Family history key to cancer awareness

12:30pm Monday 9th April 2012 in News

Dr Barry Taylor

CHECK your family history is the key message from doctors at Warrington Hospital who are raising awareness of bowel cancer.

The national ‘be clear on cancer’ campaign has been encouraging anyone who experiences changes in their bowel habits or blood when they go to the toilet, to visit their GP.

Dr Barry Taylor, consultant general colon and rectal surgeon, said: “Patients shouldn’t be embarrassed about visiting their doctor if symptoms persist for six weeks.

“There are four surgeons at this trust and it’s what we do all day long.

“Family history can be very significant as a mother or father who has had bowel cancer under the age of 50 would mean a higher chance of being diagnosed.”

as one of the most common cancers, particularly in older patients, a national bowel cancer screening programme has recently been rolled out across the country for over 60s.

mr Taylor added: “Patients main worries are if it can be cured, what is the treatment involved and are they going to survive.

“If we catch it early it is eminently treatable and curable and the majority of patients tend to do very well.”

Patient Eric Hand, from Stockton Heath, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in April 2010 after experiencing diarrhoea and spells of feeling weak.

He was told the tumour was small, operable and curable and had the support of his wife Julie, who works as a district administrator at Warrington Hospital.

The 65-year-old said: “Before I started my treatment I used to drive past Clatterbridge and think ‘I hope I never end up there’ but it’s a fantastic place.”

Eric, who had his own sign-making business, had five days of radiotherapy before a colostomy operation which was later reversed.

He added: “Now I’ve never felt better.

“I’ve had a lot of men asking me about my symptoms because they have been experiencing the same thing but didn’t want to talk to their doctor about it.

“My treatment was fantastic and if something isn’t right you should get it checked.”

more News stories

symptoms of colon cancers

It tends to vary among different people, but the most common symptoms are:

A change in your bowel habits that lasts more than a few weeks
Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
Significant weight loss
Persistent or chronic stomach pain

I found this good article about preventions for colon cancer too. It's pretty informative and is worth reading for sure. I hope this helps!

ezinearticles.com/?The-Three-Best-Preventions-of-Colon-Cancer&id=5226641

This is great for colon cancer prevention. I know from experience, and it's really helpful.

livelongandhealthy.info

bleeding out of the rectum.
like it causes bleeding.

They want my friend to have a colonscopy done because it runs in her family, but wouldn't she notice something was wrong bowel habits or pain or blood showing when she goes to the bath room.

Hi there

It's sound like the doctors are just taking precautions with your friend, as you do say it runs in her family.

If she is not showing any signs of colorectal cancer, then it is unlikely that she has it. Im sure the colonoscopy is just being done an appropriate precaution to rule out any possibilities that they have come up with.

In the unlikely case of it turning out to be colorectal cancer, it has most likely been caught in its early stages, the reason why I state this is because you mentioned that she has no symptoms. So this would mean that treatment would be very successful for her.

But I a feeling that all will turn out to be normal.

Best Wish's

The majority of cancers have no unique symptoms until they are advanced . .that is one reason cancer is so deadly . . and the reason is simple. Cancer is your own cells, your own DNA that for an unknown reason mutates and loses the ability to stop growing. A cancer cell will grow indefinitely unless treatment stops it. Since cancer cells are your own DNA the body does not recognize the danger . . the immune system treats a cancer cell just like it treats a normal cell . . the body will feed and nourish and protect the cancer cell the same way it does any other cell in the body. A tumor can co-exist quite nicely inside the body for an undetermined amount of time just by bending around organs or structures. It isn't until tumors either grow big enough or begin to interfere with normal body functions that they are noticed. The reason for the colonoscopy is because small colon malignancies can reside quite easily and unnoticed inside the colon for quite some time . . it stands to reason that it is far easier to treat a small tumor than it is a larger one that has spread. So the doctor will exam the inside of the colon and remove anything suspicious while it is still small.

In other words, if your friend has the hereditary type of cancer than it may just be too small to be causing any issues at all . . the doctor is just being cautious. It's a relatively easy procedure and your friend should do it for several reasons . . one – to make sure she does not have anything cancerous right now and two – to establish a well baseline so her doctor can compare this colonoscopy to any future colonoscopies she may have – again checking for early signs of cancer.

Sometimes symptoms take months to appear. if it was me personally I would be glad the dr. is actually taking precaution. Colon cancer symptoms are tricky and like I said do not appear right away. if it can be caught early that's awesome and if everything comes back normal then that's just peace of mind. I would recommend your friend get it done, just to be on the safe side. Cancer is taking too many lives now adays, because it's getting caught too late.

Recurrent persistent occult in stool microscopy is most warning sign with anemia in a person with family history must have regular colonoscopy to rule out cancer colon.
Due to family history she is high risk group,need not have any symptoms.

Many colon cancers don't give any symptoms for a long time. by doing colonoscopies in people at significant risk of developing colon cancer the doctors can remove adenomatous polyps before they become cancer (or detect cancers while they are very small and easily curable).

Mucous colitis, more commonly known as an irritable colon, is a common disorder of the large bowel, producing discomfort and irregular bowel habits. Most patients suffering from an irritable colon are tense, anxious, and hurried. for years their bowel habits have been faulty. Many of them eat rapidly and at odd times and often fail to heed the call of nature to move their bowels. they use strong laxatives and enemas frequently, and these only tend to make the condition worse.

Normally the colon is intended to store the waste material until most of the fluids have been removed. The result is a soft, well-formed stool, consisting mainly in colon bacteria and non-absorbable food materials. People who suffer from an irritable colon do not have normal peristaltic or wavelike movements in the large bowel, but rather irregular and erratic contractions which are particular noticeable on the left side when viewed under the X-ray fluoroscope. these peculiar movements retard the normal evacuation of the fecal material, which in turn becomes excessively dehydrated and hard.

It is part of the colon’s function to absorb fluid, but if the stools remain too long in the colon without being passed, they become hard and dry. Feelings of bloating or fullness develop because gas is not absorbed or normally expelled. Because the bowel irritated, excessive amounts of mucus are produced within the bowel, resulting in mucous colitis. Some patients suffer from constipation, alternating with periods of loose bowel movements. In still others there is persistent diarrhea which may continue for years.

Many of these people also suffer from hemorrhoids. Steak of blood may appear in the stools. for this reason, all patient is bleeding in the stools must be examined carefully, both by X-ray and also through the proctoscope and sigmoidoscope to be sure there are no small growth or polyps which could be come malignant.

An irritable colon is not necessarily serious. by all means, break the laxative habit. Enemas should be rarely used. This may aggravate the symptoms for a time, but if the patient is ever to improve, he must give up the use of strong laxatives and enemas. Rest and relaxation are important. however, some mild regular physical exercise is very beneficial. meanwhile, he should avoid all foods that may irritable the bowel. It is best to take a bland diet for the present, but some fruit and low roughage vegetables should also be included.

Try to have a bowel movement at the same time each day, devoting at least ten or fifteen minutes to the attempt. however, it is important to avoid straining. The best time for establishing a regular habit is fifteen to forty-five minutes after break. If no bowel movement occurs for three days, use a low enema or an oil retention enema.

Patient who habitually use laxative may need some stool softening medicine such as methycellulose, syrup or tablets, or some medicine containing psyllium seed. Mineral also helps as a lubricant. Olive oil is another excellent and often beneficial substance in the bowel. Gentle heat to the abdomen will increase peristalsis and aid in developing more normal habits. The diet should preferably be bland, avoiding all harsh substances until better bowel habits are developed.

Without going into a lot of detail.

Many people with colorectal cancer do not have any symptoms until the disease is advanced, so people need to be screened regularly.Screening can detect early colon cancer.

People with colorectal cancer may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, people with colorectal cancer do not show any of these symptoms. or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your doctor and ask that a colonoscopy be scheduled so that the underlying reason(s) for the symptom can be found.

* a change in bowel habits

* Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely

* Bright red or very dark blood in the stool

* Stools that look narrower or thinner than normal

* Discomfort in the abdomen, including frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, and cramps

* Weight loss with no known explanation

* Constant tiredness or fatigue

* Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia (low number of red blood cells)

There are no specific early symptoms.
"Mickey" has a good answer.
If there are symptoms caused by colon carcinoma,
it is usually very advanced disease.
Do not count on symptoms for early detection of a colon carcinoma.
As with many cancers, we need to find them before there are symptoms.

Gut pain often-dizziness-seeing red colors when walking & feeling faint. Feeling funny-dark red stools.Colonostophy- doc telling you that u got colon cancer stage 3-4 being the highest.Being young-it doesn't care how old er are.Festering 4 years u never believing 4 & instant it would be that.Surgery piece of colon out-6 years pass-all is good. no kemo I will choice to have-no more poison will i have I OPT OUT. Prayer & thanking God.Women get checked i don't care how old u are,they said prenatal vitamins may be causing it because this is a older mans disease NOT true anymore, prenatal vitamins could be causing this,i think their guessing.they aren't to concerned with us women,they have a cure 4 prostate cancer. God bless & I hope your ok? Don't avoid a colonostophy (spelling) I wouldn't advise it.

Sound familiar? do you know this? How it affects men? HPV or human papillomavirus is a family of over 100 viruses that are transmitted by contact. Men HPV through genital contact (during sex vaginal or anal). HPV usually causes no symptoms, so can most men and women, HPV and never pass without noticing. HPV can remain passive in the body of a person, even after years since the sexual encounter in which they acquired the disease.

HPV can even years, passively, without any signs of infection. the most common sign of HPV infection is warts – common in the genital area. this may, in a few weeks after sexual contact with an infected person or appear months or years before they are posted. the warts may not even appear.

There are signs in search of men who develop health problems associated with warts, anal cancer and penile cancer. What warts, search one or more growths on the genitals (penis, testicles, groin, thighs, or anus) warts are different, can be flat or cauliflower-not evil, but this rule, weeks or months of warts after sexual contact with may appear.

an infected anal cancer has shown no signs or symptoms, but symptoms can include anal bleeding, pain, itching or discharge, swollen lymph nodes in the groin or the anus and changes in bowel habits or stool form. signs to be aware of penile cancer are color changes, skin thickening or accumulation of tissue in the penis, penis growth, or a painful feeling. Penile cancer showed no symptoms until the cancer has progressed a lot.

before I think of all the happy and full of generic drugs, weight, sex Capades for a minute. You have to go all the packaging you need condoms? they are packing up the loading dose of sex you need to go with the whole situation, to be sure? have you tested before, to prevent further infections? she did? (Well, if you do not know, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to confirm the date and yet they will be able to do so for their own protection). No cure yet been found for the treatment of HPV. Take precautions. Warts can be surgically removed or frozen off, but your daughter in cancer of the cervix could be cured so easily.

Incoming search terms:breakthrough cancer (2),catsuit-gaga (2)

Please help because my primary care doctor said she had seen it before and its very rare.

Bleeding from the rectum is one but has to be dark red. Bright red is usually from hemorrhoids. They can tell if you have cancer or fibroids by having a colonoscopy.

Blood with stool, abdominal pain. it is easy to mix with other diseases, so if unsure, get screening by doctor.
Highly unlikely, but possible. you are at risk if there are close relatives who had this form of cancer before. if not, I would not be concerned till 30-40 years.

Is there anything unusual in your colon? you can undergo colonoscopy first and see if there's anything alarming before thinking of colon cancer. Also, colon cancer doesn't come with age, it depends on your lifestyle and the food that you eat

rectal bleeding, abdominal pains, change in bowel habits (diahorrea or constipation), feeling of not having fully emptied ur bowels

yes u can have it in ur 20s, i'm 20 and have it, but its rare

only a FAMILIAL form and it is rare, it is most likely irritable bowel syndrome!

my right lower side where small and large intestines meet has been hurting for six months. dr. thought it was my endometriosis and took my female organs out. I am still in the same pain.

I know a few:
Unexplained weight loss
Keep needed to go to the toilet

A change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool for more than a couple of weeks
Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
Abdominal pain with a bowel movement
A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely
Weakness or fatigue
Unexplained weight loss

My husband was diagnosed 9/20/08 with advanced colon cancer with mets to liver.
He had been sick for 4 mos. exhibiting the signs people have listed in response to your question.
However, he also experienced severe chills, ran a moderate to high temperature and experienced nausea and vomiting.
He was encouraged to have a colonoscopy but refused until week of diagnosis.
Dont wait to long. He had a blockage in intestine and had 2 colostomies done as a result.
Also since his blood count has remained low they have been unable to inititate chemotherapy for palliative (comfort) reasons.
He has been one sick puppy. but we can be grateful that he is not experiencing any pain.