health post

March is Colon Cancer  Awareness Month

Do you know that colon cancer is fast becoming the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the Philippines today?

This is according to  Dr. Chanita Villegas-Chua, a fellow of the Philippine Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, of the Philippine Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and of the Philippine Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine.  

Dr. Chua presented her findings to a select group of media practitioners recently in line with the celebration of the month of March  as Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

According to Dr. Chua, colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is now the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country that causes suffering to an estimated 8,000 newly diagnose patients alone this year.  While in the US it is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined according to American Cancer Society.

Colorectal cancer is a "food-related" cancer.  Everything one eats passes over the lining of the  digestive tract. The lining of the large intestine and the rectum at the lower end of the digestive tube contains waste, digestive fluids, bile acids and fiber. That lining is bathed by chemicals in food, the person’s own hormones and secretions, and healthy and unhealthy bacteria. The contents of the intestines have a direct impact on the health of the cells lining the bowel.

Almost all colon cancer starts in glands in the lining of the colon and rectum. There is no single cause of colon cancer. Nearly all colon cancers begin as noncancerous (benign) polyps, which slowly develop into cancer.

What one consumes may play a role in one’s risk of colon cancer which may be associated with a high-fat, low-fiber diet and red meat.

Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are other risk factors for colorectal cancer.

Symptoms

Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. The following symptoms, however, may indicate colon cancer:

·           Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen

·           Blood in the stool

·           Diarrhea, constipation, or other change in bowel habits

·           Narrow stools

·           Weight loss with no known reason

Reduce Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer the natural way

1. Eat Less Red Meat

Studies show eating red meat "frequently" increases the incidence of colon cancer. Medical practitioners agree that eating red meat daily and especially more than one serving per day increases the risk. Plant-based diets showed lowest risk. Increased risk is associated with increased inflammation associated with chemicals released by digestion of red meat. These chemicals increase damage to and inhibit the repair of DNA (genetic material) in the cells lining your intestines. Damage to DNA is a primary cause of all cancers.

2. Eat a Rainbow of Plant Antioxidants

The deep, bright colors of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices contribute a wide variety of antioxidants to the diet. Examples of antioxidant-rich, deeply-pigmented foods are blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates, carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, kale, broccoli, spinach, avocado, tomato, apples, red cabbage, red and purple grapes, pink grapefruit, tumeric, saffron, oregano, sage, rosemary. Color signals the presence of antioxidant plant chemicals that turn on cancer suppressor genes and turn off cancer promoter genes. Studies show increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in the colon with diets lacking plant antioxidants. Increased inflammation and low antioxidant levels are environments that promote colon cancer.

3. Take an all-natural cleansing product

Over the years, doctors and scientists have developed new medicines and supplements to help fight cancer. One such product is Total Colon Management or TOCOMA, an all-natural colon cleansing product. Each sachet of Tocoma contains all the good ingredients of an apple, guava, kiwi, oil palm powder, cabbage, green peas and prebiotics. These ingredients act like a broom stick that cleanses or sweeps out toxins and other unwanted matter inside our intestines.

Dr. Chua who further studied in Fetal Theraphy and Fetal Echocardiography at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital of Pennsylvania is also president of Living Power Intl. Corp. Over the years she had involved herself in nutritional supplementation and most of her company’s products are her own formulation. She said that Tocoma helps give more energy, prevents constipation and other diseases, heals skin problems, and promotes overall health.

Prevention is always better than cure and there is no better prevention than complementary medicine by using natural nutritional supplements. And as in all other diseases, if symptoms persist, please see your doctor immediately.