Re: Exercise & Colonic Cancer

[Guest guest]

--- Mark Helme wrote:

> Dear Super trainers,

>

> The recent posts regarding colon cleansing and

> colonoscopies have prompted

> me to address an issue I have. My father was

> diagnosed with colonic cancer

> in his early fifties and after a recurrence of the

> cancer has now had a

> substantial part of his bowel removed. This

> obviously puts me at a risk.

>

> As I am now approaching my thirties (not quite yet

> though) I do need to look

> at this issue more seriously than I have been.

> Through my studies I have

> looked at the association between exercise and

> cancer, to no avail, other

> than that exercise is good, which I kind of

> gathered.

>

> My question is what is the best preventative

> strategy for someone like

> myself?

>

>

> Mark Helme

> Wakefield, UK.

Mark I have forwarded to you an long document which

should provide with the information you are looking

for.

Before writing this post I reviewed a number of

articles concerning prevention of colon cancer.

I will summarize my findings.

#1 cancer screening (colonoscopy) is the most

effective way of preventing colon cancer.

#2 Obese individuals are are at a definitely higher

risk- Therefore anything regiment that helps maintain

a normal weight (exercise, diet) will help reduce the

risk.

#3 Red meat appears to increase the risk of colon

cancer.

Below is a highlight from the article which I emailed

to you.

If you have trouble getting the article let me know.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct USA

**********************

Colon and rectal cancers

Highlights

Diet and Lifestyle

A low-fat diet does not help prevent colorectal

cancer, according to a Women’s Health Initiative study

published in the Journal of the American Medical

Association. However, the study evaluated only the

total fat, not type of fat consumed.

Calcium and vitamin D supplements do not help reduce

colorectal cancer risk, indicates another 2006 Women’s

Health Initiative study.

Exercise is one of the best preventions for colorectal

cancer. New research suggests that exercise may also

help improve survival for patients diagnosed with

stage I - III colorectal cancer.

Smokers and drinkers are likely to develop colorectal

cancer at a younger age than people who abstain from

tobacco and alcohol, suggests a 2006 study. Additional

research indicates that female smokers are at

especially high risk.

Guidelines for Increased- and High-Risk Groups

Screening, particularly with colonoscopy, in

increased- and high-risk populations can save lives.

The most important risk factors are a family history

of colorectal cancer and personal history of

colorectal cancer, polyps, or chronic inflammatory

bowel disease. People with these risk factors should

be screened before age 50 and may require more

frequent screenings.

Guidelines for Increased-Risk Groups. Anyone with

first-degree relatives diagnosed with colon cancer

younger than 60, or with two relatives who have been

diagnosed with colon cancer at any age, should

consider beginning the standard screening regimen with

a colonoscopy every 5 years, beginning at age 40 or 10

years before the youngest case in the family

(whichever is earlier).

Men of African descent are also considered to be at

increased risk for colon cancer and should discuss

similar screening guidelines with their doctors.

Guidelines for High-Risk Groups. The following

guidelines may be useful for specific high-risk

groups.

People who have the mutated hereditary nonpolyposis

colorectal cancer (HNPCC) gene (MSH-2 or MLH-1).

Frequent colonoscopy (for instance, every 1 - 2 years)

beginning in their early 20s. (Regular screening for

other cancers, such as uterine cancer, is also

reasonable.)

People who have the mutated familial adenomatous

polyposis (FAP) gene. Frequent screening with

endoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy)

beginning in early puberty. Genetic testing is now

recommended for family members of people with known

FAP.

People with predisposing intestinal problems, such as

widespread and active ulcerative colitis or Crohn's

disease. Annual screening with colonoscopy with

biopsies of suspicious areas.

Guidelines for Follow-Up After Detection of

Precancerous Polyps

Patients who have had a previous examination in which

polyps were detected (and removed) should have a

repeat colonoscopy 1 - 3 years later, depending on the

size, number, and type of polyps removed.

**********************

[Guest guest]

Dear Mark,

My father died from colon cancer last year at age 79, which is why I

was screened shortly after his diagnosis 2 years ago. In my opinion

the best thing you can do is go for regular colonoscopies. They

scrape out any polyps and hopefully this prevents any cancer cells

from spreading. My father did not go for colonoscopies and his

diagnosis was a shock to our family. We learned our lesson. I am

not sure diet and exercise does very much to help those of us who

are genetically predisposed, but the doctors who have been helping

with this discussion may know better.

Gloria Bach

Willseyville NY USA

>

> Dear Super trainers,

>

> The recent posts regarding colon cleansing and colonoscopies have

prompted

> me to address an issue I have. My father was diagnosed with

colonic cancer

> in his early fifties and after a recurrence of the cancer has now

had a

> substantial part of his bowel removed. This obviously puts me at a

risk.

>

> As I am now approaching my thirties (not quite yet though) I do

need to look

> at this issue more seriously than I have been. Through my studies

I have

> looked at the association between exercise and cancer, to no

avail, other

> than that exercise is good, which I kind of gathered.

>

> My question is what is the best preventative strategy for someone

like

> myself?

>

>

> Mark Helme

> Wakefield, UK.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Dear Super trainers,

>

> The recent posts regarding colon cleansing and colonoscopies have

prompted

> me to address an issue I have. My father was diagnosed with colonic

cancer

> in his early fifties and after a recurrence of the cancer has now

had a

> substantial part of his bowel removed. This obviously puts me at a

risk.

>

> As I am now approaching my thirties (not quite yet though) I do

need to look

> at this issue more seriously than I have been. Through my studies I

have

> looked at the association between exercise and cancer, to no avail,

other

> than that exercise is good, which I kind of gathered.

>

> My question is what is the best preventative strategy for someone

like

> myself?

>

******

The below may be relevant (there was also a document published in the

BMJ regarding the above subject - I'll try to locate it and forward

it to you):

World Cancer Research Fund – Diet and Cancer Summary Report

FOOD SUPPLY, EATING AND RELATED FACTORS

1. Food supply and eating

• Populations to consume nutritionally adequate and varied diets,

based primarily on foods of plant origin

• Choose predominantly plant-based diets rich in a variety of

vegetables and fruits, pulses (legumes) and minimally processed

starchy staple foods

2. Maintaining body weight

• Population average body mass indices throughout adult life to be

within the range BMI 21 - 23, in order that individual BMI be

maintained between 18.5 and 25 a

• Avoid being underweight or overweight and limit weight gain during

adulthood to less than 5 kg (11 pounds)

3. Maintaining physical activity

• Populations to maintain, throughout life, an active lifestyle

equivalent to a physical activity level (PAL) of at least 1.75, with

opportunities for vigorous physical activity

• If occupational activity is low or moderate, take an hour's brisk

walk or similar exercise daily, and also exercise vigorously for a

total of at least one hour in a week b

FOODS AND DRINKS

4. Vegetables and fruits

• Promote year-round consumption of a variety of vegetables and

fruits, providing 7% or more total energy

• Eat 400 - 800 grams (15 - 30 ounces) or five or more portions

(servings) a day of a variety of vegetables and fruits, all year

roundc, d

5. Other plant foods e

• A variety of starchy or protein-rich foods of plant origin,

preferably minimally processed, to provide 45 - 60% total energy.

Refined sugar to provide less than 10% total energy

• Eat 600 - 800 grams (20 - 30 ounces) or more than seven portions

(servings) a day of a variety of cereals (grains), pulses (legumes),

roots, tubers and plantains.c, f Prefer minimally processed foods.

Limit consumption of refined sugar

6 . Alcoholic drinks

• Consumption of alcohol is not recommended. Excessive consumption of

alcohol to be discouraged. For those who drink alcohol, restrict it

to less than 5% total energy for men and less than 2.5% total energy

for women

• Alcohol consumption is not recommended. If consumed at all, limit

alcoholic drinks to less than two drinks a day for men and one for

women g,h,i

7. Meat

• If eaten at all, red meat to provide less than 10% total energy

• If eaten at all, limit intake of red meat to less than 80 grams (3

ounces) daily. It is preferable to choose fish, poultry or meat from

non-domesticated animals in place of red meat c,j

8. Total fats and oils

• Total fats and oils to provide 15% to no more than 30% total energy

• Limit consumption of fatty foods, particularly those of animal

origin. Choose modest amounts of appropriate vegetable oils k

FOOD PROCESSING

9. Salt and salting

• Salt from all sources should amount to less than 6 grams/day (0.25

ounces) for adults

• Limit consumption of salted foods and use of cooking and table

salt. Use herbs and spices to season foods

10. Storage

• Store perishable food in ways that minimise fungal contamination

• Do not eat food which, as a result of prolonged storage at ambient

temperatures, is liable to contamination with mycotoxins

11. Preservation

• Perishable food, if not consumed promptly, to be kept frozen or

chilled

• Use refrigeration and other appropriate methods to preserve

perishable food as purchased and at home

12. Additives and residues

• Establish and monitor the enforcement of safety limits for food

additives, pesticides and their residues, and other chemical

contaminants in the food supply

• When levels of additives, contaminants and other residues are

properly regulated, their presence in food and drink is not known to

be harmful. However, unregulated or improper use can be a health

hazard, and this applies particularly in economically developing

countries

13. Preparation

• When meat and fish are eaten, encourage relatively low temperature

cooking

• Do not eat charred food. For meat and fish eaters, avoid burning of

meat juices. Consume the following only occasionally: meat and fish

grilled (broiled) in direct flame; cured and smoked meats

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

14 . Dietary supplements

• Community dietary patterns to be consistent with reduction of

cancer risk without the use of dietary supplements

• For those who follow the recommendations presented here, dietary

supplements are probably unnecessary, and possibly unhelpful, for

reducing cancer risk m

TOBACCO

Tobacco

• Discourage production, promotion and use of tobacco in any form

• Do not smoke or chew tobacco

==================

Carruthers

Wakefield, UK

[Guest guest]

> >

> > Dear Super trainers,

> >

> > The recent posts regarding colon cleansing and colonoscopies have

> prompted

> > me to address an issue I have. My father was diagnosed with

colonic

> cancer

> > in his early fifties and after a recurrence of the cancer has now

> had a

> > substantial part of his bowel removed. This obviously puts me at

a

> risk.

> >

> > As I am now approaching my thirties (not quite yet though) I do

> need to look

> > at this issue more seriously than I have been. Through my studies

I

> have

> > looked at the association between exercise and cancer, to no

avail,

> other

> > than that exercise is good, which I kind of gathered.

> >

> > My question is what is the best preventative strategy for someone

> like

> > myself?

See the below:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/308/6944/1610?

maxtoshow= & HITS=10 & hits=10 & RESULTFORMAT= & fulltext=cancer+and+diet & sear

chid=1 & FIRSTINDEX=0 & resourcetype=HWCIT

------------

Box 1 - Current diet and cancer hypotheses

Possible protective factors Possible risk factors

* Fruit * Meat

* Vegetables * Total fat

* Fibre * Saturated or animal fat

* Antioxidant nutrients: *Preserved foods

(Beta) carotene, vitamins * Alcohol (see previous C and E

article, 11 June)

* Fish oils * Salt

* Plant derived oestrogenic compounds

* Calcium

=====================

Box 2 - Diet and cancer: summary of the evidence

* Frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables is consistently

associated

with a lower risk of cancers of the digestive and respiratory tracts

* Reductions in levels of total and unsaturated fat should relate to

reducing

the risk of cardiovascular disease, not specifically to cancer

* Avoid obesity

* The evidence that dietary fibre protects against large bowel cancer

is

inconclusive. Substituting fibre rich carbohydrates to compensate for

reducing dietary fat may be desirable

* Vitamin and mineral supplements are not needed for people eating

good

balanced diets, and there is no conclusive evidence that they prevent

cancer

* There is no evidence that artificial sweeteners or other food

additives

cause cancer in humans

* Consumption of smoked, cured, pickled, and barbecued foods is

unlikely

to be a hazard in the United Kingdom but should not be increased above

current levels

* Avoid mouldy foods

-----------------

Box 3 - Strategies for prevention: some of the problems

* The total impact of dietary factors on incidence of and mortality

from

cancer is difficult to determine

* Insufficient knowledge is available on the best means to affect

dietary

change

* The precise effect of implementing dietary changes on the risk of

cancer

is difficult to quantify

* Any recommendation should reflect the relative importance of a risk

factor in terms of the proportion of cancer that might be prevented

by its

modification

* Evidence of a beneficial effect of a dietary change should outweigh

any

potential harmful effects

* A population approach has the potential for major reductions in

incidence of and mortality from cancer

* The effect of any intervention may be delayed for many years,

possibly a

whole generation

* Measures that are beneficial to the population as a whole are not

necessarily beneficial to each person

* An individual based approach would result in a very small reduction

in

overall risk of cancer in the population

* It is not possible at present to predict which individuals will

benefit - the evidence is based on probabilities rather than

certainties

===========================

Carruthers

Wakefield, UK

[Guest guest]

My dad a large pre-cancerous growth that was successfully removed about

eight years ago. Since then My doctor has set up regular tests

according to standard medical protocol. The one thing my doc says he

reccomends to keep things simple and doable for most patients is

focusing on consuming at least the minimum reccomended 25 grams of

fiber daily and limiting alcohol to no more than two a day -preferably

wine. Do this, he says, and you almost forced to eat enough fuits and

veggies and replace white flour with whole grains.

Ray

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