Catch a Killer: Get Screened for Colon Cancer reminds African Americans to be screened for colorectal cancer.

CSI:NY actor Hill Harper urges screening for colorectal cancer in a new PSA from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).

Guidelines suggest that those at average risk begin screening at age 50, however, some studies have shown that African-Americans are more frequently diagnosed with colon cancer at a younger age, leading some experts to suggest that African-Americans should begin screening at age 45.

The first priority of an expert panel looking at increasing the number of people being screened for colorectal cancer was to “Eliminate financial barriers to colorectal cancer screening and appropriate follow up.”

Meeting for two days in Washington in February, a National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science conference considered what is known– and not known– about why people choose or avoid screening, how to improve screening quality, and what the healthcare capacity is to deliver colorectal cancer screening to the US population.

At the end of the meeting, the panel released a consensus statement with their recommendations for enhancing the use and quality of colorectal cancer screening. Read the rest of this entry »

Although Medicare pays for colorectal cancer screening, not all older people enrolled in Medicare are screened.

Reviewing published medical literature, a task group from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable found research identifying both barriers to screening and factors that made it easier.

The most frequently mentioned barrier related to healthcare providers was lack of a doctor’s recommendation.  Having a usual source of health care facilitated getting screened. Read the rest of this entry »

Briefly

Factors related to the patient, year of surgery, and tumor itself and not surgeons or pathologists explain low lymph node counts after colon and rectal surgery.  Lack of colorectal cancer screening leads to emergency surgery and complications and death among the elderly.

Americans without health insurance are more likely to die, even when factors like overall health, smoking, and income are considered, and cancer patients who have support from family and friends at diagnosis are much more likely to look on the entire experience as a chance for positive growth years later.

Finally, FDA has a good video to help people avoid health care frauds.

Happy Holidays.  Enjoy family, friends, and lights. Read the rest of this entry »

Briefly: Health care providers are less likely to recommend colorectal cancer screening to their patients with a high school education or less.  IV ibuprofen enhances morphine to control post-operative pain, reducing pain and letting patients use less morphine.

Superspreaders with dirty hands infect large numbers of patients with hospital-borne infections.

The United Ostomy Associations of America has a new video for new and potential ostomates that provides encouragement and support, and CR Magazine’s monthly podcast provides help coping with medical testing stress. Read the rest of this entry »