this type of treatment, only to quickly deteriorate, and in my opinion, die a faster, more painful death than if they’d had not treatment at all. Dramatic statement, I know, but nonetheless, this is my opinion.

I do not know what natural therapy or lifestyle changes I would actually choose if I were in that position, but I do know this is how I would choose to fight my battle, and I would hope that with some prompted research, the natural choice would make itself apparent. This is my personal choice, and no one could change my mind.

Now, consider this. What if I were only 16 years old, and I had come to this same conclusion, with the added caveat that I had actually had chemotherapy and been severely debilitated by it once already? Does the government or a judge have the right to intervene and order medical treatment, which I do not believe in, and in fact, which I believe will actually kill me, if not dramatically jeopardize my quality of life?

That’s exactly what is transpiring right now for a 16 year old Virginia man (I say man, because this particular teen carries himself like an adult), with 2nd stage Hodgkins disease, a form of cancer that is very treatable the first time around, but upon recurrence, is less treatable and more deadly, requiring more drastic traditional chemotherapy and radiation.

Initially, the teen did undergo chemotherapy when the cancer was first discovered. He was weakened so badly, and in so much pain, that when his oncologist ordered a second round of more agressive chemo and radiation when the cancer returned, he refused and sought out an alternative cancer treatment called the Hoxsy method.

It is important to note that this natural, herbal method of cancer treatment, which is paired with a sugar free diet, has been banned by the FDA in the US, and he had to travel to Mexico in order to receive the daily herbs he had to take as well as intructions on how the treatment worked.

His parents advised the teen’s oncologist of their intentions for further alternative treatment, but said they’d like his continued medical monitoring. The oncologist felt this was neglect, and reported his parents to the authorities for investigation of medical neglect.

The case is now in court, and so far the judge has ordered the teen to undergo the chemotherapy treatments that he has so adamantly refused. I ask, how can you force someone who is obviously so against a certain medical treatment, to receive that treatment, regardless whether they are an “adult” as defined by today’s standards?

I can guarantee this teen has been forced to become much more mature than his biological years already through this ordeal, and is more than capable of making his own choices in his method of cancer treatment. Is this morally and ethically right? Or is it morally and ethically right to give him chemo, which many believe may actually save him while the alternative methods cannot possibly work?

I suppose it depends on your point of view, whether you are a believer in the pharmaceutical and medical industry or not. I for one have lost a lot of faith in the medical industry, and I believe that this choice should be left to the person it affects most. And that is, the one who has the cancer, the one who’s life has been so dramatically changed and nearly ruined by chemotherapy. Is it not up to the individual, or is this just a case of “the establishment” having their way?

Copyright 2006 Danna Schneider

Danna Schneider is the founder of alternative health and natural supplement website herbal-therapeutics.com Alternative Herbal Treatments and also writes for an online magazine about natural male enhancement called maleenhancementmagazine.com Herbal Male Enhancement Products.

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Although there are a number of tests used to indicate the possible presence of prostate cancer, including the prostate specific antigen, or PSA, test and the digital rectal examination, or DRE, the only way to make a positive diagnosis of prostate cancer is by means of a prostate biopsy.

The prostate biopsy is an essential test for people who have been identified as being at high risk from prostate cancer and, while many men shy away from procedure, or put it off as long as possible, the fear of the procedure is more imagined than real.

While it is certainly fair to say that a prostate biopsy is an uncomfortable procedure, most men report that it is relatively pain free and the number of men reporting pain following the procedure is quite small.

There are a number of different prostate biopsy procedures used today, but perhaps the most common procedure is the core needle biopsy. Here a number of very small tissue samples are removed from different areas of the prostrate using a biopsy gun which fires a needle into the area from which the sample is to be taken to remove the sample within just a fraction of a second. These samples are then sent for laboratory analysis to determine whether cancer is present and, if so, to determine just how much of the prostate is affected.

In most cases the prostate is accessed through the wall of the rectum as this provides reasonably easy access to the prostate gland. This procedure is normally carried out under local anesthetic and typically takes about 30 minutes.

In some cases however the prostate gland is accessed through the urethra, which passes through the prostate gland. Here a lighted scope with a small cutting loop is inserted into the urethra to collect the samples and the procedure is again carried out under local anesthetic (or occasionally under general anesthetic) and takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

Yet another, although less common option, is to collect needle biopsy samples through the perineum, which is the area that lies between the rectum and the scrotum. In this case the urologist will use a finger inserted into the rectum to hold the prostate gland steady and will then insert the biopsy needle through a small incision made in the perineum. This procedure is again carried out under local anesthetic (or again occasionally under general anesthetic) and although this is the fastest procedure, taking only about 15 minutes, it is not often carried out these days.

At the end of the day dealing with prostate cancer is far from pleasant and the relatively small and short-lived discomfort of the prostate biopsy is a small price to pay to detect the presence of this life-threatening condition at a stage when dealing with it is relatively simple.

For more information about the

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Asbestos is a mineral made of tough, supple, and flexible fiber. Neither chemicals nor heat have any effect on asbestos. It is widely used in many industries. However, this fiber can be easily inhaled or swallowed. Exposure to asbestos can cause various ailments such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, and cancer of the larynx, oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney. Top attorneys have joined hands with workers, to fight for the safety of workers and against the disastrous effects of asbestos.

Numerous health provisions were incorporated for people affected by the hazards of asbestos. Asbestos is not banned, but laws have been framed to protect workers exposed to the effects of asbestos. Asbestos attorneys protect the rights and provide compensation to the afflicted individuals. The hazardous effects of asbestos have created awareness amongst many citizens.

Asbestos attorneys include a team of specialized and qualified attorneys who represent the applicant. When considering a lawsuit, people need to find a topmost attorney who can handle the case well because they are mostly filed against established companies. These companies may use tactics to deceive the court or cover up some vital information. As the law has included provisions that define the adverse effects of asbestos-related sicknesses, the patient can prove his or her case with the help of medical reports and employment terms and conditions with the defaulting company. The asbestos attorneys help the workers in the recovery of compensation related to medical expenses, loss of job, financial crunches and after effects of the disease.

Top asbestos attorneys have developed the most original, insistent, and dynamic strategies in the nation to protect their client’s rights. These attorneys prepare every case for trial rather than rushing to an appeal haggle. This broad preparation and exceptional courtroom reputation actually keeps most cases from trial and produce better results.

Many online sites provide information about asbestos attorneys.

e-AsbestosAttorneys.com Asbestos Attorneys provides detailed information on Asbestos Attorneys, Asbestos Cancer Attorneys, Asbestos Litigation Attourneys, Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys and more. Asbestos Attorneys is affiliated with e-AsbestosLawyers.com Asbestos Trial Lawyers.

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Tags: asbestos attorney, lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma