Originally published February 21 2006
Doctor speaks out about the need for detecting colon cancer in its early stages
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Lacrosse Tribune interviews Dr. Jennifer Chapman about the importance of colorectal screenings and early detection in reducing the fatality rate among colon cancer patients.
They felt fine and had no symptoms, but once they had symptoms, it was too late to save their lives, said Chapman, a Franciscan Skemp Healthcare surgeon specializing in colorectal cancer.
Chapman said early detection through colon screenings has reduced the risk of death from cancer between 50 percent and 70 percent.
And early detection also has decreased the incidence or the chance of a polyp transforming into a colon cancer by about 60 percent or 80 percent, she added.
Some people are truly scared we will find something, and they would rather deny that colon polyps or cancer could happen to them instead of trying to take a step toward preventing it.
Many people say they feel fine and believe they don't need a colon screening, but they don't realize colon cancer is a lot like breast cancer or prostate cancer --- you don't usually have any symptoms or feel bad until it is too far gone and has spread.
A: Anyone who is having persistent bleeding or significant and persistent change in their normal bowel habits should always have their colons evaluated.
For the average risk person, defined as someone without family history (mother, father, siblings) of colon polyps or colorectal cancer, they should obtain colon screening at age 50.
All tests have been shown to decrease the occurrence and death rates of colon cancer, but colonoscopy has been shown to have the best outcomes.
There have been many studies on dietary factors and supplements.
Although aspirin, NSAIDs, vitamin D and calcium, have all been associated with a decrease in the number of adenomatous colon polyp formation, none of these factors have been found to significantly decrease the incidence of colon cancer.
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