Most Americans now realize the importance of colorectal screening to detect colon cancer, a leading cancer killer for people around the world. The primary form of screening is the virtual colonscopy which individuals regularly get in order to catch colon cancer before it spreads. Although this tool has been highly useful in preventing and treating colon cancer, there are researchers out there who want to go one step further. They're seeking to screen for colon cancer in a way that it can be detected even before tumors are formed.
How is that possible? Think, for a moment, about screening for heart disease. A heart scan can show you what blockages there are and what dangers you're in as a result. However, we can also do risk detection for heart disease by checking for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Through those methods, we can discern whether someone is likely to get heart disease before it's actually a serious problem and can help them to alter their lifestyle habits for prevention.
Researchers are hoping to be able to do something similar for colon cancer. They're studying the impact of different vitamins and minerals on the body with respect to colon cancer, checking out what exacerbates it and what prevents it. It is believed that both Vitamin D and calcium may assist in preventing colon cancer so a ten year study is set to begin to determine the effectiveness of colon cancer prevention through these ingredients.
Learn more here.
Question of the Day: Do you think that preventive imaging is enough when it comes to colon cancer or do you think the industry needs more than that?
