One of the most important fears after a cancer diagnosis is suffering during chemotherapy. But patients also are afraid that the cancer will cause suffering  from pain that can’t be treated. Almost all patients with cancer are most afraid of pain and controlling it.

It is so important that cancer patients and their caregivers know how to manage pain because patients in pain do not eat, do not drink do not exercise, and do not interact. One of the major misconception for pain control is that the patient will become addicted. Patients may want to save medicine for it when it gets really bad. It needs to be very clear that the best pain control is early intervention. When pain is developing is the time take a painkiller. Don’t wait til it reaches 10/10. Read the rest of this entry »

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C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition would like to thank Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) for their continued leadership on colorectal cancer issues in Congress. With the recent reintroduction of The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act (HR 1189), they have taken the initial steps needed to pass legislation that in the end has the potential to save thousands of lives. Read the rest of this entry »

For years I have worked closely with Selma Schimmel from the Group Room who provides a radio talk show on cancer every Sunday for two hours. Anyone interested can call in and ask their questions of experts.

Every Sunday a specific topic is discussed such as colon cancer, breast cancer, clinical trials etc. Next Sunday, March 1, the topics will be colon cancer and the issue of young adults with cancer since March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Broadcast times are  4-6pm ET, 3-5pm CT,1-3pm PT. Read the rest of this entry »

On Monday, the House Appropriations Committee released details on the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Included in this omnibus package is the FY 2009 Labor-HHS-Educations Appropriations bill. This appropriations bill contains funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, most Federal health and education programs are funded at their FY 2008 levels by a continuing resolution passed last year. Read the rest of this entry »

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a guide for patients to help them understand pain medicines and use them safely.

The guide includes information about over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pain medicine.  It includes some of the problems that can occur when acetaminophen, NSAIDS, or opiates are not used as directed.  Knowing the active ingredients in a pain reliever is important so that patients won’t use several different medicines with the same ingredient at the same time. Read the rest of this entry »