Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women in the United States, and is among the most deadly of cancers. In an effort to improve those statistics, doctors began recommending that people have regular colon screenings, such as colonoscopies, to look for signs of the disease. Screenings are recommended beginning at age 50 or earlier for people who have a family history of colorectal cancer or are experiencing symptoms such as blood in the stool.

However, colonoscopies are intimidating. The procedure involves sending a tube with a camera on the end through the rectum and into the large intestines. Patients are sedated during the process, but they must prepare at least a day before the procedure by taking large amounts of laxatives to cleanse the bowel before a colonoscopy.

Between the uncomfortable prep required and the thought of the procedure itself, many people opt to go without. Studies show that less than 20 percent of the people who should be screened for colon cancer actually have a colonoscopy.

Which explains why companies like EDP Biotech are working tirelessly to find a more patient-friendly test. (Not to mention that approval of such a test would mean millions, if not billions, for the company that lands a suitable alternative to colonoscopies.)

EDP Biotech’s ColoMarker test involves adding a chemical to a small blood sample. The reading takes about 30 seconds, and the results are revealed on a computer screen. The test detects a certain marker in the blood that indicates if a patient is clear from colon cancer or needs further testing, perhaps by a colonoscopy.

In tests of 2,400 patients, the ColoMarker detected every case of colon cancer during treatable stages. The company is currently seeking FDA approval and hopes to have the ColoMarker available to the public in one to three years.

Source: WBIR.com

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › Blood test to detect colon cancer seeks FDA approval

“Sometimes it is necessary for people preparing to undergo a medical procedure or examination, such as a colonoscopy or a colon x-ray,” says to Dr. Mark Larson, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in the Hartford Courant. “But unless a doctor has recommended it as a preparation for such procedure, I strongly discourage people from colon cleansing. It can cause traumatic injury to the colon and result in long-term medical problems.”

Colon cleansing is the process of releasing the contents from the bowel and intestines. It is a required preparation prior to colonoscopies and other medical procedures so that the physician has a clear view of the bowels. The process usually takes at least a day. Common methods of colon cleansing include enemas or the swallowing of a pill or solution that induces the colon to purge its contents. While the process is prescribed by physicians, some people believe that there are benefits to regularly cleansing the bowel to rid the body of toxins.

However, Dr. Larson explains that the colon and intestines naturally eliminate waste material and bacteria. Excessive colon cleansing may actually harm the bowel’s ability to function properly by weakening the colon muscles, thus making them less efficient. And the argument that the process eliminates nasty toxins? Dr. Larson says there is simply no scientific data to back up that claim.

Another concern is that some products used to cleanse the bowel may actually cause serious kidney problems. Oral sodium phosphates, also known as OSPs, have been linked to a serious form of kidney injury known as acute phosphate nephropathy. Prescription OSP brands Visicol and Osmo Prep made by Salix Pharmaceuticals now carry an FDA black box warning about the serious kidney injury. Over-the-counter OSP brands, such as Fleet Phospho-soda and Fleet Accu-Prep, were promptly pulled off the market for similar concerns.

The safest bet, Dr. Larson says, is to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet with plenty of fluids and fiber. If constipation is an issue, talk to your healthcare provider. And if ordered by your doctor to cleanse your bowel for a medical procedure, be sure the laxative you are taking is safe.

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › Colon cleansing carries risk of traumatic injury, medical problems

Detox was once considered a medical procedure performed in hospitals or clinics designed to rid the body of dangerous and sometimes life-threatening levels of alcohol, drugs or poisons. Businesses picked up on the “healthier living through detox” idea, promoting various cleansings to eliminate toxins in the body that they say cause a host of nasty symptoms such as headaches, bloating, joint pain, fatigue and depression. But some of the body cleansing practices come with serious warnings.

Colon cleansing is perhaps the most talked about method of detox. The practice is used to cleanse the bowel prior to medical procedures such as colonoscopies. Some people follow a similar practice to relieve constipation or to cleanse their colon for health reasons. Solutions or pills – available both by prescription and over the counter – are taken by the consumer to induce a series of bowel movements designed to empty the intestines.

However, Dr. Reyes says there are serious risks associated with colon cleansing. For starters, the practice can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, impaired bowel function, and disruption of the intestinal flora. But an even more serious condition has been linked to some colon cleansing products called oral sodium phosphates, or OSPs. OSP products include prescription brands Visicol and Osmo Prep, and over-the-counter brands such as Fleet Phosopha-soda, and have been linked to a serious kidney injury known as acute phosphate nephropathy.

The bottom line, says Dr. Reyes, is that the human body is well equipped to ward off environmental toxins. “If you’re generally healthy, concentrate on giving your body what it needs to maintain its robust self-cleaning system – a healthful diet, adequate fluid intake, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and all recommended medical checkups,” he says. “If you experience fatigue, pallor, unexplained weight gain or loss, or changes in bowel function that persist for days or weeks, visit your doctor instead of a detox spa.”

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › Some detox practices carry serious risks

Brian didn’t follow the advice of a doctor and admits that he later learned that a water-only diet wasn’t the best idea for prepping his bowel for cleansing. A fruit juice diet would have been a better option, he says. But from the looks of it, it appears that the professional cleanse did its job.

Some may choose to go about cleansing through other means, like taking supplements or high doses of over-the-counter laxatives. Whatever your choice, be advised that some products have recently fallen under an FDA warning because of the risk of a rare but serious form of kidney disease associated with oral phosphate products.

The warning was associated with the prescription brand names Visicol and OsmoPrep, but the FDA voiced similar concerns with over-the-counter laxatives such as Fleet Phospho-soda made by C.B. Fleet. While safe in lower doses to treat occasional constipation, the products are not safe at higher doses that are often used for colon cleansing.

Click below to watch the video. The video is not graphic, but may disturb the squeamish. It’s also pretty long, at about 20 minutes run time.

Source: YouTube, DepressingProspects

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › Colon cleanse video gives a glimpse of what to expect