4/20/2021
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1. The seafarer's work must involve the risk described herein;
2. The disease was contracted as a result of the seafarer's exposure to the
described risks;
3. The disease was contracted within a period of exposure and under such
other factors necessary to contract it;
4. There was no notorious negligence on the part of the seafarer.
Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer or large bowel cancer, includes
cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. With 655,000 deaths
worldwide per year, it is the fifth most common form of cancer in the United
States of America and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the
Western World. Colorectal cancers arise from adenomatous polyps in the
colon. These mushroom-shaped growths are usually benign, but some
develop into cancer over time. Localized colon cancer is usually diagnosed
through colonoscopy.
Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of
the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps.
Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers. Benign polyps can
be easily removed during colonoscopy and are not life-threatening. If benign
polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant
(cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the large intestine are
believed to have developed as polyps. Colorectal cancer can invade and
damage adjacent tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away and
spread to other parts of the body (such as liver and lung) where new tumors
form. The spread of colon cancer to distant organs is called metastasis of
the colon cancer. Once metastasis has occurred in colorectal cancer, a
complete cure of the cancer is unlikely.
Globally, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in males and
the fourth leading cause of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal
cancer varies around the world. It is common in the Western world and is
rare in Asia and in Africa. In countries where the people have adopted
western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing.
Factors that increase a person's risk of colorectal cancer include high fat
intake, a family history of colorectal cancer and polyps, the presence of
polyps in the large intestine, and chronic ulcerative colitis.
Diets high in fat are believed to predispose humans to colorectal cancer. In
countries with high colorectal cancer rates, the fat intake by the population
is much higher than in countries with low cancer rates. It its believed that
the breakdown products of fat metabolism lead to the formation of cancercausing chemicals (carcinogens). Diets high in vegetables and high-fiber
foods may rid the bowel of these carcinogens and help reduce the risk of
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