HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Confussed About IBD-Crohn's/Colon Cancer related to IBD

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/29/2009 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

At the age of 35 (summer of 2005) I was diasgnosed with crohn's (very very mild) as per my GI. Currently I'm taking Asacol 800mg daily. My GI indicated that he is confussed because I show none of the symptons's. Two years later he conducted another colonscopy which they found a carcinode tumor (non-cancer) that was half a cm in diameter. A year later he did another colonscopy which he noted that I'm in total remission. However, he pointed out that he will have to conduct a colonscopy every two years to ensure that there is no other issues. Also, at the age of 50 once a year to detect any cancer in the colon because of my crohn's.

My questions are the following;

- how does crohn's cause colon cancer?

- What are the percentage that I could get colon cancer because of my IBD?. I read on the MayoClinic that 90 percent of IBD patients do not get colon cancer is this true

- I heard that diets such as SCD may help with IBD. Is there anyone who is currently on this diet and what are the results

- I also heard that TCM treatment might help...Is there anyone who is currently being treated and is it helping?

I'm just getting really scared of the whole thing and don't know what to do
Posted 1/29/2009 6:39 AM (GMT 0)
Crohn's doesn't necessarily "cause" colon cancer...crohn's activity in the colon that is very severe and prolonged can increase the risk of colon cancer slightly compared to someone that doesn't have IBD (same with UCers since their inflammation is limited to the colon/rectom, so there risk of colon cancer increases slightly as well) but the good news is with having an IBD and getting regular colonoscopies there is a much better chance they'll find cancer in it's very early stages if there is any cancer to find.

A lot of people have success with the SCD and many also find it very restrictive (so it's a personal preferance) the main goal should be to elimintate specific things that are known to exacerbate symptoms of IBD which are fast-foods, processed foods/beverages, caffeine, animal fats, refined sugar and artificial sweetners. Trying to eat healthy whole foods rather than anything packaged, drinking chamomile tea can also have it's benefits with the intestines/stomach.

Being scared is normal and you will adjust, even though it's often like a roller-coaster ride with this DD but if you're mild then hopefully you'll stay that way...regular daily exercise is also a huge benefit mentally and physically.

I should also mention that if you're not taking a good probiotic that you should definitely look into that...taken daily and indefinitely (flaring or not) can be a huge benefit for IBDers since we tend to have bacterial over-growth issues.


:)

Posted 1/29/2009 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Welcome to Healing Well . Although all this stuff can be scarry at least you are having things checked often which will be of good help if your Dr. does find something and that's a good thing . Glad to hear your tumor was non cancerous. Have you had a CT or endo to check other area's. glad you are in remission and hope things go good for you. As far as diet there are some here that do the SCD diet myself I am on low roughage ,which seems to be helping. How were you first diagnosed with crohn's ? Some have constipation and some of us have diarrhea.. lol gail
Posted 1/29/2009 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you gachrons and pb4 for your responses;

How I came to be diagnosed with crohn's when I noticed blood in my stool. I had to fight with my family doctor for 6 months before he decided to send me to a GI. The blood came from the polyp and my GI decided to explore more and take some samples. My first results they didn't know if it was crohn's or UC but my second procedure they confirmed it was crohn's (very mild). That is when I decided to start taking Asacol 800mg daily. Since my Carcinoid tumor I did have a CT scan several weeks later which came back negative totally clean (as per my GI).

After my carcinoid my GI wanted to double my medication to 1600 mg daily. I thought about it and decided with my family to explore other treatments such as Traditional Chinese Medician. My TCM doctor indicated to me to stay away from wheat, rice, fruits, pop, liquire, beer, lettuce, and eat more of beans, ginger, wild meat (deer, buffalo, etc), potatoes, and various grains. Also, I started drinking this nasty drink for the next 4 months which I'm currently off as per my TCM dr. I really don't know if the diet had anything to do with it.....that's why I asked about SCD to see if other's on the forum feel that avoiding the above stuff actually does work.

Yes you guys are right I should be glad that I'm getting checked.

Question:

1) I read on the MayoClinic that individuals with Crohn's and UC 90 percent do not actually get colon cancer. Is this actually accurate? and why is this the case?
Posted 1/30/2009 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I've never heard that 10 percent of IBD patients get cancer. If this were true I would expect that we would have a lower life expectancy than normal, which we do not.

Do you have a link?
Posted 1/30/2009 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rider Fan,

Here is some info from MayoClinic

IBD and colon cancer
Having Crohn's disease increases your risk of colon cancer. Despite this increased risk, more than 90 percent of people with inflammatory bowel disease never develop cancer.

Your risk is greatest if you've had inflammatory bowel disease for at least eight to 10 years and if it has spread through your entire colon. You're less likely to develop cancer if only a small part of your colon is diseased. The longer you've had the disease and the larger the area affected, the greater your risk of colon cancer.

If you've had Crohn's disease for eight or more years, see your doctor at least once a year and ask how often you should be screened for colon cancer using routine tests, such as a colonoscopy.

In people with Crohn's disease, the risk of other cancers also is increased, including cancer of the anus. If you have persistent symptoms or recurrent symptoms near your anus, your doctor may examine this area thoroughly to exclude cancer. Cancers of the small intestine also are increased in people with Crohn's, but the overall risk of this remains very small.

Link is : http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/crohns-disease/DS00104/DSECTION=complications
Posted 1/30/2009 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hmmm. I think the 90% figure means ALL cancers. So we'd have to figure out what percentage of people get any kind of cancer. It's not really clear to me, anyone else have a thought?
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply