_{Image © Julie Wilkinson}

Unless you're scheduled for a virtual or endoscopic colonoscopy, barium enema or sigmoidoscopy, your bowels probably don't need "cleansing". Over-the-counter cleansing and detox pills, potions and supplements have become a multi-million dollar industry. Feel tired? Cleanse! Problems with weight management? Cleanse! As I see it, the problem is that many of these supplements promote fantastic claims to clean your colon with potions composed mostly of laxatives.

If you already own a "cleansing" or "natural detoxifying" product join me in reading the label. Specifically, take a look at the list of ingredients. Does your product list:

• Senna or senakot
• Aloe vera
• Methylcellulose
• Psyllium

The list of laxatives hidden under the guise of natural cleansing supplements goes on and on; these are just a few examples. Even though they may be "100 percent natural," the majority of the cleansing products have one central goal and that is to make your bowels move. Unless you have a burning desire to stare at that pink crochet doll sitting on your spare TP roll, you may not need to force your bowels to move.

Let me add to that: just because you can take it, does that mean you should? The purpose of a laxative is to facilitate movement of stool through the colon. Certain people may need a laxative following surgery, if you take pain medications or during a rare bout of constipation. The rest of us need to use the natural function of our colons to get the stool out - if you don't use it you lose it. The natural motility of your colon gets lazy when you chronically ingest unnecessary laxatives - it begins to depend on the laxative and stops doing its job.

Because it's the body's waste conduit, your colon already has a natural cleansing tool in place: healthy bacteria. These flora live in your colon and keep the bad germs (think E. Coli, yeast) in check. When you remove all of the germs, you're flushing out the good with the bad.

The next time you consider a cleansing product, remember this: you are naturally equipped with your very own filtration and cleansing system composed of your kidneys, liver and colon. I say let them do their job naturally and don't micromanage your body!

_{Image © Julie Wilkinson}

Not surprisingly, as the Guide to colon cancer I field many queries with questions about the disease, screening exams and prevention. Perhaps your doctor just informed you that you are due for screening or a close friend has been diagnosed with polyps. I am a firm believer that knowledge about this disease will empower you to make better healthcare decisions. The following are the top five questions I repeatedly see regarding colon cancer:

1. Will my insurance pay for screening? Most insurances cover routine screening exams for the colon including the double contrast barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and stool testing. Many privatized insurances also cover the cost of a virtual colonoscopy, although Medicare and Medicaid do not at this time. Talk to your doctor to learn what tests are covered and recommended for you.




2. What can I do to reduce my risk of colon cancer? Reducing personal risk factors may be as simple as altering your daily choices. We already know that you can reduce your risk through eating a healthy diet ripe with fruits and vegetables, and that excesses of red and processed meat are unhealthy for the colon. Smoking, a sedentary lifestyle and excessive alcohol consumption may also increase your risk.




3. What are the symptoms of colon cancer? This question is a biggie in my colon cancer forums and throughout the Internet. Although the list of colon cancer symptoms is lengthy, it is also vague and not intended to help you diagnose an illness. Talk to your doctor if you or a loved one is experiencing any disturbing symptoms, especially if they are a source of concern or anxiety for you.




4. What causes colorectal cancer? Scientific research has provided an idea what increases your risk for developing colon cancer, such as untreated colon polyps and familial hereditary syndromes. Dietary and lifestyle choices may also increase your risk of developing this disease.




5. What's the best screening exam? With myriad screening exams available, the best exam for me may not be the best exam for you. Your doctor will help you choose between screening exams and make a decision based on your personal medical history, familial risk, age and any concomitant medical problems.

_{Image © Yiannos1/Dreamstime}

Mother's Day is officially behind us, but that doesn't mean your obligations as a son or daughter are over. Giving gifts of a card, flowers or candy is a nice gesture, but there is an even better gift to give this year: the gift of knowledge.

As a mother myself, I appreciate gifts and the thought that accompanies them. What I would appreciate even more, much more, is knowing that my children love me enough to talk to me about colon cancer screening and awareness. It's no different than having your child come up to you and say, "Hey mom, I love you more than anything in the world and I want you to stick around for a while - so take care of yourself, please".

Based on the most recent statistics, almost 70,000 women will get diagnosed with colon cancer this year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now that the official day of moms is over, you can still give your mom something special - let her know how much she means to you and take the time to discuss her health.

Colon cancer risk factors are not that different amongst genders, so feel free to bring dad in the room for this discussion. Start a discussion by asking:

• Do we have a family history of cancer or genetic problems, such as Lynch Syndrome?
• When was your last colon cancer screening exam, such as a colonoscopy?
• Do you get exercise - and how often?
• Do you schedule routine check-ups with the family doctor?

Be persistent. There is a good chance that mom (or dad) won't want to talk to you about their health and screening. However, only you have the power to start these delicate conversations and possibly save a life in the process.

_{Image © Paul Hakimata}

When was your colon cancer screening exam? Chances are, if you are under 50 years of age, you may not have even had one yet. If you are over 50 years of age and have been avoiding these tests - that's a bad idea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• 53,219 people still die annually from colon cancer (as of the latest statistics)
• One-third of those deaths might have been prevented with screening
• The very early stages of colon cancer have no symptoms - only screening tests can detect the presence of early cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions

If you have a family history of cancer, genetic disease or bowel diseases, or if you are over the age of 50 (45 for African Americans), I strongly encourage you to read this:

• Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines

There's a downside to the myriad tests we have available today - some people don't even know where to start their screening. Your doctor will help you get started, but I have included some articles about the different methods we use for colon cancer screening exams here:

• Colonoscopy
• Virtual Colonoscopy
• Double Contrast Barium Enema
• Stool Testing
• Colon Biopsy
• Pet Scans

In the event that any one of these tests has suspicious findings, your doctor may encourage a colonoscopy (if you didn't have one yet) and a colon biopsy to verify the presence of cancer. If cancer is present, your doctor will need to order a few more tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to look for metastasis (spreading of cancer outside of your colon).

When in doubt, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you tailor a plan to keep your colon healthy!