Colon and cancer
The colon is the longest and widest gastrointestinal tube in the human digestive system. Its lumen is composed of waste solid materials from which water and salt are extracted before excretion. It is prone to some diseases such as cancer. Cancer is a disease characterized by unrestricted division and growth of cells; colon cancer results from these unrestrained cell growths within the large intestine. Most of the cases of colon cancer have been found to start as small benign tumors referred to as adenomas on the walls of the large intestine. Some of these tumors end up growing into nasty colon cancers if not eradicated during the colonoscopy procedure.
Cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth of cells that do not die. Normal cells within a living organism undergo apoptosis, and when apoptosis fails, cancer develops. Colon cancer cells continuously grow and divide without undergoing programmatic death. From research carried, it is evident that many factors contribute to individuals suffering from this disease. Some of the potential risk factors include age, race, personal history, syndrome inheritance, family history, diet, and an individual’s lifestyle (Adrouny, 2002).
Risk factors for colon cancer
The majority of the people suffering from colon cancer are those above 50 years. It also affects individuals of a younger age but only occasionally. Besides age, the race also exposes some individuals to colon cancer. For instance, Black Americans are affected greatly by colon cancer compared to other races. According to researchers, it is also evident that an individual who had suffered from adenomatous polyps has great chances of suffering from colon cancer. Some intestinal conditions may also expose a person to contracting colon cancer; for example, chronic diseases such as Crohn’s disease advances into colon cancer (Adrouny, 2002).
Colon cancer is among the diseases that pass from one generation to another; genetic diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis may lead to an individual suffering from colon cancer. In addition, poor eating habits and lifestyles contribute to an individual suffering from colon cancer. It has also been found out that too much consumption of red meat and lack of physical exercise results in this disease. Besides, some health conditions expose individuals to colon cancer. For example, individuals with diabetes can easily suffer from colon cancer. Involvement in smoking and taking alcohol may also lead to an individual experiencing this disease (Fisher, 1995).
A lifestyle that can contribute to the reduction of colon cancer
Although many agents of colon cancer cannot be restricted, it is appropriate for an individual to observe some changes that may contribute to its reduction. Individuals must observe their way of life. For instance, modification of some behaviors such as lowering the rate of red meat consumption may contribute to the decrease of colon cancer cases. It is also vital for individuals to consume a lot of vegetables and calcium ions. Such practice will reduce the chances of an individual suffering from colon cancer. Eating fiber also lowers the risk factors of colon cancer thus; it is recommendable for humans to consume a lot of fiber. It is also appropriate for individuals to use non-steroidal drugs in treating some diseases. Physical activity lowers the accumulation of materials within the body. It also leads to a reduction in the rate of cell growth within the body. Therefore, the involvement of individuals in physical activities plays a crucial role in lowering the chances of suffering from colon cancer (Fisher, 1995).
References
Adrouny, A. (2002). Understanding Colon Cancer. New York: Univ. Press of Mississippi.
Fisher, S. (1995). Colon Cancer and the Polyps Connection. New York: Da Capo Press.