What are some of the Risk Factors associated with Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer, also known as Colorectal cancer, is cancer of the colon or rectum.

Most bowel cancers develop from tiny growths called ‘polyps’ that may become malignant (cancerous) and are most commonly found in the lining of the large bowel. If overtime, the polyps do become cancerous, this can narrow and block the bowel or cause bleeding, and may cause discomfort.

As most bowel cancers start as polyps, these can be removed in the early stages (once detected) to reduce your risk of developing the disease. Almost all polyps can be removed without an operation, the produce to do so is called a colonoscopy.

Bowel Cancer Risk Factors and Screening Options

The major bowel cancer risk factors, for both men and women are;

• AGE – risk rises from the age of 50 [whilst bowel cancer is more common in people aged 50 and over, bowel cancer increasingly affects all age groups]
• A FAMILY HISTORY of bowel cancer
• A PERSONAL HISTORY of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, endometrium or breast
• A history of POLYPS in the colon
• A history of ULCERATED COLITIS (ulcers in the lining of the large intestine) or Crohn’s disease

The following factors increase the risk of bowel cancer;

• Red & Processed Meat – limit the intake of red meat and avoid processed meat (consume less than 500g a week, cook meat carefully i.e. charred or blackened meats can damage the cells lining the bowel)
• Alcoholic Drinks – limit consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink for women, with at least two alcohol free days every week.
• Body Fatness and Abdominal Fatness – maintain body weight, and avoid weight gain and increases in waist circumference.
• Cigarette smoking – is linked to an increased risk of forming bowel adenomas. Smokers who have had surgery to remove bowel adenomas are at an increased risk for the adenomas to come back. Healthy tip: Quit Smoking

The following protective factors decrease the risk of bowel cancer;

• Physical Activity – Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity i.e. a brisk walk or swim 3 times a week. Have at least one weight baring exercise  session as well. Greater frequency and intensity produces greater benefits.
• Daily intake of fibre between 25-30g per day. This can be aided by using a soluble fibre        supplement daily such as K-Fibre or Metamucil.
• Polyp removal – most bowel polyps are adenomas, which may develop into cancer. Removing polyps that are larger than 1cm may lower the risk of  bowel cancer

Equality - Words of Wisdom by Mario

Let us ponder this well-circulated story – Equality is a Dream
 

When the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when the reward is taken away, no one will try or want to succeed.

 

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class believed that no one would be poor and no one would be rich – all equal. 

The professor declared that all grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A....

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

ALL FAILED because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when the reward is taken away, few will try or want to succeed.

                 
These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. A government cannot give to anybody anything that a government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Where is our society at present?



Mario Calanna
CEO Calanna Pharmacy Group
e: mario@calannapharmacy.com.au

Do you know how healthy your poop is? - June 2015

Colon Cancer usually starts as clumps of precancerous cells (polyps) on the inside lining of the colon. They may be recessed, flat or mushroomed shaped. If they are removed early Colon cancer can be prevented.

Most Bowel cancer occurs in the descending colon and rectum. Last year 16, 980 Australians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It's the third prevalent cancer worldwide overly represented by men.
Some factors which increase the risk of Bowel cancer are;

• A lack of physical activity: Everyday get that body moving maye a casual walk or a HITT (High Intensity, Interval Training), which may take up only an hour a week
• Reduce Alcohol intake, especially beer & spirits. A little red wine appears protective
• Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease sufferer's are 4-10 times more at risk of developing bowel cancer
• Type 2 diabetes patients have a 30% increased risk of Colorectal Cancer
• Lack of fibre and hydration

Helpful preventative supplements are:

• Vitamin D
• Selenium at least 70mcg/day
• Vitamin B's such as Folate & B6
• Aged garlic - research suggests a 20% reduction in the number and size of colon tumours
• Turmeric - a naturally powerful anti-inflammatory, reduces the promotion and progression stages of carcinogenesis. It also inhibits shoddy DNA repairs, which are defective in colon cancer cells
• Grape seed extract has a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of colon cancer cells
• Ivy leaf extract (in some oral natural cough liquids) has been shown to have anti-tumour activity and helps induce cell death in colon cancer

Let your food be your medicine - great ways to have amazing bowel movements.
4-5 Prunes a day, not only keeps you regular, they also boost your antioxidant levels. The insoluble fibre gels up when it is mixed with body fluids and loosens stools.
Whole leaf aloe vera gel is an effective method for stubborn bowels. 1-2 shot glasses of aloe on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, works wonders.
Water is great. Fill up your glass or stainless steel water bottle and get sipping through the day. 8-10 glasses of filtered water not only keeps your body wonderfully hydrated with better brain function, there will be an immediate improvement in bowel function.
Apples (organic if possible or home grown) have high levels of pectin which binds with excess toxins and flush them out.
Digestive Enzymes work to break down food faster, which means food moves more quickly through the colon.
Probiotics if you find yourself constipated after a course of antibiotics make sure you take a high quality refrigerated probiotic with a high bacterial count.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Poop 101
In it's early stages, bowel cancer often has no symptoms, a change in Bowel habits may be the only indication. Every day (hopefully) your poop is telling you about your health. Bowel changes such as; 

• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Smaller or more frequent bowel movements
• Narrower stools
• Mucus in the stools
• A feeling that the bowel hasn't empties completely
• Blood in the stools or on the toilet paper
• Unexpected weight loss
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Rectal or anal pain
• Abdominal pain or 
• Low red blood count

If your poop isn't healthy, your digestive tract is either; moving too fast or too slow - which can lead to chronic conditions such as autoimmunity and chronic inflammatory conditions. Not only that, recent research suggest that your brain and the good bacteria in your gut, communicates directly with each other, influencing your mood, Immune system and inflammation levels.

How often is normal? We are all different. The general agreement is we should all poop every day, the healthy range is between 1-3 times a day. Poop is the body needing to get rid of toxins and waste, which we don't want to hang on to. A normal poop should come out easily. Some people may be able to read an entire newspaper, battling it out in the little room, whilst others may barely be able to hang on. 
A healthy poop is a complete one, if you're never quite empty then you;re not having healthy bowel movements.
Think of your poops like the warning lights on the car dash board. The temperature gauge light may go on, to alert you to fill the radiator, or that it has a leak. Problems can be adverted before the engine blows up and you're stranded on the side of the road.

So what's the perfect poop? If you look at the Bristal Stool chart, type 4 is the perfect poop; long, like a snake or sausage, smooth and soft. If not, your body might be telling you, that you are:

• Short of stomach acid
• Digestive enzymes are dehydrated
• Food sensitivities may be an issue i.e. gluten and/or dairy

References:

Duncan MJ, Spence JC, Mummery WK (2010) Perceived environment and physical activity: meta-analysis of selected  environmental characteristics. Int J Behav Nutr Phys 2:11
Hensrud DD, Heimburger DC (1998) Diet, nutrients and Gastrointestinal cancer. Gastenterol Clin Am 27:325-346
European prospective Investigation of cancer and nutrition cohort Int J Cancer. 2015 Mar 1; 136(5) 1149-61
Lul BX, Zhou JY, LiY, Zou X, Hederagenin from leaves of ivy (hedera hellx L.) induces apoptosls in human LoVo colon cells through the mitochondrial pathway. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Oct 24:14:412.
Malaguti-Boyle M, PhD cand. ND lecture on Coloretal cancer
ATMS Statistics released by the Australian Institute of Health and welfare & Australasian Association of Cancer registries.
Suong N, T, Ngo, Desmond B. Does Garlic reduce the risk of colorectal cancer? A systematic review. Nut. Oct 2007 vol 137 no. 10 2264-2269
Yan Y-X, Hennessey S, Lewis JD (2004) Insulin therapy and colorectal cancer risk among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Gastroenterology 127:1044-1050

Written by: Kathleen Faile - Naturopath Calanna Pharmacy Atherton
 e: atherton@calannapharmacy.com.au

It's Time to WIN with Calanna Pharmacy!

If you're a Calanna Pharmacy LifeClub Member, this is for you!

For your chance to WIN $5,000 CASH,

head into your closest participating Calanna Pharmacy between 26th May - 19th July

and use your membership card on all your purchases - the more visits, the more chances to WIN!

- Good Luck -

                                                             

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Challenge Stroke - 2015 MAY

Calanna Pharmacy is calling on the residents of Queensland to Challenge Stroke this May. The  Calanna Pharmacy group is challenging stroke by hosting blood pressure monitoring stations in their stores as part of Nation Stroke Week which runs from 4^th to 8^th May. Matthew Calanna pharmacist at Calanna pharmacy said the group aims to raise awareness of stroke within the community and encourage local residents to take action to prevent stroke.

“Shockingly, one in six of us will have a stroke in our lifetime” Mr Calanna said. “It could be a family  member, a colleague, a friend, even you. Join us this National Stroke week in challenging stroke. We have the opportunity, as a community, to come together to take action to stop stroke and challenge its impact.”  A simple, quick and pain free blood pressure test can provide vital information as to whether a person is at great risk of having a stroke.  “High blood     pressure is the number one risk factor leading to stroke and heart disease. It is known as the ‘silent killer’ as you really don’t know if your blood pressure is elevated or not unless you check it” Mr          Calanna  added.

National stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Erin Lalor applauded Calanna Pharmacy Group’s activity and urged others to join the challenge. “Be healthy, be aware, be you best and challenge Stroke this May. Take action to reduce you stroke risk, learn more about stroke and help raise stroke awareness in the community” Dr Lalor said. “The recent stroke in Australia report demonstrated no postcode is untouched by this disease; it is impacting our families and  communities. However, many strokes can be prevented. We can come together to stop stroke.” The Calanna Group will hold free blood pressure testing during the month of May with a specific focus on stroke week during the 4^th to 8^th May and have dedicated and staffed blood pressure monitoring stations in stores. 

Know your numbers week runs from the 4^th to the 8^th May and is an annual event aimed to raise awareness of stroke within the community and encourage Australians to take action to prevent stroke.

Written by: Matthew Calanna

                   General Manager

                   Pharmacist

                   Calanna Pharmacy Group