After skin cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer, Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer type occurring in women across the globe. There are many types of colon cancer: Carcinoid Tumors, Lymphoma, Melanoma and Sarcomas. However, the most common of all the colon cancers is Colon Carcinoma.

A colon in the human body is a long, coiled tube shaped organ, which helps in removing water from the digested food. It is also called the large intestine or the large bowel having four sections: Ascending Colon, Transverse Colon, Descending Colon and Sigmoid Colon. Colon cancer is a type of cancer, which forms in the colon tissues. It is often referred to as colorectal cancer. Colon cancers usually are adenocarcinomas, which mean that they begin in cells releasing mucus and other type of fluids.

Who Are At Risk Of Having Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is responsible for most of the deaths elated to cancer, but doctors say that an early diagnosis can reduce the risk. Immediate action can also lead to full cure of a patient. The risk of having colon cancer increases, if you:

1-Have cancer elsewhere in your body

2-Have a personal history of breast cancer

3-Have a family history of colon cancer

4-Have colorectal polyps, crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

Apart from the above stated reasons, the risk of having colon cancer also depends on your diet. Doctors say that chances of colon cancer may increase, if you are having red meat and a high fat with low fibre diet. Some genetic syndromes may be also responsible in developing colon cancer.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

There are several symptoms indicating the presence of colon cancer in your body. Some of them include blood in your stool, narrow stools, tenderness & pain in the lower abdomen, unexplained anaemia, sudden weight loss, constipation, diarrhoea, intestinal obstruction and changes in bowel habits.

Take Immediate Action against the Menace

If you feel that you are having any of the symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. There are many physical exams, which needs to be done on your belly area. There are also imaging tests that are extremely helpful in diagnosing colon cancers. Again, tests similar to sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy confirm the presence of colon cancer.

One more test of detecting colon cancer is the fecal occult blood test (FEBT). After detection of colon cancer, additional tests known as staging is done to check the exact area in which the colon cancer has spread.

Treatment of Colon Cancer

The treatment of colon cancer is mainly dependent on the stage in which it has been detected. The most common treatments for colon cancer are chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy medicines kill the colon cancer cells, radiation therapy destroys the cancerous tissue present and surgery may be done to remove the cancer cells.

If treated at an early stage, nearly 90% of patients suffering from colon cancer may survive for minimum of five years after diagnosis. And in cases where the colon cancer does not recur within a period of five years, the patient is considered to be fully cured.

Water Trials Put Dogs To The Test

By Allison Asher Marklein

Working dogs are busy animals, although the classification between “work” and “fun” is blurred when these dogs hit the water.  The Portuguese Water Dog Association holds Water Trials regularly for competitive dogs and owners.

Lara Schindler, a Canine Water Sports Trainer and Owner of Happy Dog, Happy Owner, says that if you’ve trained your dog in basic obedience, you can do water work.  “There are water trials all over the country. Testing events create achievement goals, gives you a place to socialize with other water dog enthusiasts and a chance to earn recognition awards such as merits, certificates and titles.”

Schindler is an ABC Certified Dog Trainer, honors graduate of Animal Behavior College, and Pet First Aid certified through the American Red Cross. Her San Diego-based dog training organization is dedicated to helping dog owners develop successful relationships with their pets through productive and positive reinforcement training techniques in obedience, agility and water sports.

The relatively new concept of Canine Water Sports was developed on the East Coast by Deborah Lee Miller-Riley. Canine Water Sports training programs help build a learning relationship with a water-loving dog based on trust, respect and cooperation earned shoulder to shoulder and literally eye to eye. Schindler patterned her training after Miller-Riley’s, and says that formal classes are not necessary to participate in Water Trial competitions: just a water-loving dog and a willingness to work shoulder-to-shoulder with your pet. For owners who want to compete, local trainers and association are a good resource.

Portuguese Water Dog (PWD) Water Trials are a breed-specific competition based on the traditional fishing boat work the dogs did for Portuguese fisherman including retrieving items, relaying messages from boat to boat, and diving for items underwater. While most of the competitive exercises require training, they also play on natural instincts to swim and retrieve. Water trial scoring is pass/fail with a time limit factored into each exercise.

For those who are looking to own a Portuguese Water Dog, Schindler cautions to “make sure you can provide both the mental and physical exercise that PWDs require. Daily activity is a must.” 

To better understand the health of the digestive system and colon, it is helpful to first understand the different parts of the colon and their specific functions. This can help you become a stronger advocate for your own health and may grant you further insight into how your body works.

The colon is made up of 6 parts all working collectively for a single purpose. Their purpose is ridding the body of toxins that have entered the body from food sources, environmental poisons, or toxins produced within the body. The colon’s role is to transfer nutrients into the bloodstream through the absorbent walls of the large intestine while pushing waste out of the body. In this process, digestive enzymes are released, water is absorbed by the stool, and a host of muscle groups and beneficial microorganisms work to maintain the digestive system.

Overview of the Colon’s Anatomy

The colon is approximately 4.5 feet long, 2.5 inches wide, and is a muscular tube composed of lymphatic tissue, blood vessels, connective tissue, and specialized muscles for carrying out the tasks of water absorption and waste removal. The tough outer covering of the colon protects the inner layer of the colon with circular muscles for propelling waste out of the body in an action called peristalsis. Under the outer muscular layer is a sub-mucous coat containing the lymphatic tissue, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The innermost lining is highly moist and sensitive, and contains the villi- or tiny structures providing blood to the colon.

The colon is actually just another name for the large intestine. The shorter of the two intestinal groups, the large intestine, consists of parts with various responsibilities. The names of these parts are: the transverse colon, ascending colon, appendix, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and the rectum and anus.

Parts of the Colon:

Transverse, Ascending, and Descending Colons

The transverse, ascending, and descending colons are named for their physical locations within the digestive tract, and corresponding to the direction food takes as it encounters those sections. Within these parts of the colon, contractions from smooth muscle groups work food material back and forth to move waste through the colon and eventually, out of the body. The intestinal walls secrete alkaline mucus for lubricating the colon walls to ensure continued movement of the waste.

The ascending colon travels up along the right side of the body. Due to waste being forced upwards, the muscular contractions working against gravity are essential to keep the system running smoothly. The next section of the colon is termed the transverse colon due to it running across the body horizontally. Then, the descending colon turns downward and becomes the sigmoid colon, followed by the rectum and anus.

Ileocecal and Cecum Valves

The ileocecal valve is located where the small and large intestines meet. This valve is an opening between the small intestine and large intestine allowing contents to be transferred to the colon. The cecum follows this valve and is an opening to the large intestine.

The Rectum and the Anus

The rectum is essentially a storage place for waste and is the final stop before elimination occurs. The “tone” of the muscles of the anal sphincter and a person’s ability to control this skeletal-muscular system are vital for regulating bowel movement urges. When elastic receptors within the rectum are stimulated, these nerves signal that defecation needs to occur. In other words, these muscle and nerve groups convey when a bowel movement is necessary but allow a person to control when waste will actually be removed, as the final step in the digestive process. The anus is the last portion of the colon, and is a specialized opening bound with elastic membranes, sensitive tissues, and muscles and nerves allowing it to stretch for removing bowel movements of varying sizes. If, for example, you suffer from constipation, these tissues can become damaged and lose their ability to function normally if waste has to be forced out or remains in the body for prolonged periods. So it’s definitely good practice to keep things moving along at a regular pace. Ideally, you should have two bowel movements per day but at least once a day is pretty good; anything less than that could spell trouble for not only your digestive health but general health as well.

Physiology of the Colon

To summarize, approximately 500 ml (milliliters) of food pass through the colon daily. The various sections of the digestive tract absorb and remove water, propel waste throughout the long system of muscular tubes, work to keep the body alkalized, and accommodate the colonization of billions of beneficial microorganisms to aid us in breaking down waste matter. Regardless of the depth of your knowledge regarding the colon’s functions, please realize the importance of its functions for promoting overall health. Be good to your body on the inside as well as out by following a healthful diet, drinking ample of water, and keeping all your biological systems well maintained with stimulating exercise and by getting plenty of rest.

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