I’ve been reading about why red meat is associated with higher colon cancer risk. Initially it was thought it was because of the fat in the meat, but this has changed. It may due to protein.

Worldwide, red meat consumption in countries matches colon cancer incidence perfectly. Countries where people eat a lot of red meat such as US, Europe, and South America have the highest incidence. Countries like Japan, China, and the Far East, which have increased their intake of red meat with the westernization of diet, have the highest increase of colon cancer incidence. Japan, a country which used to have the lowest incidence of colon cancer, has now a higher incidence than the USA.  Japan has a dramatic shortage of oncologists to deal with the increasing number of cases. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite more resources in large cities, patients were more often diagnosed with cancer at a late stage in cities in Illinois compared to rural areas. Phone calls and personalized diet and exercise plans helped long-term cancer survivors lose weight and gain strength, and scientists have found changes in the blood of family caregivers that promote inflammation and may lead to illness.

In other headlines, both patients and doctors liked virtual, computer videoconferencing visits, and the FDA reports that shortages of fentanyl patches have been resolved. Read the rest of this entry »

The first genomic test to predict whether or not stage II colon cancer will recur has been developed and validated in a large number of tumor tissue samples from patients in the United States and the United Kingdom.  The 12 gene assay can reliably predict whether an individual patient has a low, intermediate, or high risk of having their cancer return.

Doctors and patients will be able to use the Recurrence Score, along with other clinical indicators, to decide whether further chemotherapy treatment after surgery should be considered or whether they can safely skip chemo and its risks.

However, the study was not able to link recurrence scores with benefits from 5-FU and leucovorin chemotherapy. Read the rest of this entry »

Only about five years ago, every patient of mine who finished chemotherapy was given a vitamin cocktail to further reduce colon cancer risk. It was calcium, selenium, vitamin E and folic acid.

Over the last three years, folic acid has been shown to increase growth of polyps, and in patients with metastatic disease  it may shorten life. The protective value of vitamin E has been questioned, and there was evidence that it might increase prostate cancer risk. Selenium did not show benefit. Read the rest of this entry »

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid issued a final National Coverage Decision on May 12, 2009 denying Medicare payments for CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) to screen for colorectal cancer.

Despite an overwhelming number of comments urging that CMS overturn their provisional determination not to cover the test, the agency remained unconvinced that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that CT colonography was appropriate to screen for colorectal cancer.

Almost 95 percent of 357 comments supported CT colonography screening, including comments from the American Cancer Society and C3:Colorectal Cancer Coalition.

Briefly,

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concludes the following:

The evidence is inadequate to conclude that CT colonography is an appropriate colorectal cancer screening test under § 1861(pp)(1) of the Social Security Act.  CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening remains noncovered.