Colon Cancer- veggies versus meat

The Facts

Cancer of the colon is second most common cause of death in North America. Data from the cancer registry indicate that about 150,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with colon cancer and about 50% die from the disease. Current estimates indicate that approximately one in 17 individuals will develop colorectal cancer at some point in their life. No race is immune from colon cancer, but blacks have a slightly higher rates compared to other ethnic groups

Much of the current evidence today indicates that early detection and screening tests for colorectal cancer can reduce the number of cancer related deaths. It is recommended by various agencies that colon cancer screening should be initiated by the 5th decade of life. In those with risk factors for colon cancer, the screening should be started in the 4th decade of life. Advances in genetic research have provided clues to familial colon cancers and these individuals are being urged to have early endoscopic or genetic screening much early in life

Screening everyone?

However, screening for the entire population for colon cancer has been associated with a lot of controversy. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended screening with fecal occult blood testing and sigmoidoscopy for asymptomatic persons at average risk for colorectal cancer. Despite all these recommendations, there is a lack of scientific data to suggest if these screening procedures will be of any benefit. Even the frequency of screening is hotly debated.

How colon cancer begins

Colon cancer typically begins early on as a polyp somewhere in the colon. The term polyp is defined as a small ballooning or swelling of colonic tissue into the colonic lumen. There are many types of polyps but it is the adenomatous polyps which are precancerous. The risk of cancer in a polyp is dependent on the size and degree of changes in the polyp. Current evidence indicates that it takes about 10 years for a polyp to become a full blown cancer. Rough estimates indicate that nearly 40% of Americans older than 50 years have a polyp and of these at least 2% are expected to progress into cancer at some point in their lives. Because all polyps look alike upon visualization, it is essential that they be removed and looked under a microscope to ensure that they have no cancerous features.

Risk factors associated with colon cancer

Environmental factors that have been linked to colon cancer include

1. advanced age
2. fatty diet
3. smoking
4. alcohol consumption
5. obesity
6. diet high in meat
7. lack of fiber in diet

Despite all the talk about these environmental factors, more than 70% of individuals who develop colon cancer do not have any of the above risk factors.

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