Both the level of vitamin D in the blood and intake of vitamin D-rich foods decrease the risk of colorectal polyps in a number of studies.
Analyzing published studies of blood levels of vitamin D, researchers found a 30 percent decrease in the risk of adenomas among people with the most circulating vitamin D compared to those with the least. The highest vitamin D intake decreased adenomatous polyp risk by 11 percent. Read the rest of this entry »
When African Americans hear a positive message that emphasizes progress being made for blacks with colon cancer, they are much more likely to want to be screened. On the other hand, negative messages that talk about their poorer outcomes make them less willing to have screening tests.
Health communications researchers at St. Louis University asked 300 African-Americans to read one of four mock news articles about colorectal cancer, chosen randomly. Three messages were negative, emphasizing differences from whites. One focused on the progress that blacks were making surviving colorectal cancer.
Participants who read the positive article had more positive emotional reactions and more often said they wanted to be screened. The negative articles had the opposite effect. Read the rest of this entry »
With the addition of CT colonography (so-called virtual colonoscopy) to colorectal cancer screening guidelines, there is concern about whether or not to remove small polyps found during the CTC exam.
Large polyps are 10 millimeters or bigger, and doctors agree that people who have at least one large polyp discovered by CT colonography (CTC) should be referred for an optical colonoscopy to have them removed right away. However, it isn’t clear whether or not small polyps larger than 5 millimeters but not yet 10 millimeters need to be removed. Because most colorectal polyps develop slowly, it is enough to wait and repeat the CTC test in three years?
Using a decision model that analyzed key information about colorectal cancer risk and development, researchers found that when only small polyps are found, waiting to repeat the CTC in three years has the most benefit with the least risk and cost. Read the rest of this entry »
Lynch syndrome (also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer) greatly increases the risk for colon and rectal cancer. People with the gene have about an 8 in 10 chance of getting colon cancer during their lives. Because Lynch cancers develop quickly and grow rapidly, it’s important to monitor people who carry the genes closely with colonoscopy every year or two.
When doctors in four research centers immediately followed up Lynch syndrome patients after a regular colonoscopy with more intense colonoscopy scrutiny, they discovered they had missed more polyps than they found. During the first exam, their miss rate for adenomas, polyps with the greatest risk of developing into cancer, was 55 percent. Read the rest of this entry »
Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama has carved his name out in history by becoming the first ever African American President of the United States. Obama defeated his Republican opponent, Senator John McCain last night. He received more than 50 percent of the popular vote, a feat not accomplished by any other Democrat since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Read the rest of this entry »
