Are You At Risk of Getting Colon Cancer?
Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.
Cancer of the colon is fast becoming a leader in deadly diseases. The American Cancer Society’s estimates the number of colorectal cancer cases in the United States for 2013 will likely be 102,480. Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 20.
If you are one of the 14 million people who had a routine colonoscopy, perhaps your doctor said he found a tiny adenoma (benign polyp). And I bet your physician said it was perfectly benign and he snipped it out.
Nothing to worry about. Right?
WRONG!
The chances of further polyps coming along and transforming from adenomas to full-blown cancer or adenocarcinomas is great. He has not done his job if he has not recommended nutrients for you.
The medical literature shows that people taking 200 mcg of selenium cut their risk of developing cancer by more than half (58%).
In a Harvard study, they found that you quadruple your chance of polyps becoming cancers if you have a low folic acid level. This study showed you reduce your risk of cancer 75% by having a high folic acid level.
You may have also read that calcium intake reduces the chance of adenomatous polyps from becoming cancer, but the fact is that if it is not combined with proper vitamin D it is far less effective. It has been found that vitamin D causes redifferentiation or makes cancer cells go back to normal.
There are many more nutrients, and of course your gastroenterologist should begin with the ION Panel for identification and then correction of unsuspected nutrient deficiencies.
The key point is you MUST be tested to discover exactly what you may be deficient in. Don’t just haphazardly go out and purchase folic acid, calcium, selenium and vitamin D. Never assume anything when it comes to your health. The beauty with functional medicine is your practitioner can test you to see “exactly” what your body may be lacking and prescribe the right nutrient(s) and the right dosage.
I may be bold in what I am about to say, but I have to admit it is completely negligent to just turn a patient loose and advise them to “Come back in a year or more to check to see if those polyps have become malignant”
In this day of enormous molecular biochemistry evidence, it only makes sense to be in the driver’s seat and be certain you insist your doctor runs the proper nutrient test to decrease your chances of the polyps becoming malignant. Some of this research is even published (with our tax dollars) in the government’s Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
What does it take for medicine to get into the 21st century?
Full Article: http://www.yourmedicaldetective.com/public/Colon_Cancer.cfm