A study from Memorial Sloan Kettering recently showed that patients who have stage IV disease, which means spread to other organs, don’t need to undergo surgery immediately. If the tumor does not cause problems such as obstruction or bleeding, patients appear to do better to start with chemotherapy right away without delay because of the surgery. Read the rest of this entry »

ACG Annual Meeting 2009 Brief Reports

The American College of Gastroenterology held its Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego from October 23 – 28, 2009 in San Diego.  Research reported during the meeting included how videorecordings of colonoscopy improved quality tests, the effectiveness of a drug that reduces constipation from opiate drugs, and support for guidelines that call for screening colonoscopy beginning at age 40 for people with a family history of colorectal cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

For years we have known that alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors in developing colon cancer particular in women. This week an interesting article was published by Dr. Christopher Forsyth from Rush University Medical Center suggesting that if you have colon cancer and you drink alcohol that colon cancer may spread easier. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Regina Benjamin (AP Photo)

The  Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of Regina Benjamin, MD as Surgeon General of the United States on October 28, 2009.

Dr. Benjamin is the founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama, where she often provides care for the poor at no cost.

She has won a number of awards including a MacArthur Genius award, the Nelson Mandala Award for Health and Human Rights, and the 2000 National Caring Award which was inspired by Mother Teresa.

In 1995 she was elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees , the first physician under age 40 and the first African-American woman on the AMA Board.

Sgt. Joshua T. Rose and Iron (Photo by Tina Susman)

Briefly: Pancreatic cancer occurs in about on in five Lynch syndrome families, increasing risk for the cancer substantially.

Colorectal cancer patients whose tumors don’t have EGFR on immunohistochemical testing can still benefit from Erbitux treatment.

Patients learn more and like medical consultations better when doctors sit side-by-side with them to view tests.

Gastroenterologists deployed in Iraq are using their skills to help military working dogs. Read the rest of this entry »