Cancer Research Journal » Anal Cancer

Sexy Survivors Raise Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Lisa — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:45:18 +0000

The Colon Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York, has announced the release of The 2009 Colondar.

This year’s fifth anniversary edition of The Colondar features beautiful photographs of 13 vibrant male and female colorectal cancer survivors who were all diagnosed under the age of 50. The models bravely volunteer to share their stories and bare their surgical scars to encourage colonoscopies and to raise awareness that colon and rectal cancers can strike anyone at any age.

Throwing all journalistic objectivity aside, I have to tell you I’m a BIG fan of this calendar. While feeling tired, bewildered and more than a little ugly after my own cancer surgery a few years ago, I stumbled across an earlier edition of The Colondar. The striking pictures of these courageous survivors offered me hope that I would soon recover from my cancer and return to a wonderful life.

The 2009 Colondar from The Colon Club

The 2009 Colondars are available from The Colon Club for $16.50 each with shipping included.

Consider getting a couple extras to give as gifts too. In addition to helping friends keep track of busy schedules, they’ll remind people to get screened, encourage cancer survivors throughout the year, and they’ll add something interesting and beautiful to bare office walls — my oncology nurse loved his!

(Click here to order a 2009 Colondar from The Colon Club.)

Note to readers outside the United States: The Colon Club’s web site does not process online international orders. If you’d like to purchase a copy to be mailed overseas, please e-mail them at Info@colondar.com.

The Colon Club is also looking for more survivors to appear in their 2010 Colondar. If you’re interested, please let them know as soon as possible.

Source: Colorectal Cancer Coalition

Technorati Tags: cancer prevention; cancer support groups; oncology; cancer outreach

Anal Cancer Survivor is Fertile Again After Ovarian Implants

Lisa — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:48:59 +0000

German physicians have successfully used ovarian tissue implants to restore fertility to a 32-year-old cancer survivor who lost her ability to get pregnant after receiving treatments for anal cancer.

Knowing the tumor’s close proximity to reproductive organs increased the possibility of infertility, doctors at Erlangen University Hospital removed healthy ovarian tissue from the young woman before she began chemotherapy and radiation treatments in 2004.

The patient successfully conquered her cancer, but was left without menstrual cycles for two years. After hormone treatments failed to return the woman’s periods, Erlangen’s doctors re-inserted her own preserved ovarian tissue through her pelvis using an endoscopic procedure.

While the patient is not pregnant yet, menstruation has resumed and the doctors are publishing the information so more cancer patients and oncologists can learn about the technique.

If you’d like to read more, the case is published in the 2008 online edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.

Source: ScienceDaily

New Colorectal Cancer Guidelines Focus on Prevention

Lisa — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:38:45 +0000

Representatives from five major US cancer care groups have collaborated to create new colorectal cancer screening guidelines designed to detect precancerous adenomas and malignant tumors in patients showing no symptoms.

The American Cancer Society, the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American College of Radiology weighed the potential risks and benefits of each procedure before reaching a consensus on the new recommendations.

After studying recent findings and dividing existing screening tests into two categories (one which screens for both adenomatous polyps and cancer and another that detects cancer alone), the experts added two tests for asymptomatic men and women at average risk: Stool DNA and CT Colonography or CTC, often referred to as virtual colonoscopy.

Members of the expert panel said their primary goal in rewriting the guidelines was to emphasize cancer prevention. As one gastroenterologist stated,

“What distinguishes these new guidelines is an emphasis on the importance and value of preventing colorectal cancer…”

Amy E. Foxx-Orenstein, DO, FACG
President, American College of Gastroenterology

The team also stressed that less invasive screening methods like CTC and fecal tests have their limitations and must be repeated regularly to be effective so doctors and patients need to consider their options carefully.

If you’d like more information about the new recommendations, they’ve been published in the March 5, 2008, edition of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Gastroenterology, and Radiology.

Source: C3 Colorectal Cancer Coalition

Related Links: MSN; ScienceDaily; Los Angeles Times; ACS

Technorati Tags: flexible sigmoidoscopy; US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Bernard Levin, MD; oncology

Rochester Recommends Earlier Colonoscopies for Smokers

Lisa — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:58:03 +0000

A study of 3,450 colorectal cancer patients conducted by the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests smokers should start getting screened for colon cancer 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts.

The American Cancer Society and other cancer experts currently recommend most people begin getting colonoscopies at age 50. However, Rochester’s investigation indicates age 50 may be too late for individuals who smoked more than a pack a day, especially if they started smoking cigarettes in their early teens.

Rochester’s examination of colon cancer cases spanning 40 years revealed cigarette smokers were diagnosed 6.8 years younger than their non-smoker counterparts and former smokers who quit less than five years before were diagnosed 4.3 years younger.

Their study also showed passive exposure to secondhand smoke combined with active smoking resulted in a colon cancer diagnosis nearly 10 years sooner.

While passive exposure to smoke has already been scientifically linked to an increased risk of other forms of cancer, Rochester’s research is one of the first published studies linking secondhand smoke to colon cancer.

The study’s lead author believes this new evidence will help physicians and patients make better choices about when to test for colon cancer. As he explained,

“The message is clear: When making decisions about colon cancer screening you should take into account smoking history as well as family history of disease and age.”

Luke J. Peppone, PhD
James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester

If you’d like to read more about Rochester’s research, their work is published in the online edition of the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology.

Sources: URMC Office of Corporate Alliances and Medical News Today

Related Links: Science Daily; MedicineWorld.org

Tags: Roswell Park Cancer Institute; New York; oncology; polyps; cancer prevention; epidemiology

Europe OKs Oral Chemo for Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Lisa — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:25:03 +0000

Patients being treated for metastatic colorectal cancer in Europe just got a new treatment option.

Capecitabine, which is marketed by Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Roche under the trade name Xeloda, has been approved by the European Commission for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

European health officials approved the oral tablets for use in combination with any chemotherapy in all lines of treatment, with or without Avastin®, based on studies showing it produced approximately the same survival rates and level of safety as standard intravenous 5FU chemotherapies currently in use.

Oncologists are optimistic the drug will provide a valuable treatment alternative for thousands of patients in Europe who are diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer every year. As one explained,

“Until now, Xeloda has been available to only a few colorectal cancer patients. But several studies have now shown that almost all patients with colorectal cancer that has spread can benefit from Xeloda at any time and in combination with any chemotherapy treatment. It is a highly effective oral chemotherapy that reduces hospital treatment time by 160 hours compared to the old standard chemotherapy, allowing patients to live as normal a life as possible.”

Professor Jim Cassidy
Cancer Research UK and Chair of Medical Oncology
Beatson Oncology Centre, University of Glasgow

The most commonly reported side effects of Xeloda are diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, stomatitis and hand-foot syndrome.

This latest action adds to growing list of Xeloda-related approvals impacting cancer patients and professionals in more than 100 countries. South Korea has already licensed the drug as a first-line treatment for stomach cancer and for metastatic pancreatic cancer in combination with gemcitabine. In Japan, the treatment is licensed for advanced breast cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration approved capecitabine for adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of colon cancer in June 2005.

If you’d like to learn more about treatment options available to colorectal cancer patients in the US, you can visit the National Cancer Institute’s Colon and Rectal Cancer page.

Sources: Reuters and Medical News Today

Technorati Tags: XELOX; palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia; pharmacodynamics; Centre for Oncology and Applied Pharmacology

Aetna Ends Coverage for Anesthetic Used in Colonoscopies

Lisa — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:09:53 +0000

Effective April 1, 2008, Aetna (NYSE: AET) will no longer cover an anesthetic commonly used during colonoscopies, a diagnostic tool used to detect colorectal cancer. Similar exclusions have already been implemented by WellPoint (NYSE: WLP) and Humana (NYSE: HUM).

The drug propofol, marketed under the trade name Diprivan, is used to thoroughly sedate patients so they won’t experience pain or discomfort during the procedure. Because a qualified anesthesiologist must be present to administer propofol, the drug typically adds about $400 to a colonoscopy’s total cost.

Several less expensive alternatives to propofol are already in use, but their effects can take hours longer to wear off meaning a longer recovery time for patients.

Doctors are expressing different ideas about what impact the coverage change will have on patient care. As their statements demonstrate, some believe it is a prudent cost-cutting measure while others are concerned the insurance companies overstepped their boundaries when they labeled the drug “medically unnecessary” for colonoscopies.

“Since this does not affect the great majority of patients who are having this done – painlessly and without recollection for the procedure I might add – this is not a bad thing as long as they cover it for the select few who need it. The money saved could be used to screen more individuals.”

Donald David, MD, FACG
Director of Gastroenterology
City of Hope National Medical Center

“I have had two colonoscopies, one with the usual moderate sedation. I was hung over for four to six hours afterward. The second was with propofol, and I was awake and fully aware within 15 minutes and went shopping with my wife right after we left the facility. That is the entire difference.”

Dr David Posner
Chief of Gastroenterology
Mercy Medical Center

Source: ABC News

Related Links: chicagotribune.com; Medicare

Virtual Colonoscopy Could Encourage More Screening

Lisa — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:05:45 +0000

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison is reporting results of a study showing virtual colonoscopies are just as effective as traditional colonoscopies at detecting potentially cancerous growths.

CT Colonography (commonly referred to as virtual colonoscopy, VC, or CTC) uses CT imaging and computers to create a 3D view of the colon after it has been inflated with air. No recovery time is necessary because sedation isn’t required.

The good news is the virtual screening is quicker, less expensive and less invasive. The bad news is patients still have to purge their bowel with laxatives before the procedure, they are exposed to a low dose of radiation and, if polyps are found, they’ll need a conventional colonoscopy to remove them.

Studies showed over 90% of patients didn’t require the traditional procedure after having the virtual version. Proponents of VC hope it will help encourage individuals who are hesitant about undergoing a colonoscopy to get screened.

Statistics indicate only half the Americans who should be screened for colon cancer actually get tested resulting in thousands of preventable deaths each year.

Results from the VC research are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Source: USA Today

American Indians Hold Summit On Colorectal Cancer

Lisa — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:44:15 +0000

According to the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System, American Indians face a 60 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer and are significantly more likely to die of the disease than their non-Indian counterparts. And while colorectal cancer rates have been falling in other populations, rates among American Indians have continued to rise.

Tribal leaders and medical professionals met earlier this month to see what can be done to correct that disparity.

Experts from the American Cancer Society, the Minnesota Department of Health, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic worked with urban and tribal elders from Native American communities to conduct the summit. The group’s Dialogue for Action established goals to increase community-based education about the disease, promote screening programs, and develop strategies for removing the financial and cultural barriers to treatment.

The event included a traditional drum ceremony and an inspirational speech by Vivian Lawrence of the Red Lake Tribe, a seven-year colorectal cancer survivor. Participants rated the collaboration a big success. As one doctor said,

“By working between tribes to ensure the wellness of our communities, we strengthen the future of our people.”

Lana White King, MD
Health Director, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Source: University of Minnesota Cancer Center

Related Video: High Tech Colon Screening from FOX News

Related Podcast: Sen Dorgan Speaks on the Need to Improve Indian Healthcare on the U.S. Senate Floor from the United States Senate

Tags: David Perdue, MD, MSPH; Minnesota Cancer Alliance; Grand Casino Mille Lacs; Chickasaw Nation; colonoscopy; Marva Bohen, RN; DeAnn Lazovich, PhD; tribal resolutions; Dr Manny

10.7M Grant Goes to Carolina’s Colon Cancer Team

Lisa — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:10:35 +0000

Researchers at the University of South Carolina have received a five-year, $10.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue studying colon cancer.

The sizable grant will be used to fund comprehensive studies focused on finding causes, prevention methods, and effective treatments for colorectal cancer at the university’s Center for Colon Cancer Research (CCCR).

The CCCR, directed by Dr Frank Berger, was established in 2002 with an earlier $11.2 million grant from the NIH. As Dr Berger explained when announcing the recent grant,

“This award is significant because it brings together scientists from disciplines as varied as biology, pharmacy, public health and medicine to solve the mysteries of a cancer that kills far too many people in our state and nation.”

Statistics from the American Cancer Society place colorectal cancer as the third most common cancer among men and women and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Approximately 2,400 cases of the deadly disease are diagnosed in South Carolina each year.

Source: University of South Carolina News

Related Links: TheState.com; scnow.com; CRMagazine.org

Related Video: Dr Berger Discusses Grant from USC Headlines

Tags: South Carolina Cancer Alliance; Palmetto Health; bowel cancer; Dr Paul Engstrom; Dr Leonard Saltz; anal cancer

New York-Presbyterian Hospital Provides Webcasts on Colorectal Cancer Treatment Methods

Lisa — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 21:37:06 +0000

If you want to know more about colorectal cancer therapies, and aren’t squeamish, then this newly released webcast of distinguished physicians discussing innovative treatment options might be for you.

The information is presented from both the medical and surgical perspectives and is accompanied by footage of actual surgeries.

Source: New York-Presbyterian Hospital