Colorectal Cancer

Attributes

Commonality is common Incidence is approximately 1 in 1,721 people

Further Tests

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT) (Increased) Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) (Decreased) Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test Uric Acid, Blood (Increased) Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid) (Decreased) Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration Cerebrospinal Fluid Total Protein (Increased) Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential Cerebrospinal Fluid Leukocytes (Increased) Cerebrospinal Fluid Neutrophil Differential (Increased) D-Dimer Blood Test D-Dimer (Increased) Eosinophils Count Eosinophils (Increased) Fecal Occult Blood Test Fecal Blood (Increased) Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps) Fibrin Split Products (Increased) Fibrin Monomers Test Fibrin Monomers (Increased) Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) (Increased) Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration Folic Acid (Folate) (Decreased) haptoglobin (Hp) concentration haptoglobin (Hp) (Increased) Iron Concentration Iron (Decreased) Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (Decreased) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test Hemoglobin (Hb) (Decreased) Neutrophil Absolute Count Segmented Neutrophils (Increased) Platelet Count Platelets (Increased) Potassium Concentration (K, Blood) Potassium (K, Blood) (Decreased) Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein) Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum) (Increased) Reticulocyte Absolute Count Reticulocytes (Decreased) Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) (Increased) Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration Thyroxine (Total T4) (Decreased) Thyroxine (Total T4) (Decreased) Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration Triiodothyronine (Free T3) (Decreased) Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration Triiodothyronine (Total T3) (Increased) Triiodothyronine (Total T3) (Increased) Triiodothyronine Uptake Test Triiodothyronine Uptake Percentage (Increased) Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration Vitamin B12 (VB12) (Decreased) White Blood Cell (WBC) Count White Blood Cell (WBC) (Increased)

 

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Vitamin E [1, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief.  This vitamin can have harmful effects if taken in doses higher than 100% of the recommended daily allowance.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Some trials have shown that vitamin E may help lower the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, more research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Vitamin D [1, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Observational studies show that a higher intake of Vitamin D may help lower the risk of getting colorectal cancer. However, clinical trials need to be completed to provide more reliable evidence.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Vitamin B Complex [1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief. Supplements should only be taken if they contain no more than 100% of the recommended daily value

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Vitamin B may be linked to a lower risk for colorectal cancer. However, results of studies have been mixed, and further research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Venus Flytrap Extract (Carnivora, Dionaea Muscipula) [3, 16, 17, 18]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that Venus Flytrap Extract may have some effect against colon cancer in animals. However more research is needed in humans.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Turmeric [3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that turmeric may be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. However, clinical trials on humans are needed)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Psyllium (Isphagula, Plantago Psyllium) [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Studies on the effect of Psyllium on preventing colorectal cancer have yielded mixed results. more studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Calcium Gluconate:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early studies show that calcium supplements may be effective in reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Calcium Supplements:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early studies show that calcium supplements may be effective in reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurveda):

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that ayurvedic medicine helps treat colorectal cancer in any way)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Vitamin C [44, 45, 46]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that vitamin c may be able to help treat colorectal cancer. Some studies have concluded that the benefits of vitamin c in patients with colon cancer are negligible. More studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

Selenium Supplementation [47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Studies show that selenium may be beneficial to those that have colorectal cancer, however it is more researched as a preventative treatment)

Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

 

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Mosolits S, Nilsson B, Mellstedt H (June 2005). "Towards therapeutic vaccines for colorectal carcinoma: a review of clinical trials". Expert Rev Vaccines 4 (3): 329–50. doi:10.1586/14760584.4.3.329

2. ASCO Releases Provisional Clinical Opinion Recommending Routine KRAS Gene Testing to Guide Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

3. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

4. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-psyllium.html

5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601104.html

6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=cmed&part=A17913

7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/psyllium

8. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol-lowering-supplements/CL00013/METHOD=print

9. http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-psyllium.htm

10. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric

11. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html

12. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm

13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm

14. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/

15. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric

16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/venus-flytrap

17. Parimala, R. & P. Sachdanandam 1993. Effect of plumbagin on some glucose metabolizing enzymes studied in rats in experimental hepatoma. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 12(1): 59–63.

18. http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/2/484

19. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/vitamin-b-complex

20. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-folate.html

21. Butterworth RF. Thiamin. In: Shils ME, Shike M, Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, editors. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18220605

23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6935482.stm

24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19061687

25. Gropper, S. S, Smith, J. L., Groff, J. L. (2009). Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage learning.

26. Otten, J. J., Hellwig, J. P., Meyers, L. D. (2008). Dietary reference intakes: The essential guide to nutrient requirements. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press

27. http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/vitamin-b1.htm

28. Higdon, Jane (2003). "Biotin". An evidence-based approach to vitamins and minerals. Thieme. ISBN 9781588901248.

29. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD006164/frame.html

30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10824056

31. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcb.10338/abstract

32. http://pain-topics.org/pdf/vitamind-report.pdf

33. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1185/030079908X253519

34. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article756975.ece

35. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17556697

36. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18065602

37. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamind.html

38.  http://nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/vitamine/vitamine.htm

39. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/070106.htm

40. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamine.html

41. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/76/4/703

42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2586922/?tool=pmcentrez

43. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine.asp#h3

44. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11205484

45. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0054448/

46. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509163/

47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18690824

48. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25042282

49. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19235033

50. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17176213

51. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18763256

52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21466436
 

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