How Do You Like Your Cocktail?

Most of us love cocktails. . .Manhattan, gin and tonic etc. We know, depending on what we use and how they are mixed, they may taste different.

Well, for the treatment of colon cancer patients we have different cocktails to choose from such as FOLFOX and FOLFIRI. Both are combinations of 5-FU and leucovorin and either irinotecan or oxaliplatin. Both regimens have similar efficacy and similar extent of side effects, with oxaliplatin having more neurotoxicity and irinotecan more diarrhea.

However, depending how you mix and deliver the three drugs you may have significant differences in toxicity. It is amazing what differences exist among oncologists in how they mix up their chemotherapeutic cocktails. Not only the doses but also the timing of administration can differ dramatically, which can result in differences in toxicities for patients.

Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on January 30th, 2009
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 8 Comments »
Tags: chemotherapy, Treating Colorectal Cancer

This Week’s Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: January 30

This week’s reports include information about mismatch repair genes in stage IV colorectal cancer, colon surgery complications for very obese patients, and the impact of computerization on hospital outcomes.

In addition, there are links to the Surgeon General’s new Family Health Portrait and a report from Families USA on health care insurance costs for laid off workers. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on January 30th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: health care costs, Insurance, weekly briefs

Update – House Passes Economic Stimulus

The House of Representatives passed the Economic Stimulus Package last evening. The bill was approved by a vote of 244 to 188, with no Republicans voting in favor of it. Continue reading…

Posted by Joe Arite on January 29th, 2009
Posted in: Policy & Advocacy News | No Comments »
Tags: Appropriations, Stimulus

FDA Expands Recalls to All Peanuts and Peanut Products from Blakely GA Plant

The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the recall of peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America’s plant in Blakely GA after inspectors identified additional strains of Salmonella at the facility along with poor sanitation practices.

The plant provides peanut butter and peanut paste to more than 70 food companies that manufacturer a wide variety of products from cookies to ice cream to dog food.  Hundreds of products have been voluntarily recalled by those companies.  So far, there is no evidence that any retail peanut butter is contaminated.  The Centers for Disease Control has not had reports of Salmonella infection from strains other than Typhimurium. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on January 29th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: FDA, peanut butter, salmonella

Stimulus Bill Up for Vote in the House

The economic stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 598), is set to be voted on in the House of Representatives tonight. Democratic leaders would like to have the bill on the desk of President Obama, ready for a signature, by mid February. Continue reading…

Posted by Joe Arite on January 28th, 2009
Posted in: Policy & Advocacy News | No Comments »
Tags: Appropriations, Stimulus