An Outlook: Colon Cancer And Allergy

Micrograph of a colorectal adenocarcinoma metastasis to a lymph node, also lymph node metastasis. The cancer (forming glands) is seen at the centre-top. Adipose tissue is present on the upper right.

A new research suggests that people who suffer from hay fever and asthma are at lower risk of colon cancer. Before we know more about this research, let us first know about these health conditions.

Colon cancer (or colorectal cancer): It is an uncontrolled growth of cells affecting areas of colon, large intestine, rectum, or in the appendix. Rectal bleeding and thin (thread-like) stools are typical symptoms of colon cancer. Age, certain diseases (such as ulcerative colitis) and genetic causes contribute to it.

Allergy: In some people, there can be an “unusual” sensitivity towards a normally harmless material that induces a strong reaction by the person. Typical allergies are related to certain food or medication, smell and exposure to skin. Atopy is the medical word that describes the state of allergy, where there is a tendency to react to allergens, as in hay fever and asthma.

Hay fever is an allergic inflammation that occurs in the nasal airways. It is caused by grass pollens or plant pollens (pollinosis). Hay fever is not caused by hay and does not exhibit symptoms of fever.

Asthma: Asthma is a disease affecting the respiratory system, caused usually by allergies. It has symptoms of coughing, tight feeling in the chest and sudden difficulty in breathing.

Does hay fever and asthma affect colon cancer ?

A recent study finds that people who suffer both from hay fever and asthma are at lesser risk of colon cancer. The study reports that people suffering from both, hay fever and asthma, were 17% less likely to acquire colon cancer compared to people who had neither of the two conditions. People having either of the two conditions had little reduction in their risk of colon cancer. The finding is according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held in Anaheim, California, October 16-19, 2012.

Hay fever and asthma are diseases that are related to allergic responses of the body, and this new theory says that they also affect the allergic response towards colon cancer cells. More research is ongoing with this new finding, and if a natural immune response can prevent some colorectal cancers, vaccines can be made to treat and prevent them.

This new finding may help us in the development of vaccine for the treatment of colon cancer, and for that it needs to be understood the factors that affects and lowers the risk of colon cancer, e.g. how the immune system is responsive towards cancer cells in such cases. Exercising regularly and a healthy diet might help people to improve their immune system response to prevent cancer.

Colon Cancer Survival Statistics and Results (cancercenter.com)
Colon Cancer: Integrative Treatment Program (cancercenter.com)

Raising awareness for food allergy is crucial

Life can be difficult with allergy.

Food allergies are a growing health concern. As many as 6 million children in the U.S. are affected and food allergies are more common and more danger than ever before.

Kids can be born with food allergies but most of the time it is acquired. Many food allergies in children are mild and fade over time. They can outgrow selected food allergies, but peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish allergies usually last a lifetime.

There is NO CURE for allergies.

There is NO MEDICATION available to prevent reactions.

AVOIDANCE of food is the ONLY way to prevent a reaction:

– be aware of the foods being eaten

– read ingredients label

– speak up when going out to eat

– educate yourself

Symptoms of Food Allergies can include various degrees of the following:

– Hives

– Flushed skin or rash

– Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth

– Swelling of the face, tongue, or lip

– Vomiting and/or Diarrhea

– Abdominal cramps

– Coughing or wheezing

– Dizziness and/or light headedness

– Swelling of the throat and vocal cords

– Difficulty breathing

– Loss of consciousness

Over 150 foods can cause allergic reactions, but 90% of all emergency situations involve just 8 specific food items:

Milk
Eggs
Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)
Peanuts
Fish
Shellfish (e.g. crab, lobster, shrimp)
Wheat
Soybeans

The most severe reaction to a food allergy is the anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction which including:

A dangerous drop in blood pressure
A constriction of the airways in the lungs
Suffocation by swelling of the throat

TRIGGER food allergy short film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnwczy3_IFg

TRIGGER is a not for profit awareness campaign. Please help protect food allergy sufferers by watching and sharing the information provided.

New technology helps doctors distinguish between allergies and asthma

It is peak allergy and asthma season, and thanks to the dry and warm summer, ragweed is even worse.

Some new technology is now helping patients breathe easier.

Dr. Deborah Gentile at West Penn Allegheny Health System uses FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) testing to diagnose and manage her patients.

“We’ll see many patients coming in complaining of shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. We’ll actually see more cue visits to the emergency room,” she said of fall allergy season.

A recent study ranked Pittsburgh fourth as “the most challenging place to live with asthma.”

Some 25 million Americans suffer from asthma.

“I thought originally I was just having allergies until I used the Niox machine, that showed that I had slight inflammation,” said Matt Bury, a patient.

Gentile uses the hand-held device to get a more accurate diagnosis for potential asthmatic patients.

Patients blow into the machine and it measures nitric oxide, a gas which is made during inflammation of asthma. This measurement lets Gentile determine whether it’s asthma or something else.

The test is quick and provides immediate information.

“The test is very simple to do,” said Gentile. “It’s non-invasive. It doesn’t hurt, and it actually helps us diagnose the problem and choose appropriate treatment, and then monitor the response.”

Bury is on the right medicine now and can breathe easier.

“Before I couldn’t go outside without doing an activity and having difficulty breathing,” he said. “Now the quality of life definitely improved.”

The FeNO test is covered by most insurance companies but you should check with yours before taking it.