To better understand what colon cancer is…we will dig deeper for its definition, causes and symptoms. Colon is the last part of the digestive system. It is a tube shaped organ approximately 4 feet long. It extracts water and salt from human waste before eliminating it from our bodies. It plays an important role in our digestive system. The colon has 3 major functions, and these are: (1) it absorbs and digests nutrients from food, (2) It concentrates fecal material and (3) it stores and eliminates fecal material. The right side of your colon is responsible in absorbing water and electrolytes while the left side is accountable for storing and eliminating of stool.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, both in men or women. According to statistics, every year, there are more than 50,000 men and women that from colorectal cancer or most commonly known as colon cancer. Doctors consider colon and rectum cancer (colorectal cancer) as one, but other experts treat each cancer separately. About 110,000 men and women are diagnosed with colon cancer plus 40,000 for rectum cancer, which makes 150,000 new cases for this type of cancer.

There are several causes of colon cancer.

(1)   Age- this is the number one risk factor. It usually occurs at the age of 40.

(2)   Diabetes- 40% of people that have diabetes can acquire this kind if cancer.

(3)   Family medical History- colon cancer cannot be inherited.

(4)   Gender- studies states that men are more prone to colon cancer.

(5)   Environment- research shows that the place you live, who’s around you, your work may influence the risk of having a colon cancer.

(6)   Alcohol- it depends on what kind of alcohol you are drinking. Some studies prove that drinking alcohol lowers the risk of colorectal cancer but some also show that it increases the risk of colon cancer.

(7)   Smoking- long term cigarette smoking can increase the risk of having a colon cancer.

Some signs that a person has a colorectal cancer are changes in bowel movements, abrupt weight loss, abdominal discomfort, blood in the fecal and anemia. If colon cancer is detected at an early stage, some treatments can be done. Early colon cancer is curable in early stage and surgery is the best method of treatment.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer for both male and female. Ranked as the fifth deadliest cancer in the world, this cancer starts in the breast and usually takes place in the inner lining ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipples) and lobules (glands that makes milk). A woman is more often diagnosed with breast cancer compared to men, but the survival rates are the same for both sexes. According to the statistics, estimated new cases and deaths of breast cancer in the United States for 2009 only is New cases 192,370 (female); 1,910 (male), and deaths 40,170(female) and 440 (male).

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump that starts in the breast or armpit. Doing a monthly breast self exam is the best way to avoid a breast cancer. Early detection the best way to protect you and chances of surviving are higher. Other signs of breast cancer are swelling in the armpit, nipple discharges (bloody or clear), inverted nipple, pain in the nipple and scaly or uneven skin in the breast.

These are the common types of breast cancer.

-In situ breast cancer- which means that the cancer cells stayed within their origin. It hasn’t spread the cancer cell in the breast tissue. This is an example of noninvasive breast cancer. The most common type of noninvasive type of cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This type of cancer is not life threatening but having this might also lead to invasive breast cancer.

-Invasive breast cancer- means that the cancer cells spread outside the membrane, invading the surrounding tissue. The cancer cells travel to the other parts of your body.

-Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) – about 70% of people that are diagnosed with breast cancer have IDC. Cancer cells starts to form in the lining of the milk duct and pass through ductal wall, and then invades the nearby tissues.

-Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) – although not very common than IDC. The cancer cell invades in the same way from the lobules to the surrounding tissues.  This type of cancer can spread to more distant part of your body.

Mammogram is the best way to detect a breast cancer. As we grow older, the risk of having breast cancer increases.

A Cancer that starts in the breast is known as breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the world.  It affects women more than men. Each year 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in United States alone. 1 in every 8 women either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

Am I at risk for having a breast cancer?

Lifestyle and family history or your traits affects your risk of having a breast cancer.  The following are the factors which may affect your risk of having this disease.

ü      Age. As you grow older, the more you are at risk for having breast cancer. Most women aged over 60 years are more likely to have this disease.

ü      Family history. A strong family history of breast cancer or any other cancer makes you more at risk for having one. The risk is even much higher if your relative was diagnosed before the age 50 years old.

ü      Personal health history. When you are diagnosed with breast cancer and affects your one breast, it is more likely that you developed again the disease on your other breast. Moreover, having certain types of abnormal cells such as hyperplasia or abnormal growth of breast cells, increases your risk of having an invasive breast cancer.

ü      Menstruation history. Women, who got their periods before the age 12 or went through menopause after the age of 55, have an increased risk of having breast cancer.

ü      Lifestyle. Alcohol consumption of 1 to 2 glasses a day increases the likelihood of acquiring the disease. Obesity also has been linked to developing breast cancer.

How will I know if I’m developing the disease?

You may feel an abnormal, painless lump in your breast. It is essential that you perform self-breast exam in order to detect this unwanted lumps. Although most lumps are not cancer, it is much better to have your doctors check it to be sure. It is also important that you have your regular mammography performed to help identify breast lumps that can’t be detected by a self-breast examination.