Computer software designed to sharpen blurry images makes lower radiation doses possible for abdominal CT scanning, including CT colonography.so-called virtual colonoscopy.

The new technology may lessen fears of excessive radiation exposure during CT colonography screening and make it safer and more acceptable to patients.

In a study of CT colonography, using the software let radiologists cut the amount of radiation in half and still get images that were as good as those seen at full strength. Read the rest of this entry »

It doesn’t hurt to stop XELOX chemotherapy combined with Avastin after six treatments and continue with Avastin alone until colorectal cancer gets worse, according to a study reported at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

Many patients have to stop oxaliplatin chemotherapy with before getting its maximum effectiveness because of peripheral neuropathy — tingling, numbness, or pain in their hands and feet.  Xeloda® (capecitabine) can cause painful skin redness and cracking on the hands and feet or hand-foot syndrome, which can also affect time on chemotherapy.

Giving only six treatments of Avastin® (bevacizumab) plus XELOX chemotherapy and then stopping XELOX and using only Avastin until cancer progressed was as effective for the initial or first-line treatment of colorectal cancer as continuing XELOX.  XELOX combines Xeloda® (capecitabine) with oxaliplatin.

In addition, the strategy reduced both severe peripheral neuropathy and hand-foot syndrome.

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In disappointing news, adding the Hedgehog inhibitor GDC-0449 to standard chemotherapy failed to increase the time before advanced colorectal cancer got worse.

Researchers compared progression-free survival between patients who got either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI chemotherapy with Avastin and a group who got the same chemo regimen with GDC-0449. There was no difference Read the rest of this entry »

During meetings today with their Senators and Representatives, C3 advocates will be sharing their personal stories and urging Congress to make federal funding for cancer a top priority.

C3′s Grassroots Action Committee Chair Pam Seijo, Grassroots Action Committee Members Florence Kurttila, Arlene Murphy, and Ed Murphy, along with C3 advocates Patti Hollenback, Cindy Robinson, and Regan Weaver are all participating in the annual One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) Lobby Day.

Follow us on Twitter @FightCRCAdvocacy for the latest updates from the hill.

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Today, C3 advocates arrive in DC to participate in the annual One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) Lobby Day.  Follow us on Twitter @FightCRCAdvocacy for the latest updates from DC.

C3′s Grassroots Action Committee Chair Pam Seijo, Grassroots Action Committee Members Florence Kurttila, Arlene Murphy, and Ed Murphy, along with C3 advocates Patti Hollenback, Cindy Robinson, and Regan Weaver will be heading to Capitol Hill tomorrow to talk to Congress about the importance of increasing federal funding for cancer research and cancer control programs.

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