Philippine Endoscopy Center

Wine Drinking May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk
By: About.com

Beer, hard liquor provide no benefit Risk

NEW YORK, October 16, 2000 — In a finding that counters conventional thinking about the relationship between alcohol use and colorectal cancer, drinking at least one glass of wine per week may actually protect against the development of the disease, whereas beer or mixed drinks do not. Results of this new research were presented at the 65th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), October 16 — 18th.

In the study, researchers from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, led by Catherine R. Messina, Ph.D., prospectively analyzed results of 1,500 consecutive colonoscopies performed between August 1999 and April 2000. Patients with a history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or polyps were excluded. The investigators found that only one percent of wine drinkers had significant colorectal polyps, compared with 18 percent of beer or grain-based liquor drinkers, and 12 percent of those who abstain. The results were statistically significant.

The researchers defined “alcohol use” as a glass of wine, a can of beer, or one ounce of liquor at least once a week.

Previous research has suggested that alcohol use may increase the risk for developing colorectal cancer. The study by Messina and coworkers analyzed cancer risk according to type of alcoholic beverage. To minimize the effects of bias, they examined data from a large series of consecutive colonoscopies.

The study found that wine drinkers were far less likely to have significant colorectal pathology than those who drank grain-based liquors or even those who abstained. Drinking moderate amounts of wine has already been shown to have beneficial effects on the heart.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, trailing only lung cancer. More than 56,000 Americans will die in 2000 from the disease, and more than 130,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year. Previous research has shown that up to 90% of colorectal cancer deaths can be prevented through regular screening, early detection, and timely removal of precancerous polyps.

Race Affects Colon Cancer Survival

It’s been known in the medical community in the US for some time that people in certain race/ethnicity groups appear to do better, and in some cases worse, than whites (Caucasians or people of European ancestry) in terms of survival after cancer diagnosis. This is true of colon cancer, with research showing that African Americans have worse survival rates than Caucasians.
The important question is why some groups of people in general fare worse with cancer than whites. If health experts can figure out why, they can tackle the problem and focus on improving cancer survival rates for African Americans, and possibly for everyone else too.
Why Are There Differences in Colon Cancer Survival?
Some of the difference in colon cancer survival rates among various groups of people may be due to differences in other factors that affect health, such as individual and tumor genetics, access to health care, the presence of other health conditions and diseases, and obesity. But the latest research on this issue suggests that these factors do not explain all of the difference in survival rates between African Americans and Caucasians.
Weight Still Matters for Colon Cancer Survival
The study did show that among all people with colon cancer, regardless of race/ethnicity, a higher body mass index (BMI) means a lower chance of survival. BMI, a measure of weight in relation to height, is a number that is used to determine if someone is overweight or obese. Obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m2) or more. So regardless of your race, being overweight when you are diagnosed decreases the chances of a complete cure after colon cancer.
But even taking into account that African Americans have higher rates of obesity than Caucasians, BMI still doesn’t explain all of the differences in survival between these two groups. This means that more research is urgently needed to get to the bottom of this question, and to find ways to make sure that all people, including African Americans, have the best possible chance of surviving colon cancer.
Where Weight Helps
One interesting aspect of the body weight-colon cancer connection that this study uncovered surprised the researchers, but I don’t think it should have. They found that for advanced (stage IV) cancer, being overweight decreased the risk of death. This isn’t as strange as it may seem.
Stage IV colon cancer is not considered curable, which means that as it progresses, people are likely to become sicker and more frail over time. Having a little extra “cushion” in the form of body weight likely protects people from experiencing malnutrition as their cancer becomes more advanced. In some cases, advanced colon cancer makes it more difficult to eat enough, and in these cases, being overweight would help you live longer and stronger.
The Bottom Line
But the bottom line is that overall, being overweight increases your risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer. And being overweight decreases your likelihood of survival if you are diagnosed with anything but the most advanced type (stage IV) of colon cancer.
If you are living with colon cancer and you are overweight, don’t embark on a crash diet or extreme weight loss plan. This is not healthy and won’t help you heal and get through treatment. Instead, talk to your doctor about ways you can live as healthfully as possible during and after treatment. Ask for a referral to a dietitian who can work with you to develop a healthy eating plan that will get your body the nutrients it needs.
A dietitian who specializes in working with cancer patients can help you use good nutrition to address any symptoms, side effects, or limitations on the foods you can eat due to your cancer and its treatment. A dietitian can help you develop a long-term, healthy nutrition plan to get you back to health after cancer as well.

Colonoscopy Key for People with IBD
(Monday November 2, 2009)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of conditions that cause pain and damage in the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common inflammatory bowel diseases. Symptoms of these conditions include abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, rectal bleeding, blood in the stools, diarrhea, and skin and eye irritation.
One of the most important things to know about IBD is that having it can significantly increase your risk of developing colon cancer. It’s a scary thought, and it seems completely unfair that in addition to the pain and suffering that can come with IBD itself, comes a higher risk of a potentially life-threatening cancer.
Fortunately, there something you can do to greatly increase the odds that if you do develop colon cancer, you will survive and thrive after your diagnosis. The latest research on this topic shows that regular colonoscopy screening can mean the difference between life and death for people with a history of IBD who develop colon cancer.

By The Numbers

Researchers tracked 149 people with IBD who developed colorectal cancer. They compared the survival rates after colorectal cancer diagnosis among those who had colonoscopies in the past vs. people who had not had colonoscopies.
The 5 year survival rate after colorectal cancer among the people with IBD who had undergone colonoscopy screening was 100%. Among the people with IBD who had not undergone colonoscopy as part of their medical care, the 5 years after diagnosis was 74%. Over the long-term, only one person in the colonoscopy group died specifically due to colorectal cancer. In the group of people with IBD who did not undergo colonoscopy, 29 people died due to colorectal cancer over the long-term.

The Bottom Line

If you have IBD, it is very, very important that you undergo colonoscopy testing regularly. While colonoscopy can seem unpleasant and sometimes may cause some pain for people with IBD, it is much less unpleasant than being diagnosed with, or dying of, colon cancer. Colonoscopy allows your doctor to find any colon cancer cells or small tumors very early, when they can be removed before they spread. This improves survival and makes it less likely that you’ll need additional, aggressive treatment for cancer.

Facing Your Fears

If you have IBD, the following steps can help you face your fears about colonoscopy:
• Make an appointment to talk to your doctor specifically about how often you need colonoscopy screening. If your regular, primary care doctor doesn’t have a specific plan for you or doesn’t take your concerns seriously, ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist so you can make sure you get exactly what you need.
• Learn what you need to do to prepare for a colonoscopy. A little planning will help you have a sense of control over your health and your health care choices.
• Learn what happens during a colonscopy. Knowing what to expect can ease your fears significantly.
• Learn specific steps you can take to make colonoscopy easier on yourself. While nobody looks forward to getting a colonoscopy, it likely is not as bad as you may imagine
• Focus on the future. Focusing on the fact that getting a colonscopy can save your life and keep you healthy and cancer-free can make it easier to pick up the phone and make that important appointment with your doctor.