PLWC: Live Chat on Coping with Cancer

*People Living with Cancer* will sponsor a live online chat wtih Lidia Schapira, MD on December 8, 2005 from 2 - 3 pm (EST).

[Dr. Shapiro](http://www.massgeneral.org/cancer/locator/search_clinician.asp?id=219) is a medical oncologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Topics to be covered during the chat include:

+ Seeking professional and community support
+ Coping with changes in relationships with family, friends, and co-workers
+ Coping with change: sexuality, body image, and self image
+ Coping with fear of recurrence
+ Coping differences among different ages and populations

To join the chat, go to People Living with Cancer 10 minutes before or anytime during the chat,
click the “JOIN NOW” link on the home page, and follow the instructions. PLWC
chats are free of charge, anonymous, and preregistration is not required.

*PLWC — People Living with Cancer* is the patient education website of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Posted by Kate Murphy on November 21st, 2005
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »

PLWC : Q&A: Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer

**People Living with Cancer** sponsors an *Ask the Experts* series where patients, caregivers, and friends can submit questions for answers in an online forum

November’s questions are about [complementary and alternative medicine and its role in cancer](http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructor/1,1744,_12-001079,00.asp). Experts answering questions are Patrick Mansky, MD and Barrie Cassileth, PhD. Dr. Mansky is a medical oncologist and researcher at the [National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine](http://nccam.nih.gov/). [Dr. Cassileth](http://www.mskcc.org/prg/mrg/bios/525.cfm) is Chief of Integrative Services at [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center](http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/1979.cfm) in New York.

Each week’s emailed questions are [posted and answered](http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructor/1,1744,_12-001175-00_14-00Transcripts-00_17-001029-00_18-0043025-00_19-0043026-00_20-001-00_21-008,00.asp)
online.

To ask a question email [PLWC](chats@plwc.org) and put *Question for PLWC Chat: CAM and Cancer* in the subject line.

[*People Living with Cancer*](http://www.plwc.org/plwc/Home/1,1743,_12-001029-00_21-008,00.html) is the patient information website of the American Society of Oncology (ASCO).

Posted by Kate Murphy on November 21st, 2005
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Oncologist survey stresses importance of caregivers for CRC patients over 65

A [Harris Interactive survey of oncologists](http://www.agingresearch.org/colon_cancer.cfm) found that colon cancer patients over 65 experience better outcomes when a caregiver is involved in their treatment. The physicians often depended on the caregiver in communicating with the patient. They saw the primary roles of the caregiver as providing emotional support, participating in doctor visits, helping with decisions about managing the disease, and transporting the patient to medical care.

Among the [key survey findings](http://www.agingresearch.org/brochures/coloncancer/KeySurveyFindings.pdf) were:

+ 6 out of 10 (62.9%) of colon cancer patients are 65 or older.
+ Only about 64% of patients over 65 have an involved caregiver.
+ 77% of oncologists agreed that patients had better outcomes when there was an involved caregiver due to increased communications.
+ 64% of interviewed oncologists strongly or somewhat agreed that older patients had a more difficult time managing their disease than younger ones.
+ 41% strongly or somewhat agreed that patients over 65 do not ask the most relevant questions about their disease and how to manage it.
+ 81% said that they depended on caregivers a great deal or somewhat to act as an intermediary between themselves and their patient.
+ 90% felt that the caregiver has a moderate to major impact on the decisions made in managing treatment
+ 92% of the time the caregiver is a spouse or partner.

One hundred percent of the interviewed oncologists perceived the caregiver as part of the team involved in managing the care of elderly patients. Almost all (97%) saw caregivers as allies.

Although 65% surveyed disagreed strongly or somewhat that patients over 65 can handle aggressive chemotherapy, 70% said that they take the patient’s age into consideration when recommending treatment.

The [Alliance for Aging Research](http://www.agingresearch.org/index.cfm) commissioned the online survey, conducted by [Harris Interactive](http://www.harrisinteractive.com/) from September 7-20, 2005. 104 oncologists, sampled and weighted to represent the oncologist population in the United States,were interviewed.

Based on the study, the Alliance for Aging Research has a [Tip Sheet](http://www.agingresearch.org/brochures/coloncancer/tipsheet.pdf) for patients and caregivers.

Additional information is available in a [news release](http://www.agingresearch.org/press/111405.html) from the Alliance for Aging Research.

Posted by Kate Murphy on November 19th, 2005
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »

Several studies confirm connection between colorectal cancer and diabetes

A [meta-analysis](http://jncicancerspectrum.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jnci%3b97/22/1679) of 15 published research studies on the potential link between colorectal cancer and diabetes found about a 30% increase in the risk for colorectal cancer in those people who had also been diagnosed with diabetes. More than a total of 2,500,000 people were included across all the studies.

There was no significant different in risk between men and women, between Europe or the United States, or between cancers in the colon or in the rectum.

Susanna C. Larsson and colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm reported their data in the November 16, 2005 issue of the [*Journal of the National Cancer Institute*](http://jncicancerspectrum.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jnci%3b97/22/1679). They concluded:

Our findings strongly support a relationship between diabetes and increased risk of colon and rectal cancer in both women and men.

For a discussion of the study read [an article in *Reuters Health*](http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-11-17T152520Z_01_FLE755450_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-COLONCANCER-DIABETES-DC.XML)

Posted by Kate Murphy on November 18th, 2005
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »

Understanding NCI series teleconference scheduled for December 16

A free NCI-sponsored teleconference will highlight the new clinical research center at the National Institutes of Health. Focused on the needs and interests of cancer survivors, family members, and advocates, the teleconference will feature Dr. John Gallin, Director of the NCI Clincal Center. Callers will have an opportunity to ask questions.

+ **Clinical Trials at NCI: The New Clinical Research Center at NIH – Patients are Our Partners and
Our Heroes**
+ *Featuring Dr. John Gallin, Director, NIH Clinical Center*
+ Friday, December 16, 2005
+ 1:00 p.m. (EST)
+ USA Toll-Free: 1-800-857-6584
+ Passcode: 4683#

Toll-Free Playback: 1-800-216-4418 until Jan. 16, 2006 at 11:30 p.m. (EST)

Toll-free playback of the current teleconference — *Why Advocates Should Care About Animal Models in Cancer Research: Mouse Models of Human
Cancers Consortium (MMHCC)* is now available until Dec. 9, 2005 at 11:30 p.m. (EST). Call 1-800-677-8851 to hear it.

The teleconferences are sponsored by the NCI Office of Liaison Activities. Download a [flyer](http://la.cancer.gov/generalflyer.pdf) describing the series.

Posted by Kate Murphy on November 17th, 2005
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »