The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has updated their Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Colon Cancer to include testing tumors from patients with metastatic colon cancer for the KRAS gene.  The Guidelines also now say that cetuximab (Erbitux®) and panitumumab (Vectibix™) should only be given to patients whose tumors have normal (wild-type) KRAS. Read the rest of this entry »

Carbohydrate Sources of Acrylamide

Acrylamide is produced when carbohydrate-rich foods are cooked at high temperatures.  Foods like french fries, potato chips, cakes, and even coffee contain high levels of acrylamide.  It has been classified as a “probable” carcinogen based on animal studies where cancer resulted from very high doses.  However, human studies have not always produced clear answers.

Epidemiologists in The Netherlands had people fill out food questionnaires based on common Dutch foods that contained acrylamide.  Thirteen years later, they found no increase in the number of colorectal or other gastrointestinal cancer  in those people who ate foods with high amounts of acrylamide. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Edith Mitchell, specialist in gastrointestinal oncology at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, has been given the Tree of Life Award from the Wellness of You, a Philadelphia nonprofit providing health education and resources.

The award honors health professionals who are committed to making a difference in community health. Read the rest of this entry »

Cancer patients are often very tired, a bone-weary fatigue that doesn’t get better with rest.  Fatigue is the most common complaint from patients during chemotherapy.  However, a recent study found that one in four patients are already severely fatigued before treatment ever begins.

Severe fatigue was most common in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, where almost one in three were fatigued at diagnosis. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have a secret yen to be a moviemaker?  Star in your own video?  Help people learn that screening saves lives?

End Colon Cancer Now. Org at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is looking for a short creative videos to spread the colorectal cancer screening message.  The top video in the Get Screened Contest will win $2,500. Read the rest of this entry »