Independence Day

Celebrate today!

Wherever you are in this tough journey that is cancer, I hope you can take some time out to watch fireworks or listen to bands or eat a hot dog and just have fun.

July is a special month of celebration for me, and it is even more so this year.  Twenty-five years ago I was first diagnosed with colon cancer.  Those were the days of surgery and not much else.  5FU could add some time, but mostly we had to depend on the surgeon’s skill and hope the tumor hadn’t spread too far. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 4th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: Kate's Thoughts

Get Patient-friendly GI News

Digestive Health SmartBrief provides timely information about gastrointestinal problems, including colon and rectal cancer, for consumers.  Sponsored by the American College of Gastroenterology, it includes medically accurate tips for daily life for people with a wide range of GI issues.

You can sign up for a free weekly newsletter delivered to your email each Wednesday.  If you include the name of your gastroenterologist, contact information for that doctor will be included in your e-newsletter.  However, it is not necessary to do so.

You can read a sample issue here.

The HealthBrief does contain advertising.

The American College of Gastroenterology also provides patient information on its website, including where to find a gastroenterologist and a fact sheet on colon cancer.

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 3rd, 2008
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Tags: colorectal cancer prevention

KRAS Mutation Status Predicts Response to Erbitux in Canadian Study

Another study has shown that colon or rectal cancer patients whose tumors have mutated KRAS don’t benefit from Erbitux® (cetuximab).  However, in the study when only patients with normal or wild-type KRAS were considered, survival time almost doubled after treatment with Erbitux began.

The National Cancer Institute of Canada sponsored a randomized trial (NCIC CTC C0.17) to compare Erbitux to the best supportive care for patients whose colorectal cancer had gotten worse on existing standard treatments that included 5FU, Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) and Camptosar® (irinotecan).  Trial results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine last fall, showing a survival benefit for Erbitux treated patients.  Based on that study, the FDA approved a labeling change for Erbitux to reflect improved survival.

The new analysis, reported at the World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona showed that KRAS status predicted benefit from Erbitux. Median survival for patients with wild-type or normal KRAS was 9.5 months when they received Erbitux compared to 4.8 months for best supportive care alone. Patients with mutated KRAS had no similar benefit. For them median survival was 4.5 months whether or not they received Erbitux. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 1st, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags: Erbitux, KRAS, metastatic colorectal cancer, survival benefit

Deaths from Salmonella Outbreak Continue to Rise

More than 810 cases of salmonella related to tomatoes have been reported to the FDA, according to the latest update on June 27th. Ninety-five people have been hospitalized.  Cases have been identified in 36 states and the District of Columbia.  While there have not been any confirmed deaths so far, there is one case of a man with cancer who died while infected and salmonellosis may have contributed to his death.

Plum, Roma, and round red tomatoes have been associated with the particular strain of Saintpaul Salmonella infection.   The FDA is advising consumers eat these types of tomatoes only if they can be certain they were grown and harvested in one of the areas that have not been associated with the outbreak. If you have tomatoes and don’t know where they came from, go back to the store where you bought them and ask. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 1st, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: CDC, FDA

Milk as Good as Barium Drink in CT-Scans

Simple whole milk may be as effective in barium drinks to distend and outline the intestinal tract so it can be clearly seen during a CT scan.

Radiologists at Columbia University randomly gave patients who were having CT scans of their abdomen and pelvis either whole milk or a drink containing barium (VoLumen).  In addition, intravenous contrast was used to enhance images. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 1st, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: diagnosis, radiology