Believe it or not, using 5-FU in the fight against colorectal cancer goes back to the 1950s when the chemo drug was first used for advanced disease.

Today 5-FU remains a mainstay against colon and rectal cancer, but it has been joined by new drugs, targeted biological agents like Avastin, radiation, and greatly improved surgery.

Along with improved treatment, routine colorectal cancer screening has reduced death from colorectal cancer by 40% since 1975.

ASCO has a new interactive graphic that shows progress against cancer, including colorectal cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Changes in CRC Deaths

New diagnoses and death rates continue to decline for colorectal cancer, and the positive trend is expected to continue into the future.  Increasing the numbers of people who are screened could make the rates fall even faster.

Increased screening probably has had the greatest impact on decreasing rates, according to the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, but improved treatments have also contributed. Read the rest of this entry »