Radioactive Microspheres Help Keep Colorectal Cancer in Check

When radioactive beads are injected into the artery feeding the livers of colorectal cancer patients, the time before liver tumors get worse increases, as well as the time to overall cancer progression in the body.

In a process called radioembolization, resin beads loaded with yttrium-90, a radioactive isotope, are injected directly to the  large artery leading to the liver (hepatic artery).  They travel to the tiny blood vessels around liver tumors and emit radiation for about 14 days.

Because tumors receive their blood supply primarily through the hepatic artery while healthy liver receives blood through the portal vein, healthy liver tissue is spared radiation.

The yttrium-90 radioembolization treatment is known as selective internal radiation therapy(SIRT) or SIR-Spheres. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 12th, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: radioembolization, SIR-Spheres, SIRT, yttrium-90

Listen to the Judge!

Judge Judy talks straight at viewers in a video produced by the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA).

Watch it — and tell your friends to listen to the Judge.

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 5th, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer awareness, NCCRA

Colorectal Cancer and Meat — What’s the Connection?

Are those steaks and hot dogs bad for you?

Several studies have found a connection between eating red and processed meat and colorectal cancer.  But the reason for that connection hasn’t been clear.

To answer the question, researchers collected detailed information about the type of meat eaten by a large group of over 300,000 men and women and how the meat was  cooked. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 5th, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 2 Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer prevention, colorectal cancer risk, processed meat, red meat

Annual Fecal Occult Blood Test Cost-Effective Screening Option

What’s the best way to get large groups of people screened for colorectal cancer?

Surprisingly it may not be colonoscopy but fecal occult blood testing (FOBT).

A computer model has found annual home testing with a  fecal occult  blood test, either Hemoccult II® or Hemoccult SENSA®,  is more cost-effective than colonoscopy every 10 years to screen people of average risk for colorectal cancer.

The model compared the number of life years saved under several scenarios of costs and  compliance with annual testing and follow-up colonoscopies after positive guaiac tests.  For the same fixed budget, more people could be screened with an FOBT and more life years saved. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 2nd, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: fecal occult testing, FOBT, screening

Miracle Mineral Solution Can Cause Serious Harm

The FDA has warned the public that Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) makes  a dangerous, industrial strength bleach when mixed as directed and can cause serious health problems.

High oral doses of this bleach, such as those recommended in the labeling, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration.

FDA recommends

Consumers who have MMS should stop using it immediately and throw it away. The FDA advises consumers who have experienced any negative side effects from MMS to consult a health care professional as soon as possible. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 2nd, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: FDA, Medwatch, Miracle Mineral Solution