Colon Cleanser Is Not Proven to Prevent Colon Cancer
For the latest information on colon cleanser and current news on other colon cancer topics, please accept a free weekly subscription to the CCR Newsletter.
Using a colon cleanser is something you see advertised every day on television, in the newspaper and on the Internet. They claim colon cleansing will save you from colon cancer or that it is a way to purify your body.
Unsupported Claims
Along with that claim, colon cleansing backers want you to believe a colon cleanser will:
- Prevent constipation
- Stop diarrhea
- Give you clearer skin
- Increase your energy level
- Help you sleep better
- Boost your concentration level
- Make you feel healthier overall
Further, supporters say some people lose up to 30 pounds of weight with colon cleansing.
The manufacturers that sell colon cleansers insist everyone has undigested red meat in their colon, which turns into a mucous buildup on the colon walls. This mucous buildup allegedly produces toxins, which increase your risk of colon cancer.
In addition they claim that your regular bowel movements do not clean the mucous out of your colon, and only cleansers are capable of doing this.
Types of Colon Cleansers
There are two basic types of colon cleanser for sale. One is a powder or liquid form, which irritates the colon and causes the mucous to detach. The mucous is then eliminated through bowel movements. The other cleanser is called a "colonic irrigation," where large amounts of water flush out the mucous.
Clinical research on colon cleansing has not been done. There is no scientific evidence that supports the claims made by the manufacturers. Furthermore they do not show proof that any of their products essentially lead to better colon health. Instead, medical science has shown the primary causes for developing colon cancer. Some of these situations are unavoidable and some can be avoided.
Primary Causes of Colon Cancer
- Being over the age of 50
- Women have a higher risk for colon cancer
- Men have a greater chance of developing rectal cancer
- Growth of polyps, which in time become cancerous, on the inner wall of the colon or rectum
- Women who have had ovarian, uterine or breast cancer
- People with chronic inflammatory colon conditions
- Whether your parents or siblings have had colon cancer
- Eating a diet high in fat and low in fiber
- Drinking alcohol
- Smoking
- If you do not get enough exercise
- If you are overweight
- If you have diabetes
Dr. Bernard Levin is a colorectal cancer expert at MD Anderson Hospital. He states that the colon sheds old cells by itself and does not need the help of colon cleansers.
Colon cleansers are dangerous and harmful to your health. You can absorb too much water and this can lead to vomiting, heart failure and fluid in your lungs. There is a chance you could break the colon wall. If this happened, it would be fatal. While these side effects are rare, people often use these products without first checking with their doctor to know if they should avoid using the product.
Medical doctors do not endorse colon cleansers and will not recommend you use them.
The best ways to prevent or detect colon cancers are:
- Regular colon cancer tests with colonoscopies, sigmoidoscopies or bloods tests on your stools. You should start having screening tests by the time you are 50 years old.
- Eats lot of food high in fiber
- Avoid high fat and calorie foods
- Exercise regularly
- Do not smoke
If you are worried about colon cancer, talk to your doctor. He will schedule any tests you need to find out if you have colon cancer. If you do not have a doctor, contact us and we will help you find one.
Protect Yourself From the High Cost of Cancer
According to the recent studies, American men have a 44% chance of developing cancer while the chances for women are about 37%. The general risk of developing colon cancer in the United States is about 6%. For this reason, it's important for everyone, particularly people above the age of 50 years, to go for routine screening.
Whether discovered early or late, cancer is a debilitating disease due to the care, costs and the mental and physical trauma involved. Many times the cost of treatment leaves the patient in heavy financial distress.
Most insurance plans do not cover the total cost of the treatment, which leaves the patient and their family in a lurch. These days people have started purchasing supplemental cancer insurance that can help in covering otherwise uninsured expenses related to cancer illness. If you would like to learn more about supplemental cancer insurance you can click here.
Related pages:
- Colonoscopy - The colonoscopy procedure is the crucial method to detecting and preventing colon cancer.
- Preparing for a Colonoscopy - Preparing for a colonoscopy is simple but can be frustrating for some. However the information the colonoscopy provides is incredibly beneficial and could possibly save your life. This page gives information on exactly how to prepare, from what to eat to…
- Genetic Testing For Colon Cancer - Genetic testing for colon cancer is an effective way to help warn patients early. A Gene causes cancer by mutating .There are two types of mutations, ones passed on from your parents and those that happen throughout your lifetime and are not passed on to the next generation. Most cancers are caused by a series of mutations that...
- Exercise and Cancer - Exercise and cancer prevention discusses how exercise is an excellent way to prevent cancer, especially if you’ve already overcome cancer. The page suggests a variety of simple exercises, anything from dancing to joining a team sport. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute shows that people who exercise regularly have higher survival rate, showing that...
- Diet Before Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation - The most important part of preparing for a colonoscopy is your diet. To be sure you’ll have a successful screening It’s essential to consider certain changes to your diet a few days before your procedure. The recommended diet before a colonoscopy bowel preparation is to eat light foods and...
- View a Colonoscopy - View a Colonoscopy provides a clip of a colonoscopy being preformed, however it’s presented through the comedy of Daman Wayans. The clip does an excellent job demonstrating the common fears that are associated with colonoscopies. Hopefully this humorous clip will provide you with the courage...
- Colonoscopy Diet - Colonoscopy diet management is easy and has great benefits. Adding fiber to your diet is the most beneficial, but remember that fiber must be drastically reduced a few days before your colonoscopy. Two great sources of fiber are bran fiber and wheat germ. Adding fiber to your diet includes other benefits such as lowering blood chloresterol,...
- Katie Couric Colon Cancer - This page provides a clip of Katie Couric undergoing a colonoscopy live on national television. Katie Couric's husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer in 1998 at age 42 and was diagnosed at age 41. Since her bold approach to colon cancer prevention the number of colonoscopies went up...
- Colon Cancer Prevention - Adding fiber to your regular diet can reduce your chance of getting colon cancer. Colon cancer prevention is tremendously important since it’s one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. The daily recommended amount of fiber intake for women is 25 grams and for men...
- Rectal Exam - A digital rectal exam can be unpleasant and embarrassing but is vital for early detection. The entire process only takes 1 to 2 minutes. You may feel a little sore after the test but this will pass. After the test your doctor will want you to provide him with...
- Colon Cleanser - A colon cleanser is an unnecessary procedure that will not improve your health and may even be harmful to your health. Colon cleansers tend to make unsupported claims such as preventing constipation, clearing up your skin, and some even claim that you can lose up to 30 pounds. A colon cleanser can jeopardize your health by causing you to absorb too much water resulting in vomiting, it also can cause heart...
- Diet and Colon Cancer - Diet and colon cancer are extremely important to colon cancer patients. A good diet is mainly about managing symptoms such as; pain, constipation, diarrhea, etc. Some negative effects of a colon cancer diet is that it may cause...
- Registered Dietician - If you do not have a proper diet after colon cancer surgery it could hamper your recovery process. A list of proper foods is provided. It will take awhile for your digestion to settle down after colon surgery so you may have to avoid...
- Diet After Colon Cancer Surgery - If you do not have a proper diet after colon cancer surgery it could hamper your recovery process. A list of proper foods is provided. It will take awhile for your digestion to settle down after colon surgery so you may have to avoid...
- Cancer Nutrition: Working with a Dietician - Understanding cancer nutrition will give you a much greater chance of beating colon cancer .A dietician is the best way to help you understand and manage your diet. Before you even meet your dietician you will need to create a food log so he/she will be aware of your daily eating habits. Your dietician may ask you to...
- Colonoscopy and Polyps - Your colonoscopy and polyps findings should be a wake up call for you to start making chnages to your diet and execise routines. Although Fiber has not been proven to prevent colon cancer it has other great benefits for your health, and has been established for healthy colon activity. Some ways of adding fiber to your daily diet include...
- Digital Rectal Exam - What is a rectal exam, and why do I need one? A digital rectal exam is an examination of the lower rectum. A rectal exam could help you find out about health problems that you weren't aware of before. The exam can detect...
- Benefits of Colon Cleansing - The benefits of colon cleansing are difficult to prove and much published. People who think that colon cleansing is a good choice for health say it dates back to ancient Greece and has been done all through history. Although the facts show if used too often it...
- Virtual Colonoscopy - A virtual colonoscopy is a noninvasive way of finding colon polyps without having to have the extensive preparation and potential discomfort of a regular colonoscopy.
- Virtual Colonoscopy Video - A virtual colonoscopy is an up and coming procedure that uses a CT scanner to outline an X-ray picture of the colon and to find polyps without having an invasive procedure. The procedure uses the CT scanner to take cross sectional images of the abdomen. Air is blown up into the colon so that any polyps will be immediately...
- Disadvantages of Virtual Colonoscopy - A disadvantage of virtual colonoscopy is that it can only find pedunculated polyps, which are those on a stalk. This means the test isn’t good for picking up flat colon polyps. Also, if a polyp is found...
- Cancer Diet Nutrition - There are diets to prevent cancer, and there are diets you partake in if you already have cancer because you want to use your diet to help you recover. Fortunately, the diets are very similar. There are 17 cancers that have been proven to be prevented by following a healthy diet. The American Institute for Cancer Research tells us...
- Cancer Fighting Diet - It is important to recognize that you have the ability to fight cancer with your diet. A proper diet cannot cure cancer but there are many foods that can help you fight the cancer along with the medical treatment you...
- Katie Couric Colonoscopy - The Katie Couric colonoscopy did much to increase awareness of colon cancer and colon cancer screening. When she had a live colonoscopy on air in March of 2000, she increased public awareness of colon cancer screening. Interestingly, she also increased the rate at which...
- Colonoscopy Liquid Diet - You need to follow a special colonoscopy liquid diet before a colonoscopy so no stool blocks the vision of any polyps or cancerous areas within the colon. Doctors have different liquid diets they have their patients follow but all...
- Cancer Prevention Diet - Most people don’t realize that the diet you eat can promote or prevent cancer. There are things in your diet that will cause cancer to grow more aggressively and things you can eat that will slow the progression of cancer or stop it from developing altogether. A cancer prevention diet is especially important if you have a family history...
- Colonoscopy Preparation - You will meet with the doctor before the colonoscopy to discuss the colonoscopy preparation as well as the particulars of how you’ll get home after the colonoscopy. You’ll need a ride because most doctors use...
