Natural Remedies Help Prevent Recurrence of Colon Cancer.

Alternative and conventional doctors are often like Democrats and Republicans-they can't seem to agree on anything. But whether they use chemotherapy or vitamin C, doctors who treat cancer patients seldom disagree about the best treatment for almost all of the nearly 96,000 Americans who are diagnosed each year with cancer of the colon.
Cut out the cancer.

"It is universally accepted that early surgery is the most effective treatment for most new cases of colon cancer," says Ralph Moss, Ph.D., of New York City, who is director of "The Moss Reports," a series of comprehensive guides to cancer treatment.
What should happen after the surgery is another story, however. Most conventional doctors favor some combination of radiation and chemotherapy. Alternative practitioners say, however, that to help prevent a recurrence of the disease, it is important to change the environment of the colon itself.

YOGURT: Regenerate Your Colon
The colon, the large segment of the digestive tract where waste is readied for disposal, is the area of the body most exposed to cancer causing substances, says Patrick Quillin, RD., Ph.D., director of nutrition for Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Digesting the typical American diet-low in fiber, high in fat, loaded with sugar-generates so many free radicals, a type of carcinogenic molecule, that it is as if the colon were being x-rayed twice every day," he says.

Fortunately, the colon has a natural defense against free radicals: its own "friendly" bacteria, which create a chemical environment in the colon that doesn't support tumor growth. "Establishing healthy bacteria in the colon is critical for preventing a recurrence of colon cancer," says Dr. Quillin. The best and simplest way to do that, he says, is to eat the friendly bacteria that turn milk into yogurt.
Dr. Quillin says to eat _ cup of plain, unflavored yogurt every day.
Look for a brand with "active" or "live" cultures, which means that it contains the necessary bacteria.

COLOSTRUM: Immune-Stimulating Mother's Milk
Colostrum, a milk-like substance that female mammals produce soon after giving birth, is full of potent, immune-stimulating factors that jump-start a newborn's immune system. It is also thought that it can help a person with colon cancer fight off a recurrence of the disease, says Robert Rountree, MD., cofounder of the Helios Health Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Find a concentrated, purified, nonallergenic form of bovine (cow) colostrum and follow the dosage recommendations on the label, Dr. Rountree says. It's safe to take this indefinitely.

BROMELAIN: An Anti-Cancer Enzyme
Pineapples are rich in the digestive enzyme bromelain, which may help break down a tumor's protein coating, thus allowing immune cells to attack the cancer. "I believe enzyme therapy is very helpful in either preventing the recurrence of or controlling the growth of a colon tumor," says James Forsythe, MD., medical director of the Cancer Care Center in Reno. He recommends taking bromelain supplements, following the dosage recommendations on the label. It's safe to take the supplements indefinitely.

ANTIOXIDANTS: The Right Combination
Antioxidant vitamins and minerals fight the formation of cancer causing free radicals. They help strengthen the immune system, and they can armor your body against stress, which is a must when coping with cancer. Specific antioxidants, like beta-carotene, help heal the lining of the digestive tract, where colon cancer takes root.

Dr. Forsythe recommends the following combination of supplements. It's safe to take these indefinitely.

. Selenium: 200 micrograms daily
. Zinc: 50 milligrams daily
. Vitamin E: 400 international units twice a day
. Vitamin C: 1,000 milligrams four times a day
. Beta-carotene: 30 milligrams daily

HERBS: These Four Fight Colon Cancer
The following herbal supplements are thought to be most effective at combating colon cancer. Remember, though, to take them only with the approval and supervision of your doctor, says Dr. Quillin. . Echinacea. In one European study, echinacea slowed tumor growth and increased survival time in some patients with inoperable colon cancer. Take a daily dose of 80 milligrams. . Ginkgo. This herb may help by improving circulation to the colon, limiting one of the cellular fuels that powers the spread of a tumor, and strengthening the immune system. Dr. Quillin recommends 40 milligrams daily of a ginkgo product with 24 percent heterosides.

. Astragalus. To help prevent weight loss during chemotherapy, strengthen the immune system, and stop the spread of tumors, Dr. Quillin advises colon cancer patients to take 200 milligrams a day.
. Cat's claw. It helps friendly, anti-cancer bacteria thrive in the colon. Take 250 milligrams a day, says Dr. Quillin.

How To Prevent Colon Cancer.
Most cases of colon cancer are caused by a tumor-promoting lifestyle, says Dan Labriola, N.D., a naturopathic physician in Seattle. That makes it one of the easiest cancers to prevent. Here's how.

• Eat a high-fiber diet to hustle carcinogens through your colon before they have a chance to do any harm. Beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are the best sources of fiber. How do you know if you're getting enough? "You should have at least one significant bowel movement every day;' Dr. Labriola says.
• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration stalls stool in your colon, possibly exposing you to more carcinogens. You're drinking enough if you have to urinate every 2 to 3 hours, says Dr. Labriola.
• Avoid red meat, since a high intake of beef, pork, Iamb, and other red meats has been linked to colon cancer. A small piece of red meat (about the size of a deck of cards) once or twice a week should be your limit, Dr. Labriola says.
• Go easy on alcohol. Studies show that the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to develop colon cancer. Limit yourself to a drink or two a week.
• Get enough calcium and magnesium, minerals that help protect the colon from carcinogens, Dr. Labriola says. Take a calcium-magnesium min. oral supplement, following the dosage recommendations on the label, he says.