Colon Cancer Last updated: Oct 09, 2008

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  Colon Cancer  
 

 
Contributing risk factors | Other conditions that may be present | It can lead to... | Recommendations

 
 

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both men and women combined. The disease surpasses both breast and prostate cancer in mortality, second only to lung cancer in numbers of cancer deaths. Despite the fact that it is highly preventable, it is estimated that approximately 145,290 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2005 and an estimated 56,290 people will die from the disease. Because many people are embarrassed to talk about this disease.

Most cases of the disease begin as non-cancerous polyps, grape-like growths on the lining of the colon and rectum. These polyps can become cancerous.

Removing these polyps can prevent colorectal cancer from ever developing. Approximately 90% of colorectal cancers and deaths are thought to be preventable.

Because there are often no symptoms related to polyps, it is important to be routinely screened.

 
 

Risk factors for Colon Cancer:
 
 
Infections  Dysbiosis, Bacterial
 A putrefaction dysbiosis is accompanied by an increase in fecal concentrations of various bacterial enzymes which metabolize bile acids to tumor promoters.

Lab Values - Chemistries
  Trace/significant amounts of occult blood or history of occult blood

Counter-indicators:
  Absence of occult blood
 
 

Colon Cancer suggests the following may be present:
 
 
Infections  Dysbiosis, Bacterial
 A putrefaction dysbiosis is accompanied by an increase in fecal concentrations of various bacterial enzymes which metabolize bile acids to tumor promoters.
 
 

Colon Cancer can lead to:
 
 
Risks  Cancer / Risk Reduction - General Measures
 
 

Recommendations for Colon Cancer:
 
 
Drug  LDN - Low Dose Naltrexone
  Conventional Drugs / Information
 The results of a study on colon cancer patients may provide enough compelling evidence to convince oncologists that cimetidine is an effective adjuvant therapy in colon cancer. [Cimetidine increases survival of colorectal cancer patients with high levels of sialyl Lewis-X and sialyl Lewis-A epitope expression on tumour cells. Brit J Can 2002 (86): pp. 161-167]

Cimetidine appears to act as an immune stimulator as well as reducing the likelihood of metastases. It was found that cimetidine does inhibit the ability of cancer cells to attach to vascular endothelium. It was then discovered that cimetidine inhibits the expression of E-selectin (ELAM-1) which is one of the molecules in blood vessels that cancer cells adhere to using their own cell surface ligands, Lewis X and Lewis A. The adhering of cancer cells to E-selectin on a blood vessel wall initiates the metastatic process.

As much as 70% of colon cancers examined have expressed high levels of these Lewis antigens. Other cancers such as breast and pancreatic have been demonstrated to express these Lewis antigens also. Cancer cells in the bloodstream that express Lewis X or Lewis A antigens can't bind to the blood vessels and establish a metastatic tumor. These cells are instead eventually eliminated.

In order to determine the Lewis antigen expression of your cancer cells, contact IMPATH Laboratories, 521 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019. Phone: 1-800-447-5816

LEF

  Hydrazine Sulfate
 See the link between Cancer (General) and Hydrazine Sulfate.

Extract
  Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP)

Lab Tests/Rule-Outs
  Digestive Enzymes / (Trial)
 A large study of patients with colorectal cancer who had previously undergone traditional therapies found that the addition of oral enzyme therapy (Wobe Mugos) improved their quality of life by reducing signs and symptoms of disease as well as reducing the adverse reactions to chemotherapy. [Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 200l;47(Suppl.): pp.S55-63]

Mineral
  Selenium
 Selenium supplementation was reported to improve immune function in colon cancer patients, but no long-term follow-up was done to evaluate whether these patients ultimately lived longer or fared better.

Surgery/Invasive
  Surgery
 A study presented at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' annual meeting found that receiving short-term radiation therapy before rectal cancer surgery benefits patients. The data came from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial, which examined more than 900 patients who received a surgical resection intended to cure rectal cancer. Some patients had surgery alone. Others had radiation first. The patients who received radiation first, enjoyed longer overall survival and lower recurrence rates.

The group that received preoperative radiation had a 72% cancer-specific survival rate, as opposed to 62% in the surgery-only group. The radiation group had a 9% local recurrence rate, as opposed to a 26% local recurrence rate in the surgery-only group.

Vitamins
  Vitamin E
 Supplementation with vitamin E at 750IU per day before chemotherapy or radiation increased CD4/CD8 ratio and production of T helper 1 cytokines in 12 patients with Dukes C and D colorectal cancer. [Clin Cancer Res 2002;8(6): pp.1772-1778]
 
 


KEY
Weak or unproven link
Strong or generally accepted link
Proven definite or direct link
Strongly counter-indicative
May do some good
Likely to help
Highly recommended

David called his mother in Florida.
He said to his mother, "Ma, how are you doing?"
She said, "Oy, not too good. I've been very weak."
David then asked, "Why are you so weak?"
She said, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 days."
David then asked, "Ma, how come you haven't eaten in 38 days.?"
She said, "Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with food when you called."





GLOSSARY

Bile:  A bitter, yellow-green secretion of the liver. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and is released when fat enters the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) in order to aid digestion.

Cancer:  Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.

Colon:  The part of the large intestine that extends to the rectum. The colon takes the contents of the small intestine, moving them to the rectum by contracting.

Colorectal Cancer:  A cancerous tumor of the large intestine. It is marked by dark, sticky stools containing blood and a change in bowel habits.

Enzymes:  Specific protein catalysts produced by the cells that are crucial in chemical reactions and in building up or synthesizing most compounds in the body. Each enzyme performs a specific function without itself being consumed. For example, the digestive enzyme amylase acts on carbohydrates in foods to break them down.

Metabolism:  The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds.

Polyp:  A usually nonmalignant growth or tumor protruding from the mucous lining of an organ such as the nose, bladder or intestine, often causing obstruction.

Prostate:  The prostate gland in men that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra and produces a secretion that liquefies coagulated semen.