Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: December 29

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. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on December 29th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 2 Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer screening, elderly, FDA, uninsured

FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of IV Peramivir for Some H1N1 Patients

In response to a request from the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration will allow emergency use of the investigational antiviral intravenous drug peramivir in some hospitalized patients with 2009 H1N1 influenza infection.  The Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is effective for both adults and children from birth to age 17.

There are currently no intravenous (IV) antiviral medicines approved for influenza.  Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 25th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: FDA, H1N1 influenza, peramivir

FDA: Check Power Cords on Medical Devices

The Food and Drug Administration warns health care facilities and people who use medical devices at home to check the power cords for wear and tear, especially if oxygen is being used nearby.

The FDA has more than 120 reports of sparking, charring, and fires from cords used by two device manufacturers, Hospira Inc. and Abbott Nutrition, and is concerned that there may be similar problems with cords on other devices.  Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 19th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: FDA, medical devices, safety

Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: October 16

Briefly: The elderly are much more likely to have their colons perforated during colonoscopy, and inflammatory bowel disease patients who are part of a colonoscopy surveillance program before a diagnosis of colorectal cancer are diagnosed at an earlier stage and have much better survival than patients who don’t have colonoscopies before diagnosis.

There is help online for seniors and their caregivers who are having surgery and cancer survivors who are coping with “chemobrain”.  The FDA is cracking down on the unapproved marketing of some codeine drugs. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 18th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: anesthesia, chemobrain, codeine, FDA, inflammatory bowel disease

Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: October 9

Briefly: In research this week, human embryonic stem cells produced an immune response in mice with colon cancer, and discussing strong pain medicines with cancer patients reduces their pain by about 20 percent.

The Food and Drug Administration has found many dietary supplements contaminated with prescription drugs not listed on the label, some at several times higher than the recommended dose.  In other FDA news, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals was unable to get FDA approval for use of Fusilev® for metastatic colorectal cancer. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 10th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: dietary supplements, FDA, Fusilev, painkillers, stem cells