Choosing the Best Colon Surgery for Lynch Syndrome

Removing the entire colon (subtotal colectomy) is sometimes recommended for patients with Lynch syndrome when colon cancer is diagnosed.  In addition, some people who have an inherited Lynch mutation have their colons removed to prevent colon cancer.

While subtotal colectomy didn’t reduce deaths from Lynch-related colon cancer, it did cut down on additional colorectal cancer diagnoses and the need for other abdominal surgery. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on February 5th, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: Lynch syndrome, subtotal colectomy, surgery

Get Ready to Get Your Rear in Gear

The first of this year’s Get Your Rear in Gear walks and runs to raise awareness of colorectal cancer is scheduled for February 28 in Lafayette, LA.

The day begins with a Kids Fun Run at 8:00 am, followed by a 5K timed run/walk at 8:30 Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on February 2nd, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer awareness

Funding for Cancer Research and Control Programs in the President’s FY 2011 Budget

The fiscal year 2011 budget process got underway today when President Obama sent Congress his budget proposal.  The President’s $3.8 trillion budget includes a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending in order to save about $250 billion over 10 years and start narrowing the $1.6 trillion gap between proposed budget outlays and tax receipts.  The freeze caps the overall level of spending so that some programs get increases (for example, cancer research at NIH and NCI receives a funding increase), while other programs (including some of the cancer control programs at the CDC) are cut.  The freeze comes on top of a proposal to eliminate, or scale back, 120 programs in order to save more than $20 billion.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the following statement of support,

“[u]nder this budget, we will provide the health and human services that Americans depend on more effectively, slashing waste and focusing programs on results.  And we’ll make many of the necessary investments our country has been putting off for years, including investments in fighting health care fraud, strengthening our public health infrastructure, and getting serious about health and wellness,” said Sebelius. “This budget is a big step toward a healthier, stronger America.” Continue reading…

Posted by Catherine Knowles on February 1st, 2010
Posted in: Policy & Advocacy News | No Comments »
Tags: Budget, FDA, NCI, NIH, President Obama

CDC Warns of Salmonella from Salami

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified more than 200 people who got sick with the Montevideo strain of salmonella from salami.

On January 23, 2010 the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that the Rhode Island company, Daniele International, was recalling over a million pounds of ready-to-eat Italian sausages, including salami.  The USDA FSIS lists the products being recalled. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on February 1st, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: CDC, recalls, USDA

Barriers and Facilitators for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Older People

Although Medicare pays for colorectal cancer screening, not all older people enrolled in Medicare are screened.

Reviewing published medical literature, a task group from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable found research identifying both barriers to screening and factors that made it easier.

The most frequently mentioned barrier related to healthcare providers was lack of a doctor’s recommendation.  Having a usual source of health care facilitated getting screened. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on February 1st, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer screening, Medicare