GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER
The intestinal tract is prone to various kinds of tumors, many of which are malignant. Some tumors grow and spread slowly and cause a bowel blockage. Others may be hidden until they spread to other parts of the body, which often makes successful treatment difficult. In general, the symptoms include poor appetite, weight loss, bleeding from the bowel, nausea, vomiting, and a change in bowel habits. Often the symptoms are vague, and it may take a long time to discover the tumor. All the factors involved in the causes of gastrointestinal cancer are undetermined. Some families appear to have a tendency to develop tumors of the bowel, some of which eventually become malignant. People who have had ulcerative colitis (an inflammation of the colon and rectum) for many years appear to be more prone to large-bowel cancer than others.
Many claims have been made about dietary influences on intestinal malignancy. Some researchers believe that the small amount of roughage in Western diets is a major factor in the increased incidence of these tumors. Some claim that the large amounts of animal fats and of nitrosamines used in processed meats (bacon, salami, bologna, and so on) is responsible. And many reports attest to the belief that large doses of vitamin C or vitamin E decrease the likelihood of this cancer.
None of these assertions has been proven. A number of ongoing studies are trying to determine the relationships between diet, vitamins, and intestinal malignancy, but it will take some years before the results are available. In the meanwhile, it would probably be prudent to increase the amount of fiber in your diet and decrease the amount of dietary animal fat and of processed meats, which, in addition to nitrosamines, contain large amounts of salt. However, there is not enough conclusive evidence to merit the use of large doses of vitamin C or vitamin E.
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