January 21, 2015

Research Shows Alcohol Abuse Can Cause Colorectal Cancer

colorectal cancer In the past few articles we looked into the effects of alcohol abuse in relation to initiating some cancers. Alcohol abuse has been linked to different cancers and this may be because of alcohol’s general effects on the body which includes the following;

Alcohol generates reactive oxygen species. These are chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen which can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids through the process known as oxidation.

Alcohol also breaks down ethanol present in alcoholic drinks to acetaldehyde, which is a toxic chemical and a probable human carcinogen. This substance is toxic enough to damage both DNA and the genetic materials that make up the genes and this may cause mutation which causes cancer.

Alcohol also impairs the body’s own ability to metabolize and absorb a variety of nutrients that may be associated with a reduction in cancer risk, including vitamin A; nutrients in the vitamin B complex, such as folate; vitamin C; vitamin D; vitamin E; and carotenoids. Absence of these nutrients escalates the risk of cancer. It is also believed to increase the levels of estrogen hormone which is also associated with increased cancer risks.

Alcoholic drinks are also made up of very harmful contents which are mostly introduced during production. These may include nitrosamines, asbestos fibers, phenols, and hydrocarbons which may increase cancer risks.

Colorectal cancer

As the name suggests, colorectal cancer refers to cancers that affect the colon and the rectum. Colon cancer is cancer of the colon, which is at the lower part of the digestive system. On the other hand, rectal cancer is cancer of the rectum which is part of the last inches of the colon. Together these two cancers can be referred to as colorectal cancers. In the colon cancer may begin as small lumps that are non-cancerous clumps of cells known as adenomatous polyps, however these polyps will grow into cancerous cells. At the beginning these polyps will not show any symptom associated with cancer and this may even pose a greater health challenge, therefore it is important to have yourself screened regularly for colorectal cancer. There are several cancers of the colon and rectum but adenocarcinomas are the dominant cancer type constituting up to 95 percent of colorectal cancer but there are other rare types of tumors that are also equally dangerous.

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer

Just like any other disease there are indicators that you may be suffering from colorectal cancers. These signs and symptoms may include;

Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
Weakness or fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Constipation
Diarrhea
A change in consistency of passing stool
Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool

These symptoms though unpleasant may help you to know your status in relation to colorectal cancers and help you seek treatment in good time. However these symptoms may not show at early stages making it hard for colorectal cancer to be detected early. It is therefore advisable to go for screening to help with early treatment. If you notice any symptoms of colon cancer, such as blood in your stool or a persistent change in bowel habits the best you can do is to seek medical help.

Alcohol linked to colorectal cancer

Excessive alcohol consumption has been regarded as a risk factor for developing colorectal adenomas. In a study aimed to investigate the influence of excessive alcohol consumption on the occurrence of colorectal cancer among patients with at least one colonic adenoma done by M Bardou, S Montembault, V Giraud, A Balian, E Borotto, C Houdayer, F Capron, J-C Chaput and S Naveau it was found that In patients with at least one colorectal adenoma, excessive alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of developing high risk adenomas or colorectal cancer. In this study the participants were divided into three groups. All had at least one colorectal adenoma. The first group consisted of 401 heavy drinkers; the second group consisted of 152 patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) while the third group consisted of 108 patients with a family history (FH) of colorectal adenoma or cancer. For this study exclusive criteria were anemia, haematochezia, personal history of colorectal adenoma or cancer, and for groups heavy drinking and IBS a family history of colorectal adenoma and/or cancer.

This is not the first study to show this relation between alcohol abuse and colorectal cancer. This relation between alcohol consumption and risk of developing colorectal adenomas has been demonstrated previously by several authors. In a research it was found that the risk of polyps was increased three times for drinkers who did not smoke and 12 times for both drinkers and smokers compared with the risk of total abstainers. Naveau et al found that alcoholism and cirrhosis were two independent risk factors for colorectal adenomatous polyps after successive adjustments for sex, age, smoking, and serum cholesterol levels.

Alcohol addiction is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. We offer NER Treatment and Amino acid therapy that are the most effective approaches to addiction treatment and recovery. You call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

Alcohol Abuse and Colorectal Cancer

Fulcarinol Compounds Can Simplify Chemotherapy

July 16, 2014

Fulcarinol compound found in carrots and parsley make chemotherapy more effective

Nature has always availed the best cure for cancer treatment better yet nature has provided best foods and fruits that can help in preventing cancer. Most alternative cancer treatment are diet based and are performing better in treating cancer patients without leaving any serious side effects as opposed to the conventional cancer treatment methods.

Some of these diets can be used alongside chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy to ease the side effects of chemotherapy during cancer treatment. Good nutrition has always been emphasized by doctors and other nutritionists as a better way to prevent or treat cancer.

Fruits and vegetables have compounds that are vital in fighting cancerous cells inhibiting their growth and formation. This is a great advantage to the cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy or have undergone surgery. In case of surgery eating fruits and vegetables may help in healing the wounds as well as keep them safe from bacterial infection. Chemotherapy is feared by many cancer patients due to the many life threatening side effects that come with it. During chemotherapy the cancerous cells are killed but in the same process the healthy body cells also die too leaving the patient with very many side effects. These side effects may include; loss of hair, loss of weight, Change in skin color, general weakness, lack of appetite, dry skin, dehydration among other symptoms.

Fruits and vegetables such as the turmeric, berries, spinach, kales, apples and peaches among others have been praised for their ability to fight cancer. Seemingly, there are other fruits and vegetables that are good in fighting cancer but have not just been noted as scientists are always discovering new fruits and vegetables that can be used in fighting cancer. Recent research findings have added another compound that is found in carrot and parsley to the long list of anti-cancer compounds found in fruits and vegetables.

Researchers have found out that a naturally occurring compound found in the carrots and parsley are good in fighting cancer and can be used to make chemotherapy more effective. Chemotherapy treatments ought to be effective so that patients do not have to go through chemotherapy repeatedly as that may result in major health problems due to the death of the healthy cells that die alongside the cancerous cells.

According to the research done by plant & Food research in conjunction with the university of Auckland and National Cancer Institute of the Netherlands, Fulcarinol which is the compound found in carrots and parsley have the ability to inhibit the transport mechanism in the body by determining which compounds are absorbed into the body and which ones are not absorbed. This compound has the ability to influence how effective the chemotherapy treatment becomes. Its ability to inhibit absorption of some compounds can be used to enhance chemotherapy treatment and help fight cancer.

Fulcarinol helps in the delivery of chemotherapy drugs compounds that are used in fighting breast cancer among other cancer types by addressing the over-expression of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP/ABCG2). This protein is known to help malignant cells to be more resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Fulcarinol therefore helps in making chemotherapy more effective.

The researchers are optimistic that this discovery will help in cancer treatment through chemotherapy. Doctors have been doing research to come up with better ways to administer chemotherapy drugs to patient without leaving them with the life threatening side effects chemotherapy is known for. The compound promotes absorption of chemotherapy drugs into the cell hence helping in fighting cancer as well as making chemotherapy more effective hence no need for repeat chemotherapy treatments.

“It’s very exciting work” says Plant & Food Research Senior Scientist, Dr Arjan Scheepens. “Our work is uncovering new means to alter how the body absorbs specific chemical and natural compounds. Ultimately we are interested in how food could be used to complement conventional treatments to potentially deliver better results for patients.”

Fulcarinol occurs naturally in the roots of the carrots and guards the roots against fungal diseases. Another research study that was done in Denmark revealed that fulcarinol had the ability to fight cancer of the colon. Fulcarinol is a natural pesticide that is not sprayed by anyone. If you eat lots of carrots you get lots of Fulcarinol which helps your body in preventing and fighting cancer. “The discovery makes it possible for us to authoritatively recommend which vegetables should be eaten to protect against cancer,” Morten Larsen, who was part of earlier studies all geared towards effective cancer treatment “With more research, we hope we can give more precise recommendations on the amount of carrots and other vegetables a person should eat daily.” He concluded.

In conclusion

Vegetables and fruits are always a safer bet when eating to fight cancer. As always known what you eat will have an impact on your health. Eating carrots and parsley will help you in fighting cancer. Researchers are always on the lookout for better ways to treat cancer but eating fruits and vegetables will always feature in all these natural cancer treatment methods.

The medical research arena are discovering new ways to treat diseases every day, therefore you need to find a reliable source of information to help you know the most current news relating to cancer treatment. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) has been providing reliable information in relation to cancer treatment as well as other diseases, you can check her website frequently to stay up to date with cancer treatments as you get empowered to help yourself stay cancer free.