Today there are more than 1 million survivors of colon and rectal cancer in the United States, probably 600,000 to 700,000 with no sign of cancer.
And we are grateful for their courage and persistence and for all the people that have made more cures and longer survival possible.
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship defines someone as a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life. Read the rest of this entry »
Although FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg announced a final decision on November 18 to drop breast cancer from the Avastin label, metastatic colorectal cancer continues to be an approved use.
The Avastin® (bevacizumab) label includes the following approved indication:
Metastatic colorectal cancer, with intravenous 5-fluorouracil–based chemotherapy for first- or second-line treatment.
It is important to know that there is currently no approval or evidence for using Avastin alone or in early stage colon or rectal cancer.
Cover model Erika Kratzer poses in the beautiful waters of Lake George, NY for the 2012 Colondar, just published by our friends over at the Colon Club.
Kratzer, an eleven year survivor of stage IV colon cancer, is joined by twelve new models this year, all of them baring their surgical scars to send a message of hope to young colon and rectal cancer patients.
You can order your Colondar online.
If you were diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the age of 50, you might be Mr. June or Ms. January in 2013.Email the Colon Club for an application.
In a small pilot study, Mozart in the background helped two endoscopists find more polyps during a colonoscopy.
One doctor’s adenoma detection rate (ADR) soared from 21% from before the study began to 68% while listening to music. With no Mozart he found polyps in about 30 of every 100 patients he examined. With music, his rate more than doubled to about 68 per 100.
A second endoscopist wasn’t moved as much by music. Before the study, his ADR was 27.16%; afterwards it was of 36.7% with music and 40.5% without the help of Herr Mozart. Unlike the first doctor, he was told the results of the study as it went along.
Just being in the study and knowing their ADRs were being recorded boosted the rates for both gastroenterologists. Read the rest of this entry »
Richard Goldberg, M.D., a specialist in colorectal cancer, is now physician-in-chief at the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center and James Cancer Hospital.
In his new position, Dr. Goldberg will help lead the transition to the new twenty story James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, which will expand services to cancer patients and integrate cancer research and clinical care. Read the rest of this entry »
