Out of Pocket Costs Limiting Cancer Patient Treatment Choices

Twelve percent of people with advanced colorectal cancer spent more than $25,000 of their own money for cancer treatment, according to a new survey done by Thomson Reuters.

The study also found that one in eight late-stage cancer patients had turned down recommended treatment because of costs.  Among patients with incomes less than $40,000 a year, one in four didn’t go ahead with care due to its expense. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 14th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: cancer care costs

Webcast: Treatment of Colon and Pancreatic Cancer

Are we making progress in treating colon and pancreatic cancer?  An audio webcast with Dr. David Mahvi, surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, will help answer that question.

• Treatment of Colon Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer: Are We Making Progress?
• David Mahvi, M.D.
• Tuesday, October 14, 2008.
• 7 p.m.
• Northwestern Memorial webcasts Continue reading…

  Posted by Kate Murphy on October 13th, 2008
  Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
  Tags: surgery

FDA Warns About Cooking Frozen Chicken Entrees

Some frozen chicken dishes are not precooked and can cause illness if not prepared properly.  Food-borne illness is of particular concern to people with cancer whose immune systems may be lowered by treatment.

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert to remind consumers to cook frozen chicken dishes according to package instructions and to use a meat thermometer to be sure that internal temperatures reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 13th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: nutrition

Metabolic Syndrome Increases Colorectal Cancer Risk

People with a combination of three common medical conditions together known as metabolic syndrome have a greatly increased risk of colorectal cancer.  The three are hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol.

Reviewing answers the the National Health Interview Survey, researchers found that people who reported metabolic syndrome conditions were almost twice as likely to have colorectal cancer.  Nearly 58,000 people were interviewed by the NHIS in 2002-2003.  Of those 1,200 had metabolic syndrome and 350 had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.  Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 13th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer risk, screening

Hypertension Clue to Better Outcomes with Avastin

Patients who developed hypertension with Avastin® (bevacizumab) had better response to treatment for colorectal cancer.  More had tumors shrink, and it took significantly longer for their cancer to get worse.

In a small Italian study, researchers measured blood pressure in 39 patients receiving Avastin along with irinotecan and 5-FU for the initial treatment of colorectal cancer.  Eight patients (20 percent) experienced grade 2 or 3 hypertension. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 12th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer prognosis, metastatic colorectal cancer