Computerized tomographic colonography (CTC), so-called virtual colonoscopy, proved accurate in locating colon polyps or cancers 10 millimeters or larger in a large study conducted in a number of community centers across the United States.  The x-ray-based test found 90 percent of l0 millimeter polyps identified by traditional colonoscopy, which uses a lighted tube inserted into the rectum to view the colon. Read the rest of this entry »

Premiums for Medicare Part B coverage for doctor visits and other outpatient costs will remain the same in 2009 as they are this year.  Participants will pay $96.40 each month.  The Part B deductible will also remain the same at $135. Read the rest of this entry »

A new study finds colorectal cancer patients with Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC) have better survival than patients without the inherited form of the disease.  Overall, 94 percent of Lynch syndrome patients were alive five years after their diagnosis compared to 75 percent of those with sporadic cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

When patients were retested five years after a negative colonoscopy, none had colon or rectal cancer and very few had a worrisome advanced polyp. Read the rest of this entry »

Massage from a trained massage therapist gave pain relief and raised moods for dying cancer patients immediately after each treatment.  However, the effects didn’t last over time.

Researchers compared the effects of simple touch to therapeutic massage for 380 patients in a hospice program.  Randomly, some patients received up to six 30-minutes massages over a three week period.  Other patients were simply touched briefly in ten different places on their body over three minutes.  Read the rest of this entry »