About.com Colon Cancer

Race Affects Colon Cancer Survival

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:48:56 +0000

It's been known in the medical community in the US for some time that people in certain race/ethnicity groups appear to do better, and in some cases worse, than whites (Caucasians or people of European ancestry) in terms of survival after cancer diagnosis. This is true of colon cancer, with research showing that African Americans have worse survival rates than Caucasians.

The important question is why some groups of people in general fare worse with cancer than whites. If health experts can figure out why, they can tackle the problem and focus on improving cancer survival rates for African Americans, and possibly for everyone else too.

Why Are There Differences in Colon Cancer Survival?

Some of the difference in colon cancer survival rates among various groups of people may be due to differences in other factors that affect health, such as individual and tumor genetics, access to health care, the presence of other health conditions and diseases, and obesity. But the latest research on this issue suggests that these factors do not explain all of the difference in survival rates between African Americans and Caucasians.

Weight Still Matters for Colon Cancer Survival

The study did show that among all people with colon cancer, regardless of race/ethnicity, a higher body mass index (BMI) means a lower chance of survival. BMI, a measure of weight in relation to height, is a number that is used to determine if someone is overweight or obese. Obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m²) or more. So regardless of your race, being overweight when you are diagnosed decreases the chances of a complete cure after colon cancer.

But even taking into account that African Americans have higher rates of obesity than Caucasians, BMI still doesn't explain all of the differences in survival between these two groups. This means that more research is urgently needed to get to the bottom of this question, and to find ways to make sure that all people, including African Americans, have the best possible chance of surviving colon cancer.

Where Weight Helps

One interesting aspect of the body weight-colon cancer connection that this study uncovered surprised the researchers, but I don't think it should have. They found that for advanced (stage IV) cancer, being overweight decreased the risk of death. This isn't as strange as it may seem.

Stage IV colon cancer is not considered curable, which means that as it progresses, people are likely to become sicker and more frail over time. Having a little extra "cushion" in the form of body weight likely protects people from experiencing malnutrition as their cancer becomes more advanced. In some cases, advanced colon cancer makes it more difficult to eat enough, and in these cases, being overweight would help you live longer and stronger.

The Bottom Line

But the bottom line is that overall, being overweight increases your risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer. And being overweight decreases your likelihood of survival if you are diagnosed with anything but the most advanced type (stage IV) of colon cancer.

If you are living with colon cancer and you are overweight, don't embark on a crash diet or extreme weight loss plan. This is not healthy and won't help you heal and get through treatment. Instead, talk to your doctor about ways you can live as healthfully as possible during and after treatment. Ask for a referral to a dietitian who can work with you to develop a healthy eating plan that will get your body the nutrients it needs.

A dietitian who specializes in working with cancer patients can help you use good nutrition to address any symptoms, side effects, or limitations on the foods you can eat due to your cancer and its treatment. A dietitian can help you develop a long-term, healthy nutrition plan to get you back to health after cancer as well.

Race Affects Colon Cancer Survival originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 23:48:56.

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NCI Offers Supportive and Coping with Cancer Resources

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:05:11 +0000

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is known by many people as the arm of the National Institutes of Health that funds research on the prevention, causes, and treatment of cancer.

Now the NCI is creating resources for people living with or affected by cancer and has much helpful information to share. In the newly created Supportive and Palliative Care section of the NCI website, you will find information on a variety of helpful areas, including:

Of course you can find much of the same information and more, right here on About.com, and I encourage you to do so. But I also believe that information and knowledge are something you can never have enough of when facing a diagnosis of cancer. Knowledge can give you what you need to make smart, informed choices about how best to treat, manage, and cope with cancer.

NCI Offers Supportive and Coping with Cancer Resources originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 23:05:11.

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Folic Acid and B12 Supplements Increase Cancer Risk

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:02:17 +0000

When it comes to cancer prevention, it's wise to steer clear of most supplements and instead focus on food. Numerous studies have suggested that many dietary supplements do not decrease cancer risk. Some supplements, in fact, actually may increase risk, raising concerns that supplements cause more harm than good for many people.

The latest study on this topic adds to these concerns with the finding that folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ dietary supplements increase the risk of being diagnosed with cancer, of dying from cancer, and of dying from any cause.

By the Numbers

The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial in which nearly 7,000 adults in Norway were randomly selected to take one of the following:

0.8 mg of folic acid + 0.4 mg of vitamin B₁₂ + 40 mg vitamin B₆ per day
0.8 mg of folic acid + 0.4 mg of vitamin B₁₂ per day
40 mg vitamin B₆ per day
placebo (no vitamins)

Double-blind means that neither the researchers nor the study participants knew who was taking which vitamins or the placebo. Randomized means that people were selected at random for each vitamin (or placebo) group. This type of study is considered "the gold standard" of research designs, because it is most likely to show results accurately, without errors that can happen with other study designs.

Study participants were followed for a median (similar to average) of approximately six and a half years (39 months of active study participation plus 38 months of post-study observation). The study showed that compared with people not receiving folic acid and vitamin B₁₂, those who took these vitamins had:

21% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer (any type)
38% higher risk of dying of cancer (any type)
18% higher risk of dying of any cause

Taking vitamin B₆ did not have any measurable effects (good or bad) on the health of the study participants.

Take Home Message

It is likely that most of the negative health effects shown in this study are related to folic acid, more than to vitamin B ₁₂. Health experts have suspected for some time that folic acid may be a "double-edged" sword.

If people get plenty of folic acid early in life, including in the womb (in utero, during pregnancy) and through childhood, this appears to protect against later developing cancer. If, however, people get too much (excess) folic acid during adulthood, this seems to increase the overall risk of cancer, and of colon cancer in particular.

Also of note: This study showed harm from folic acid supplements in a country that does not fortify its food supply with folic acid. The United States does fortify the food supply with folic acid. This means that we already get a supplemental form of this nutrient in our diets in high amounts. This also means that the harms of taking additional folic acid supplements are more likely to occur in people who are living in the US.

The bottom line is that we should get our folic acid from foods naturally high in this nutrient, not from pills. No studies have ever shown that getting plenty of folic acid from food increases cancer risk. Plus, studies do show that eating folic acid-rich foods likely decreases cancer risk. The same is definitely not true of folic acid supplements.

Taking folic acid as a dietary supplement is not a good idea, unless advised to do so by your doctor, for a specific medical reason, such as pregnancy. Eating foods that are naturally rich in folic acid (not foods that are fortified) is a good idea for everyone, because these are the same foods that appear to reduce cancer risk when part of a healthy diet.

Healthy Eats

The best, natural food sources of folic acid include:

black-eyed peas (beans)
pinto beans
chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
spinach
okra
black beans, navy beans, and other beans
asparagus
collard greens
kale
chard
other green leafy vegetables
broccoli
artichokes

Folic Acid and B12 Supplements Increase Cancer Risk originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 01:02:17.

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Qigong Benefits People with Cancer

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:54:02 +0000

For people with cancer, a decrease in quality of life is one of the most difficult aspects of the disease to manage. Many struggle with fatigue and feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. For people seeking non-medical ways of coping with cancer side effects, Qigong may offer relief.

Qigong ("chee-kung") is a Chinese meditative practice which uses slow graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques to promote feeling calm, peaceful, and more content. The latest research on Qigong shows that when cancer patients regularly practice Qigong, it improves their overall quality of life, lessens fatigue, and helps decrease inflammation in the body.

Qigong is gentle and can be practiced by most people, and so offers a unique way to better manage cancer treatment side effects, and possibly even establish healthy coping habits for the long-term. If you want to learn more about Qigong, ask your cancer treatment center for information on this form of meditation. You can also learn about Qigong from the Qigong Association of America and Qigong USA.

Qigong Benefits People with Cancer originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 12:54:02.

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Old Drugs, New Ways (XELIRI) to Treat Colon Cancer

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:25:22 +0000

A newly published study highlights how combining existing cancer treatment medications in new ways can improve survival for those with advanced colorectal cancer. The chemotherapy combined two medications, capecitabine and irinotecan, in a treatment referred to as XELIRI.

Researchers studied XELIRI treatment in 53 patients, more than half (55%) of whom were 65 years of age or older. The overall response rate (ORR) to XELIRI in this group was 32% and the disease control rate was estimated to be 66%. The median (similar to "average") survival in the group was 19.2 months, showing that even in people with metastatic (advanced) colorectal cancer, the right treatments can extend life in a meaningful way.

Very serious side effects, which are known as grade 4 toxicity, occurred in only 1 patient. Overall, this study supports that XELIRI, which is a combination of two chemotherapy medications - capecitabine and irinotecan - is a promising first-line treatment of advanced colon cancer.

If you or a loved one is facing a diagnosis of advanced colon cancer, talk to your doctor about all of the treatment options available to you. With good medical care and the support of your loved ones, you can make the right choices for your own cancer care.

Old Drugs, New Ways (XELIRI) to Treat Colon Cancer originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 12:25:22.

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100,500 Cancers Per Year Due to Obesity

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:09:22 +0000

The American Institute for Cancer Research recently released new numbers on how obesity is linked to the number of cancer cases in the US each year. Not surprisingly, the numbers aren't good.

When it comes to colon cancer, it is estimated that at least 13,200 cases each year are due to obesity. In other words, studies suggest that nearly 10%, or one-tenth, of all colon cancer cases never would occur each year if obesity were not a problem in the US.

Other health experts believe this estimate is even on the low side. Another study on this topic suggests that about 30% of all colon cancer cases in the United States are due to people having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 22.5 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m2).

If you care about reducing colon cancer cases in this country, then you should develop a passion for how you can help lower the rates of overweight and obesity too. There are many things you can do to personally tackle overweight and obesity in your life.

In addition to this, make a note to check back to the About.com Colon Cancer website. In the coming weeks, I'll be posting more information on how to make healthy, fat-fighting, colon-cancer-risk-reducing habits a part of your everyday routine.

100,500 Cancers Per Year Due to Obesity originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 12:09:22.

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Your Cancer Survivorship Care Plan

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:37:44 +0000

"What's next?" is one of the most common questions asked by anyone who is diagnosed with cancer. In the immediate days and weeks following a cancer diagnosis, "what's next?" will focus on treatment options, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. You'll figure out what to ask your doctor and how to plan your next steps.

For people who are a little further into their cancer care plan, "what's next" may mean "for the rest of my life." It's not uncommon to feel a sense of letdown after treatment ends. Without the structure of regularly scheduled treatment appointments and reporting to clinic for blood tests, many people feel lost.

Questions, Questions

Compounding these stresses are questions about your medical future. How often do you need to see your oncologist? How will you be monitored to make sure cancer is caught early if it comes back? How will you be monitored for any long-term side effects from your cancer or it's treatment? Will your primary care doctor understand what you've been through? The questions are endless.

A Guide for Finding Answers

A noted group of cancer experts, some of the best in the world, have come together to publish a comprehensive cancer survivorship report to help answer these, and many other, questions. The entire report is available online and outlines the key components of a good long-term care plan for cancer survivors, such as:

Addressing employment concerns of cancer survivors
Improving access to adequate and affordable health care
Prevention of recurrent and new cancers and other late effects of cancer care
Good coordination between specialists and primary helath care providers to make sure all of the cancer survivor's health needs are met
Identifying psychosocial and mental health needs and care plans for survivors
Connecting survivors with supportive services, if needed

If you are a cancer survivor, and remember that "cancer survivor" includes anyone diagnosed with cancer, from the moment of diagnosis onward, this report can be a terrific guide. It can help you figure out what you need, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and how to get it from your cancer care and primary health care teams.

Your Cancer Survivorship Care Plan originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 18:37:44.

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New Safety Standards for Chemotherapy

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:50 +0000

Chemotherapy is a life-saving medical option for many people diagnosed with cancer. Even so, it can cause very serious, even life-threatening side effects. For this reason, it's important that clear standards be followed for how chemotherapy is given and how the health of people receiving it is monitored before, during, and after chemotherapy.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Oncology Nursing Society have come together to produce the Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards. This is a very important step forward in creating the safest possible treatments for cancer.

The final list includes 31 safety standards and covers important aspects of giving chemotherapy including:

Careful review of each patient's clinical (medical) information
Selection of the treatment option
Treatment planning
Informed consent from the patient; informed consent is the formal way of making sure that each patient understands and accepts the risks and benefits of the treatment options and agrees with the treatment plan
How the treatment is ordered, for example, whether this is done electronically or with a written prescription
How the chemotherapy medication is prepared; usually, this refers to how it is prepared in the pharmacy
Assessment, or keeping track of, how well the treatment plan is being followed (compliance); this means making sure medications are given as planned, and on the part of the patient, that medications are taken as prescribed
Administration and monitoring; this refers to what actually happens in the clinic each time chemotherapy is given
Assessment of response, which means tracking how well the patient is doing after chemotherapy is given and making sure the cancer itself is responding as expected
Toxicity monitoring, which means tracking all of the negative side effects of treatment, such as low blood counts, nausea, or fatigue.

This may not seem like such a big deal or maybe feels like a "mere formality". However, these guidelines are much more important than many people realize. Most of the cancer care in the United States, roughly 80%, is given in small community oncology clinics. Because of this, there can be a lot of variation in the safety standards around how chemotherapy is given.

By creating a standardized set of safety guidelines that are available to every oncologist in the country, The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Oncology Nursing Society have taken a positive step toward making sure every single person treated for cancer is treated as safely as possible.

If you're interested, you can see a full set of the guidelines, for yourself. You can even print them out and take them to your next appointment. If you have questions about the guidelines and what they mean for you, your doctor can get you the information you need to make informed choices about your cancer care.

New Safety Standards for Chemotherapy originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 18:30:50.

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High Def Colonoscopy Superior

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:45:24 +0000

Colonscopy is the gold standard for detecting colon cancer. There is no doubt that colonoscopy saves lives. Even so, researchers are always looking for ways to make this test even better. This is because the more effectively colonoscopy screening can detect the smallest tumors or pre-cancerous colon growths, the more likely it is that these growths will be caught and removed early, before they have spread.

New research has found that a type of colonoscopy testing called high-definition colonoscopy is superior to regular colonoscopy for finding colon growths that can develop into colon cancer. Results from the largest head-to-head comparison of regular vs. high-definition colonoscopy screening are clear: High-def colonoscopy should be the screening of the future.

Your Next Steps

If you're of average risk for colon cancer, health experts recommend that you begin colonoscopy screening at age 50. If you are above-average risk, for example because you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a genetic condition that increases risk, you likely need to begin colonoscopy screening much earlier and undergo it more often. Here are some steps you can take to take control of your colon health:

Do not use these latest study results on high-def colonoscopy as an excuse to avoid getting this test altogether. Your doctor may not have access to this sort of test quite yet, but regular colonoscopy is still the single best way to detect colon cancer early, before it has spread and when it is easiest to treat and cure.
Learn what you need to do to prepare for a colonoscopy. A little planning will help you have a sense of control over your health and your health care choices.
Learn what happens during a colonscopy. Knowing what to expect can ease your fears significantly.
Learn how to remove the dread and fear of colonoscopy. Nobody looks forward to getting a colonoscopy, but it likely is not as bad as you think.
Focus on the future. Focusing on the fact that getting a colonscopy can save your life and keep you cancer-free can make it easier to pick up the phone and call your doctor to ask about this important screening.

High Def Colonoscopy Superior originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 13:45:24.

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Colonoscopy Key for People with IBD

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:25:40 +0000

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of conditions that cause pain and damage in the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common inflammatory bowel diseases. Symptoms of these conditions include abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, rectal bleeding, blood in the stools, diarrhea, and skin and eye irritation.

One of the most important things to know about IBD is that having it can significantly increase your risk of developing colon cancer. It's a scary thought, and it seems completely unfair that in addition to the pain and suffering that can come with IBD itself, comes a higher risk of a potentially life-threatening cancer.

Fortunately, there something you can do to greatly increase the odds that if you do develop colon cancer, you will survive and thrive after your diagnosis. The latest research on this topic shows that regular colonoscopy screening can mean the difference between life and death for people with a history of IBD who develop colon cancer.

By The Numbers

Researchers tracked 149 people with IBD who developed colorectal cancer. They compared the survival rates after colorectal cancer diagnosis among those who had colonoscopies in the past vs. people who had not had colonoscopies.

The 5 year survival rate after colorectal cancer among the people with IBD who had undergone colonoscopy screening was 100%. Among the people with IBD who had not undergone colonoscopy as part of their medical care, the 5 years after diagnosis was 74%. Over the long-term, only one person in the colonoscopy group died specifically due to colorectal cancer. In the group of people with IBD who did not undergo colonoscopy, 29 people died due to colorectal cancer over the long-term.

The Bottom Line

If you have IBD, it is very, very important that you undergo colonoscopy testing regularly. While colonoscopy can seem unpleasant and sometimes may cause some pain for people with IBD, it is much less unpleasant than being diagnosed with, or dying of, colon cancer. Colonoscopy allows your doctor to find any colon cancer cells or small tumors very early, when they can be removed before they spread. This improves survival and makes it less likely that you'll need additional, aggressive treatment for cancer.

Facing Your Fears

If you have IBD, the following steps can help you face your fears about colonoscopy:

Make an appointment to talk to your doctor specifically about how often you need colonoscopy screening. If your regular, primary care doctor doesn't have a specific plan for you or doesn't take your concerns seriously, ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist so you can make sure you get exactly what you need.
Learn what you need to do to prepare for a colonoscopy. A little planning will help you have a sense of control over your health and your health care choices.
Learn what happens during a colonscopy. Knowing what to expect can ease your fears significantly.
Learn specific steps you can take to make colonoscopy easier on yourself. While nobody looks forward to getting a colonoscopy, it likely is not as bad as you may imagine
Focus on the future. Focusing on the fact that getting a colonscopy can save your life and keep you healthy and cancer-free can make it easier to pick up the phone and make that important appointment with your doctor.

Colonoscopy Key for People with IBD originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 13:25:40.

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