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It is thought by some people that almost all diseases start in the colon. It is little surprise that in that so many suffer from colon cancer on a yearly basis. In fact, in the western part of the world colon cancer claims over 650,000 lives every year. Most of these cancers are thought to come from polyps that are contained inside the colon. It is interesting to note that most of the time, these polyps are benign and really don't cause any problems. It is possible, however, for these polyps to turn cancerous which can certainly cause a multitude of problems. Surgery is often required whenever this is the case and the follow-up to that surgery can vary in many different ways.
The first thing that you should know is that the follow-up for colon cancer post surgery is very important. Although the surgery is the most important part of getting rid of the cancer, it is still possible for cancer cells to be present in the area and also in other areas throughout the body. This is possible as cancer tends to be rather invasive so it must be made sure that if the cancer has spread into another part of the body that it can be diagnosed at an early stage and taking care of before it has spread too much. Approximately 20% of all people to have had colon cancer surgery will continue to develop polyps at some point in their life. Colon cancer post surgery follow-ups will help your physician to be able to recognize when these polyps begin to occur.
You should begin your colon cancer post surgery follow-ups immediately after your surgery. This is because there is a higher risk of recurrence within the first two years after your surgery has been complete. By going to see a physician on a regular basis, they will be able to detect any recurrence of the cancer before it has the opportunity to get out of hand. You could probably expect to be examined approximately 4 times a year by your physician and you should keep a careful record of your daily health which would include what you ate, changes in your exercise and especially any changes that you notice in your bowel movements.
You should also get your family involved in the colon cancer post surgery follow-up process. Because cancer tends to run within the family, it would be to their benefit to get checked out on a regular basis to make sure that they are also not suffering from colon cancer. If polyps are detected in your family members they may be removed before cancer is allowed to form. By detecting the cancer early or getting it in the precancerous stage, they are much more likely to avoid a more invasive colon cancer surgery that may be necessary if the cancer is allowed to take root.
You should also plan on making lifestyle changes that will assist you in maintaining your health. This would include doing such things as eating a diet that is high in fiber from fruits and vegetables as well as making sure that you are not overweight. You will probably also have the recommendation made to you that you should get some physical exercise and reduce your consumption of alcohol and red meat. Although it will take effort on your part, by maintaining your health you will reduce the possibility of having colon cancer in the future. By doing this, all your efforts will be well worth it.
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