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New to UC...Natural Alternatives for UC treatment? Is this cancer??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/22/2014 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I was just diagnosed with UC, but I believe I've had it for a while. Anyways, I really would like to try to manage my UC naturally. Could anyone share or point me towards helpful links, threads ect. Really anything to learn more. Also, someone told me that UC is pretty much the beginning of colon cancer!???? Is this true?! My Dad was just diagnosed Monday with colon cancer @ 52, and I've lost so many to it, it's one of my biggest fears..... Thank you :)mm
Posted 3/22/2014 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
It is NOT the beginning of colon cancer, but our risk is definitely higher than the non-UC population.

Since you have many family members lost to colon cancer, maybe your family needs to be checked for Lynch Syndrome.

Just a thought...
Posted 3/22/2014 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
hey wags - that sucks about your dad - did he have uc ?
Posted 3/22/2014 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
This is not the beginning of cancer. While UC'rs generally face an increased risk of colon cancer, especially after about 10- 12 years of active disease, most UC'rs never get colon cancer. Please check out the resources link at the top of the page for treatment options, including natural. Even though natural treatments help some (something different works in everyone), most are fooling themselves to think this disease can be handled naturally. Very few can accomplish this. Many do have success though at combining medical treatments and natural treatments. Again, something different works in everyone.

Ironically, the more you avoid meds and go for natural, if it doesn't work, your chances of colon cancer may increase because it is the active disease which helps cancer along. On top of that, usually the first line treatments are oral and rectal mesalamine drugs, which are actually usually quite safe to take and these drugs also help to inhibit cancer growth. Please don't be a hard headed anti-med person. Look at everything with an open mind and facts.
Posted 3/22/2014 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
"most are fooling themselves to think this disease can be handled naturally"


again with the same crappola - c'mon gary, seriously ?

so all the folks that took meds for years and wound up with a bag or pouch - were they fooling themselves too ?

t6, eva lou, who else, that fooled themselves for years and are now facing surgery ?

Post Edited (soystud) : 3/22/2014 8:07:38 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/22/2014 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Our signatures indicate that other really popular supplements for most of us are vitamin D, fish oil, PROBIOTICS, and a soluble fiber such as psyllium.

If you are really afraid of colon cancer then get your blood levels of vitamin D checked. Google 'vitamin d cancer', “vitamin d Crohn's”', or vitamin D anything and see for yourself. For many diseases including ulcerative colitis and cancer. And while you are at it check your blood levels of B12, folate, and iron since you probably have been losing blood.

You may also want to research selenium and its role in preventing colon cancer. I get 200 mcg of organic selenium a day in a good multivitamin (Rainbow Light).

There are many UCers here who take a maintenance drug such as Lialda or Asacol and remain in remission with rectal meds as needed. You can follow our signatures to see what works for each of us. Not only will you will find that almost everyone here recommends mesalamine enemas with rave reviews, but that mesalamines help prevent colon cancer.

I am a strong believer in diet affecting UC but official diets never worked for me. Many of the foods that are illegal under SCD, Paleo, Makers, etc. are perfectly fine for me, and other foods that they consider OK will trigger flares. I guess because everyone is different.

So I prefer a food diary. Two very common triggers are gluten and dairy. I suggest avoiding gluten for 2-3 weeks to see if your symptoms lessen. Then try the same for dairy. Many veterans of this disease, whether they believe in diet modification or not, find that their lives are much simpler if they avoid certain foods.
Posted 3/22/2014 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
There are very few who come on here who have their UC under control by natural methods alone. I say this as a person who has gotten extremely better recently using Grape Seed Extract. I also take meds. Even InSoFla and a few others who use natural methods also use LDN, which is not natural. It is a prescribed drug. Very few are healed by natural methods only and I don't buy the argument that all of these people going natural got better and don't post here anymore. You can say that about anything such as all of the people who got cured wearing tin foil hats don't post here anymore. While some do have success going into remission with natural treatments and many don't even go into remission using meds, the success rates for natural treatments are very low indeed so most people are fooling themselves in thinking they can control their UC in this way. It doesn't hurt to try though and see if you are one of the lucky ones. I'm happy for those few where it works. I'm just saying be realistic and don't go into it thinking you have a good chance of success because that's only reality for a certain few.
Posted 3/22/2014 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
well since you don't have any numbers, just guesses and assumptions, you must be right -

again, are people fooling themselves thinking drugs will work ? according to your rules, many are -
Posted 3/22/2014 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Doesn't necessarily mean colon cancer but having UC puts you at a higher risk. And being that your father has been diagnosed you should be screened on a fairly regular basis.
Posted 3/22/2014 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Find a naturopathic doctor. You might waste a lot of money trying all the things people suggest to you here!
Posted 3/22/2014 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
methinks you'll just get more confusion regarding listening to the gazillion of suggestions for "natural" treatment for UC.

Soy rarely has any actual in depth suggestions for natural treatments, only stalking criticism of Gary....that seems to be included in his treatment for UC. puzzling at best.

My initial questions are...do you have all the test results that led up to your diagnosis? That would include bloods and biopsies.

ARe you seeing a GI?

The type of colon cancer your father has as well as his family history regarding cancer could already be in motion to consider your chances of getting it. While UC isn't a precursor....untreated continuing inflammation can definitely not be a good thing.

You need to set up a screening method with your GI and have biopsies throughout for a baseline regarding precancer. Go from there.

I cannot see you not at least starting on the baseline meds for UC treatment....oral and rectal 5ASA meds. There is strong belief that it can help prevent cellular changes towards cancer in the colon and rectum.

If you do have UC (as meaning a proper diagnosis)....it's forever. You might be able to treat it "naturally", but you should have regular scopes to make sure all is good. If all is good for a long time, there are possibilities that you might have been misdiagnosed ("colitis" doesn't mean ulcerative colitis)....or you're one of the few that is able to maintain a solid remission without medications.

You have a lot to learn, but you also should answer some questions regarding what you actually have, where, the severity, what meds the doc has considered...etc, etc.

Using medications isn't a failure. All meds have some risks...but undertreating consistent inflammation does as well.

Welcome to the forum...

q
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