During March pick up a free colorectal cancer screening kit, complete it at home, and mail it back.

Immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) screening kits are are available at the drive-up window at CentraCare Pharmacy at St. Cloud Hospital and at the Coborn Cancer Center.

Reminder from the folks at CentraCare Health System:

This screening does not replace a colonoscopy, which is the best method to detect colorectal cancer. To schedule your colonoscopy, please call CentraCare Digestive Center at (320) 229-4916.

In this month we don’t want to only raise awareness about prevention of colon cancer. We should be aware of the significant progress we have made in the last 10 years treating it.

With the introduction of irinotecan, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, and cetuximab, overall survival has tripled to more than two years; but this does not tell us the whole story. In the past patients with metastatic disease all died from their disease. This is not true any longer.

With more active therapies, we have cured more and more patients, particularly those whose cancer has only spread to the liver. There are increasing reports that this is also true for lesions found in one site in the lung. Read the rest of this entry »

Representatives Granger and Boren have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives supporting the observance of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  Even with advances in screening technology colorectal cancer continues to be the second leading cancer killer of men and women combined.  In 2010, nearly 50,000 people in the United States will die from colorectal cancer.  The real tragedy is that many of these deaths could be prevented if more people took advantage of colorectal cancer screening and early detection.

Read the rest of this entry »

Kashif Firozvi, MD of Capital Oncology & Hematology Associates will speak at a free workshop sponsored by the Wellness Community of Greater Washington DC on Monday evening, March 1, 2010 beginning at 6 pm.

People who attend will get a free copy of Frankly Speaking About Colorectal Cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Spend a day learning about colorectal cancer prevention and treatment with a focus on its burden in western North Carolina.

The Western North Carolina Evidence Academy plans a full day conference on Friday, March 12, 2010 at the Lake Junaluska Conference Center to explore issues of screening and advances in colorectal cancer treatment.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.  Registration deadline is March 5.

Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, survivors and caregivers in Western North Carolina are invited to participate.  CMEs and CEUs are available at no cost. Read the rest of this entry »