Several Studies Show Evidence that Chewing Gum Helps After Colon Surgery

Five randomized studies have shown that chewing gum after colon surgery reduces the time it takes for patients to pass gas and have a bowel movement.

Patients in the studies chewed sugarless gum from 5 to 45 minutes, three times a day after surgery.  Control groups had similar surgeries but didn’t chew gum.

There was a trend toward leaving the hospital sooner, but the studies were too small to definitely show fewer hospital days for the gum chewers.

Still, the study authors wrote,

The potential cost savings from the reduction of even one postoperative day compared with the cost of several sticks of chewing gum are huge.

During intestinal surgery, the bowels stop moving contents forward, a situation known as ileus.  After surgery doctors listen for sounds in the bowel and wait for gas to pass through the rectum as signs that bowel activity is resuming.

Overall in the five studies, patients who chewed gum passed gas about half a day sooner and had their first bowel movement a day sooner.

The team concluded,

Chewing gum may enhance intestinal recoveryfollowing colectomy and reduce the length of hospital stay. Owing to the potential for substantial cost savings, larger-scale,blinded, randomized controlled trials with placebo arms are warranted.

Previously, C3 News has reported post-surgical gum chewing studies in California and Dallas and Pittsburgh.

More information about the overview of gum studies is on Medpage Today.

SOURCE: Purkayastha et al., Archives of Surgery, Volume 143, Number 8, August, 2008.

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 26th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: side effects, surgery

Two Different First-Line Irinotecan Treatments Have Similar Results

Spanish researchers have found that patients treated every week with Camptosar® (irinotecan, CPT-11) plus a high dose of  continuous infusion 5-FU (fluorouracil) without leucovorin had similar outcomes to those treated with the more common biweekly FOLFIRI treatment that includes leucovorin.  FOLFIRI is Camptosar, 5-FU, and leucovorin.  The new treatment is called FUIRI. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 26th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: metastatic colorectal cancer

FDA Approves Oral Aloxi to Prevent Chemo Nausea and Vomiting

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an oral formulation of Aloxi® (palonosetron) to prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.  A single 5 milligram capsule reduces the risk of nausea during the first 24 hours after chemotherapy and for up to five days afterwards.  The medicine is taken about an hour before chemotherapy starts. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 25th, 2008
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Tags: nausea, side effects

Language Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening

Latinos who responded to a health questionnaire in Spanish were significantly less likely to have been screened for colorectal cancer than Latinos who answered in English or English-speaking non-Latinos. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 25th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer prevention, disparities

Cross the Bridge to End Colorectal Cancer

The Colon Club says that Colorectal Cancer is a Big Dam Problem. They are inviting people to join the models from the 2009 Colondar on September 6th to cross the Big Dam Bridge between Little Rock and and North Little Rock to raise awareness of colorectal cancer in Arkansas.

The Colondar features young colon or rectal cancer survivors who show off their scars for the photographer.

• WHO: Anyone who has been touched by colorectal cancer
• WHAT: Colorectal Cancer: It’s A Big Dam Problem!
• WHERE: Big Dam Bridge (starting on Little Rock side)
• WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 9:00am
• WHY:To raise awareness about colorectal cancer in Arkansas Continue reading…

  Posted by Kate Murphy on August 24th, 2008
  Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 4 Comments »
  Tags: colorectal cancer events