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Colon Cancer Expert Cautions Against Common Bathroom Products
A prominent colorectal surgeon has publicly advised against the use of everyday bathroom items she believes are linked to an elevated risk of colon cancer. Dr. Karen Zaghiyan, a Los Angeles-based physician, shared on Instagram that mouthwash and wet wipes are products notably absent from her household, citing research connecting them to potential health concerns, including bowel cancer risks.
Mouthwash: Disrupting Oral Microbiome
In a video shared with her substantial social media following, Dr. Zaghiyan detailed how recent scientific investigations suggest a correlation between regular mouthwash usage and an increased likelihood of developing the disease. She elaborated that “mouthwash can trigger an imbalance in the oral microbiome, potentially leading to disruptions in gut bacteria.”
Research Links Oral Bacteria Imbalance to Bowel Cancer
A recent study conducted by Spanish researchers indicated that the absence of specific bacteria in the mouth, possibly due to mouthwash eliminating these microbes, was associated with a heightened risk of colorectal cancer. This suggests that maintaining a balanced oral microbiome is crucial for overall gut health and potentially for reducing cancer risks.
Wet Wipes: A Cause for Skin Irritation and Potential Cancer Risk
The second household product flagged by the surgeon is wet wipes. Dr. Zaghiyan stated emphatically, “You will never find wet wipes in my shopping cart.” She explained that many of her patients present with perianal dermatitis and skin irritations linked to the use of wet wipes. “Personally, I avoid them for myself and my children, opting instead for water or a bidet whenever possible,” she added.
Excess Moisture and Bacterial Growth
Perianal dermatitis, characterized by rashes and skin changes around the anus, can be exacerbated by the excessive moisture left by wet wipes. Health experts caution that this lingering dampness, if not properly dried, can foster bacterial proliferation. Such bacterial growth has been implicated as a contributing factor in the development of colorectal cancer.
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Rising Bowel Cancer Rates in Younger Adults
This warning from Dr. Zaghiyan emerges against the backdrop of a concerning global trend: a notable increase in bowel cancer cases among younger adults. Bowel cancer, also known as colon cancer, sees approximately 44,100 new diagnoses annually in the UK. Alarmingly, around 2,600 of these cases are in individuals aged 25 to 49.
Increased Risk for Younger Generations
Studies reveal a stark reality: individuals born in 1990, now in their mid-30s, face nearly 2.5 times greater risk of developing bowel cancer compared to those born in 1950. Between the early 1990s and 2018, the UK witnessed a 22 percent surge in bowel cancer diagnoses among adults aged 25 to 49. This represents one of the most substantial increases among high-income nations.
Projected Increase in Bowel Cancer Cases and Mortality
Projections indicate a grim future, with analyses suggesting a potential rise in bowel cancer deaths in the UK by 2,500 per year between now and 2040. Concurrently, the overall number of people diagnosed with the disease in the UK is expected to increase by roughly ten percent within the same timeframe.
Exploring Potential Causes: Accelerated Aging and Ultra-Processed Foods
The medical community remains perplexed by this upward trend, particularly the surge in cases affecting individuals under 50. Experts are actively investigating contributing factors.
Accelerated Aging Theory
Late last year, researchers from the University of Miami put forward a novel theory: “accelerated aging” in younger populations might partially explain the rise in early-onset bowel cancers. Writing in Cancer Prevention Research, the scientists defined “accelerated aging” as a condition where a person’s body is physiologically older than their chronological age.
“Accelerated aging” signifies a state where an individual’s biological age surpasses their actual years. The research indicated that each year of accelerated aging correlated with a 16 percent increase in the risk of developing polyps, precancerous growths that can evolve into cancer.
Factors contributing to accelerated aging are believed to be a combination of lifestyle choices—diet, exercise habits—and unavoidable environmental exposures to chemicals present in food, clothing, and air.
Ultra-Processed Foods Link
Furthermore, an expanding body of research increasingly points to ultra-processed foods (UPF) and the global population’s growing consumption thereof, as a significant culprit. A Singaporean study discovered that methylglyoxal, a compound generated during the breakdown of sugary and fatty foods, interfered with a gene responsible for tumor suppression.
Another study from 2023 published in Clinical Nutrition established a “consistent and significant association between UPF intake and the risk of overall cancer, including bowel cancer and various other forms of the disease.”
Bowel Cancer Statistics and Symptoms
Bowel cancer currently claims nearly 17,000 lives annually in Britain. Sadly, only half of those diagnosed are expected to survive for ten years post-diagnosis.
Symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
- Rectal bleeding or blood in stools
- Abdominal pain
- A palpable lump in the abdomen
- Bloating
- Unexplained fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
Individuals experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or longer are advised to seek medical consultation from their general practitioner for prompt evaluation and guidance.