7 Things You Can do To Prevent / Treat Colon Cancer

Colon cancer can spread to healthy tissues and organs such as the urinary bladder and anus. However, timely medical intervention can help to limit the spread of this cancer. Read on to know the 7 things you can do to prevent and treat colon cancer.

7. Eat fiber-rich foods

Chronic constipation is a common cause of colon cancer. Repeated straining for stools can cause damage to the inner lining of the colon thus triggering cancerous changes. Hence, it is advisable to eat a fiber-rich diet to ease the passage of stools and prevent colon cancer. [1]

6. Surgery

A surgical procedure to remove the affected tissues in the colon can help to minimize the spread of colon cancer. During surgery, the tumor along with adjacent lymph nodes and a small part of the surrounding healthy tissues are removed to improve the chances of complete recovery. [2]

5. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy helps in the treatment of colon cancer by improving the natural ability of the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It may involve injecting substances that can stimulate the immune cells to destroy cancer cells. [3]

4. VEGF therapy

VEGF or vascular endothelial growth factor is a protein that can help the cancer mass to form new blood vessels.

VEGF treatment is a form of targeted therapy, which involves the administration of drugs that inhibit the action of VEGF. As a result, the ability of cancer mass to form new blood vessels is reduced. This can deprive the cancer cells of essential nutrients resulting in their death. [4]

3. Chemotherapy

Patients with colon cancer can receive chemotherapy treatment. It involves the use of medications to be taken orally as well as administered intravenously to stimulate the destruction of cancer cells. [5]

2. Ablation and embolization

Ablation and embolization are the commonly used therapies in the management of colon cancer. It involves the exposure of the affected tissues to radiofrequency ablation or high-energy radio waves that results in the destruction of abnormal cells. [6]

1. Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy can help to destroy cancer cells that may have spread to healthy tissues. It can be combined with chemotherapy or surgery for better results. [7]

 Conclusion

Patients with colon cancer should undergo regular treatments to ensure a faster recovery. They should also adopt healthy dietary habits to minimize the progress of colon cancer.