By Curt Pesman

Low-carb (and lower sugar) diets may soon look a lot better to colorectal cancer survivors. In a recent data-rich study of more than 1000 stage III colon cancer survivors, researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that those who consistently ate a high-carbohydrate, sugar-laden diet appeared to have markedly higher recurrence rates of their disease than patients whose diets were more varied and contained less-sugar. The results were published in the Nov. 7 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The main finding after surveying and following 1,011 patients during and 6 months after chemotherapy? That those who reported having the highest dietary levels of carbohydrate intake (and related glycemic load) also had an 80 percent increased risk of colon cancer recurrence or death compared with those who had the lowest carb diets.

 But because cancer patients (and health-minded others) are advised not to make a nutritional or lifestyle change based on just one research study or peer-reviewed journal article, it’s worth noting that in the Feb. 7^th issue of Nature, doctors from the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) argued that sugar effects are so detrimental that the substance should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco to protect consumers’ health.  Read the rest of this entry »

In last night’s monthly webinar, colorectal cancer patients were given access to a nutritionist who specializes in helping cancer patients. Kimberly Moore Petersen of the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation was the presenter for our March 2012 webinar, “Shape Your Plate to Fight Colorectal Cancer.”

Extensive research has shown that diet and physical activity can significantly reduce your risk of tumor recurrence. Recently, the American Cancer Society issued new Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention.

But what does that mean for patients making day to day lifestyle choices? Find out in this webinar.

Are you finished with surgery or chemotherapy for early stage colon cancer?

Would you like a chance to see if a new experimental treatment can reduce your risk of

• A new polyp in your colon?
• Colon cancer spreading beyond your colon?
• A new colon cancer?

Researchers at the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) would like to talk to you about a clinical trial exploring whether a statin drug can reduce the risk of new polyps, colon cancer recurrence, or a new primary colon cancer.

In the P-5 clinical trial stage I and II colon cancer patients will be randomly assigned to take either rosuvastatin (Crestor®) or an inert placebo for five years. Read the rest of this entry »

Pam McAllister attended the 2010 GI Cancers Symposium in Orlando on a C3 scholarship.

Pam is one of the original colorectal cancer research advocates and has been involved with research advocacy activities for well over a decade. She serves on numerous research panels and has co-authored many articles including the 2008 American Cancer Society Screening Guidelines and the ASCO Clinical Opinion on Testing for KRAS Mutations.

Here is the first of three articles she has written for C3’s Research  and Treatment News about what she learned at the Orlando meeting.

Last year we learned that Avastin® (bevacizumab) was not effective in increasing disease free survival in stage III colon cancer except for a possible small transient benefit that disappeared soon after the drug was discontinued. Read the rest of this entry »

Briefly

• Hormone replacement therapy reduces risk of colon cancer.
• Smoking before age 30 increases chances that colon cancer will recur.
• Low CEA levels improve both survival and disease-free survival for stage II colon cancer.
• Most patients want videos of their colonoscopies and are willing to pay for them. Read the rest of this entry »