About.com Colon Cancer

We Need to Improve Colon Cancer Screening Rates

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:21:03 +0000

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently joined together to sponsor a conference of health experts. The goal: To figure out how to increase rates of colon cancer screening among Americans.

According to Donald Steinwachs, PhD, a professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, colon cancer screening rates are consistently lower than screening rates for other cancers. Dr. Steinwachs stated that the colon cancer screening rates are "poor" compared to other cancer screening rates.

According to the latest data, about 55% of Americans 50 years and older have been screened for colon cancer. By comparison, screening rates are 70% to 80% for many other cancers.

The expert conference concluded that at least five things need to be done to increase the number of people who get colon cancer screening:

Using existing technologies that are effective, such as patient-reminder systems, to get people in to screening appointments.
Figuring out which screening tests are preferred by which groups of people and then offering the preferred tests.
Making sure that when there is a positive result - when a possible cancer or precancerous growths are found - there is follow up with the patient.
Getting rid of financial barriers that prevent people from getting screened and following up with their doctor after screening. This might be accomplished through low- or no-cost screening programs, especially for people who don't have health insurance.
Making sure high-quality colon cancer screening programs are available to all.

If you need to be screened for colon cancer, but you are afraid or embarrassed about the test, you don't need to be!

There are lots of ways to help yourself not fear and dread colon cancer screening.

Knowing what to expect before, during, and after colon cancer screening, will go a long way to easing your anxiety.

If you're due for colon cancer screening, talk to your doctor today about this. Colon cancer screening saves lives.

We Need to Improve Colon Cancer Screening Rates originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 12:21:03.

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Universal Cancer Blood Tests May Soon Be A Reality

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:21:56 +0000

The National Cancer Institute recently shared information about exciting new research that may lead to blood tests for many different types of cancer. This type of blood test would be a very important advance in the way cancers are detected.

An easy, simple blood test to find cancer early would be so important in the fight against this disease. It would allow doctors to find cancers early, when they are most treatable.

There are two big barriers to detecting cancer early, when it is more easily treatable:

There is a lack of technology to detect certain cancers. As an example, ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, the symptoms are vague and easy to miss, and there are no good screening tests to catch this cancer early. Pancreatic cancer also is difficult to detect. No standard screening tests are available to find pancreatic cancer before it has spread. Survival rates for these cancers are lower than for many other cancers - the cancers for which good screening tests do exist.
Technology to detect the cancer exists, but it is invasive or uncomfortable, so people don't do it. As an example, colonoscopy to detect colon cancer is reasonably good at finding the disease. However, preparation for the test involves completely emptying (cleansing) the colon. Many people find this unpleasant, though not painful. Due to the discomfort preparing for a colonoscopy, as well as fear and embarrassment about the test itself, many people do not get a colonoscopy as often as recommended by their doctor, or ever!

In the new research, scientists from Denmark found that the body may produce something called an antibody in response to cancer. An antibody is a protein made by the immune system when harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites enter the body.

The Danish researchers discovered that in some people with cancer, the body produces antibodies against their own cancer. The goal is to use these auto- or self- antibodies to create a blood test to detect cancer very early, before the tumor is able to spread.

We'll keep you posted as more studies on cancer autoantibodies are published. And the minute a reliable, good-quality blood test is available to detect colon cancer, you can read about it here!

Universal Cancer Blood Tests May Soon Be A Reality originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 11:21:56.

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Addressing Insomnia During Cancer Care

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:37:53 +0000

New research on 823 people receiving chemotherapy reveals that far more experience insomnia than previously thought. The study was published in the January 10th issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The researchers found that insomnia was at least twice as common in people receiving chemotherapy as compared with the general population. About 80% of those receiving chemotherapy had symptoms of insomnia or had insomnia syndrome at some point during treatment. Younger people, those less than 58 years old, had a higher risk of insomnia compared with people over 58.

Getting Your Shut Eye

The researchers noted that insomnia is common and under-treated among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. If you are in cancer treatment and this is affecting your sleep, getting more shut eye should be a priority. It may seem impossible to improve your sleep, but a few steps can help.

Don't ignore it. If cancer treatment is affecting your sleep, talk to your doctor. Getting enough sleep is an important part of helping your body heal and tolerate treatment. Lack of sleep even can decrease immune function. Poor immune function, as measured by white blood cell count can make it harder to recover after each cycle of chemotherapy.

Your doctor can help you decide if temporary use of a sleep medication will be helpful. Many people worry about becoming addicted to sleep medication, but short term use is safe for most people. And sleep aids can help "reset the clock". In a sense, these medications, when used occasionally, may help your body "remember how to sleep."

Help yourself. Even if you decide not to take any sleep medications, you can do a lot to help yourself sleep better. Try cutting back on caffeine. For a start, don't have caffeine after noon. Also, if possible, keep yourself to 1-2 caffeinated beverages per day total. This includes coffee, colas, some teas, and energy drinks.

Set up a relaxing ritual to signal "bedtime". For many people, following the same, soothing routine at night helps their brain and body wind down and sleep better.

The routine might be reading a bit, having a cup of non-caffeinated tea such as chamomile, praying, or meditating. Just be sure whatever you read won't wind you up. When reading before bed, avoid upsetting topics like politics, war, and disaster. It's OK to want to learn about these things, but just save that reading for earlier in the day or evening.

Cut down on TV and computer time. Researchers have found that light from electronic equipment can suppress melatonin, a hormone your body needs to produce for good quality sleep. Go TV and computer free for at least an hour before bed.

Addressing Insomnia During Cancer Care originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 12:37:53.

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Vitamin D Defeats Colorectal Cancer...Again

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:08:23 +0000

A newly-published European study on vitamin D adds to the large and growing body of research that this nutrient is important for preventing colon cancer. This is welcome news, given that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United States.

The study followed more than half a million people for more than a decade. People with the highest blood levels of vitamin D at the start of the study had an approximate 40% decrease in colorectal cancer risk compared with those who had the lowest vitamin D levels.

Your Dose of D

I wrote about vitamin D in a January 14th blog. I touched on the fact that many health experts feel the recommended intake for vitamin D is set too low for good health. If you want to make sure you're getting enough vitamin D, the following steps will help.

Eat more foods that provide vitamin D. This includes fatty fish, such as wild-caught salmon and some mushrooms. Also try fortified foods such as cereals, orange juice, and low-fat dairy.
Supplement if needed. It it is safe to take up to 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day based on government guidelines. If you don't regularly eat foods that provide vitamin D, consider a supplement.
Get tested. A blood test is the best way to know for certain whether you do or do not need a vitamin D supplement.
If your vitamin D levels are low, ask your doctor how much vitamin D you should take. Set up a plan for when your blood should be rechecked to see if the supplements are working.

Vitamin D Defeats Colorectal Cancer...Again originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 12:08:23.

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Higher Blood Sugar Boosts Cancer Risk

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:43:18 +0000

Health experts have known for years that high blood sugar levels (blood glucose) are bad for health. Consistently high blood sugar is the key feature of diabetes.

When not managed properly with exercise, a healthy diet, medications, and/or insulin, high blood sugar levels can lead to kidney damage and failure, blindness, circulatory problems and the need for amputations, and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, possibly cancer, and more.

High "Normal" Blood Sugar Levels Still a Problem

But even among people who have blood sugar levels within the normal range, those with higher levels may have a higher risk of cancer. A study of nearly 550,000 people in Europe provides additional evidence that more blood sugar equals more cancer risk.

The study subjects' average age was 45 years. The group was followed for 10 years to look at the connection between blood sugar levels and cancer risk. Researchers considered and "controlled for" other factors that also can affect cancer risk, including smoking and overweight/obesity.

For men, each 18 point (milligrams per deciliiter - mg/dL) increase in blood sugar levels was associated with a 5% increased risk of getting cancer and a 15% higher risk of dying of cancer.

For women, each 18 mg/dL increase in blood sugar levels was associated with an 11% increased risk of getting cancer and a 21% higher risk of dying of cancer.

Taming Your Blood Sugar

This study points to a clear connection between higher blood sugar levels and higher cancer risk. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your blood sugar in the low end of the healthy range:

Manage Diabetes: If you do have diabetes, work closely with your health care team to manage your diabetes properly. If you need medications, be sure you take them exactly as prescribed. Check your blood sugar often and ask your doctor how to adjust your medications if needed.
Move More: One of the single best ways to lower blood sugar is to exercise regularly. Exercise helps your body use insulin more effectively. Insulin is the hormone that regulates (controls) blood sugar levels. The more effectively your body responds to insulin, the more likely your blood sugar levels will be in the healthy range. And even if you don't lose weight through exercise, you still benefit. Exercise alone will help.
Lose Weight: If you are overweight, make losing weight a priority. You don't need to lose it all to benefit either. Just losing 5-10% of your initial weight will improve blood sugar levels. For example, if you weight 250 pounds, losing 12 to 25 pounds will improve blood sugar levels. Even if you don't reach the "ideal" healthy body weight, you still benefit from even losing a small amount of weight.
Sleep Enough: Lack of sleep is a surefire way to make blood sugar levels soar. When you don't get enough sleep, your body releases stress hormones which increase blood sugar levels. Even worse, lack of sleep makes your body less responsive to insulin. Even when you produce plenty of insulin, lack of sleep ensures your body can't use it very well.

Higher Blood Sugar Boosts Cancer Risk originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 11:43:18.

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Understanding How Obesity Causes Cancer

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:25:14 +0000

I've written many times about obesity and colon cancer. I write about this because without a doubt, obesity is one of the most important risk factors for colon cancer.

Health experts estimate that at least 13,200 cases of colon cancer diagnosed in the US each year are due to obesity. Many experts believe this number is much higher.

How Obesity Causes Cancer

New research out of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) has added another piece to the puzzle of how obesity causes cancer. Using animal models of cancer development, the UCSD researchers narrowed in on inflammation as one of the main ways through which obesity can lead to cancer development.

Most people are familiar with the term inflammation. Have you thought about what that really means? The term inflammation comes from a Latin word meaning "to set on fire". This makes sense, because often we think of inflammation as a "hot" process.

What is Inflammation?

You may understand two common kinds of inflammation:

A fever that accompanies an illness
The swelling and pain that occur with an injury

These are forms of acute inflammation - the kind you can see and feel. But it's another form of inflammation that appears to link obesity and cancer. It is the chronic, low-grade inflammation that can occur in the body everyday

To get an idea of what chronic inflammation is, consider that every cell in your body conducts conversations with the cells around it. When inflammation is in balance, these conversations are like a pleasant chat with a neighbor or friend. When inflammation is out of control, cellular communication becomes aggressive. The communication becomes a shouting match, and even may lead to pushing and shoving.

Inflammation turns up the tone and volume of cellular conversations to damaging levels. And the damage caused by excessive inflammation has been linked to the development of cancer. Not only that, chronic, low-grade inflammation is linked with many of the other diseases that plague modern humans: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, arthritis, chronic pain, allergies, auto-immune diseases, and more.

Prevent Inflammation to Reduce Cancer Risk

The good news is that you can dampen down inflammation in your body. The everyday choices you make have a very large effect on inflammation. If you follow what I refer to as the "5 pillars of health", you can put out the flames of inflammation for good.

Focus on healthy body weight and shape. As the new UCSD research shows, obesity is a prime cause of inflammation. Carrying excess fat increases the risk of cancer. Carrying that fat around the mid-section is most damaging.
Avoid tobacco. Tobacco most definitely increases inflammation. Cigarettes, pipes, smokeless tobacco (chew), and any other form of tobacco increase cancer risk. Period.
Eat the right foods. The key to keeping inflammation in check is a plant-based diet. You don't have to be a vegetarian to reap the benefits of a plant-based diet. You do have to get the majority of your calories from minimally-processed, whole plant foods - vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes (beans and peas), nuts, and seeds. A good goal is to have three-fourths of every meal or snack come from plant foods
Exercise regularly There is no single panacea for warding of cancer, but exercise comes pretty close. Moving your body moderately to vigorously for a minimum of 20-30 minutes most days of the week is the goal. This alone can keep inflammation in check
Make shut eye a priority. Many people don't realize that lack of sleep affects us in so many ways. Poor sleep habits ratchet up inflammation. Not getting enough sleep is indirectly linked to cancer, because it can cause obesity. Lack of sleep is directly linked to increased cancer risk as well.

Understanding How Obesity Causes Cancer originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 12:25:14.

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Free Cancer Symptom Management Webinar Jan 27, 2010

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:28:24 +0000

The Colon Cancer Alliance has teamed up with Vanderbilt University to bring you a free webinar on symptom management for individuals in cancer treatment:

Program Title: Symptom Management: Hope on the Horizon
Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Time: 8-9pm EST / 7-8pm CST / 6-7pm MST/ 5-6pm PST
Sign Up: Colon Cancer Alliance Webinars

If you've never participated in a webinar, it'e easy.

Once you sign up for the webinar, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to join the webinar at the proper time and date. Each webinar participant uses his or her computer to log into the webinar, right from the comfort of home. You will be able to see slides and other visual components of the webinar as it proceeds.

Many webinars also have a telephone conference portion, for which you dial into the program to hear a speaker. If a teleconference is also part of this webinar, you will receive instructions on when and how to call in along with the instructions on logging into the webinar.

Free Cancer Symptom Management Webinar Jan 27, 2010 originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 11:28:24.

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New Blood Screening Test For Colon Cancer

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:28:09 +0000

Researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland have discovered a pattern of antibodies present in the blood of individuals with colon cancer. This pattern is not found in the blood of most people who do not have the disease. Antibodies are proteins produced by a type of immune system cell called a B-cell.

"Antibody Signature" For Colon Cancer

As published in the new study, the authors describe a "12-antibody signature" that can identify patients with and without colorectal cancer with 83.7% sensitivity and 80% specificity.

Sensitivity is the ability of a test to correctly identify those with a disease, as actually having the disease.
Specificity is the ability of a test to correctly identify people without the disease as not having the disease.

The "antibody signature" test correctly identified people with colon cancer as having the disease 83.7% of the time. This means the test has a 16.3% chance of giving a false negative.

The test correctly identified people without colon cancer as not having the disease 80% of the time. This means that 20% of the time, the test will show a false positive - that the person has colon cancer when in fact they do not have the disease.

Test Not Perfect, But Great Step Forward

While this new test isn't perfect, it will add to the toolbox that doctors have to identify people with colon cancer. When found early, before it has spread, colon cancer is curable in most cases. After it has spread to other parts of the body, colon cancer is very hard to treat. It is not considered curable in many cases. This is why developing accurate, minimally invasive colon cancer screening techniques is so important.

Colonoscopy has a sensitivity of 80-85% for smaller pre-cancerous (adenomas) and cancerous growths. Even this "gold standard test" for colon cancer isn't perfect.

The goal is better colon cancer detection. By combining more than one test, for example, a blood test such as the one described in the study, with another test like colonoscopy, doctors will be able to identify more colon cancers earlier, when they are most treatable.

The new blood test discovered by the Irish research team isn't widely available yet. Further research on this test is likely to be conducted. If it proves to be an effective way to catch colon cancer early in most people, it should be ready for use in clinics worldwide within a few years.

New Blood Screening Test For Colon Cancer originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 11:28:09.

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FDA Reverses Position on BPA

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:42:41 +0000

Just hours ago, I wrote a blog about how the FDA has been dragging it's feet on the bisphenol A (BPA) issue.

BPA is a chemical found in plastic water bottles, the lining of food cans, toys, and more. Exposure to BPA has been linked to endocrine, neurological, behavioral, and reproductive problems, cancer, asthma, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

FDA Coming Around

Amazingly, when I opened up my browser to the Saturday New York Times health section, the paper reports that the FDA has reversed itself. The FDA now has "some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children."

This is a positive move by the FDA and it seems to be a case of "better late than never."

American Chemical Council Fights Back

The American Chemical Council, which represents companies that make and use BPA, issued a statement saying BPA was safe. Yet, as early as 2008, the National Toxicology Program, indicated concern over BPA, noting potential negative health effects on fetuses, infants, and children.

How to Limit Your Exposure to BPA

In a move that would suggest other government organizations have concern about BPA, the US Department of Health and Human Services offers tips on how to limit your children's exposure to the chemical.

A program posted on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) website offers more tips on limiting your whole family's exposure to BPA. You can use the recycle code on the bottom of plastic containers to help weed out BPA too. Those with a recycling code of 7 are most likely to contain BPA.

For the science buffs out there, The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has an extensive Question and Answer section about BPA.

FDA Reverses Position on BPA originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 16:42:41.

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FDA Delays Decision On Cancer-Causing BPA...Again

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:41:51 +0000

A chemical called bisphenol A has been making the news again, and with good reason. Bisphenol A, or BPA for short, is found in everything from plastic water and baby bottles to canned food liners. Nearly all canned foods on the market contain BPA in their liners.

Health advocates have been raising the alarm about BPA for several years. They've pushed the FDA to ban this chemical compound that is used to make many plastic items. Unfortunately, the FDA declined to take action on BPA, for the third time in a row.

History of Delays on BPA

On June 3, Margaret Hamburg, Director of the FDA indicated that the government agency would reexamine scientific evidence about potential safety issues with BPA. She promised a decision by early fall.

The FDA then postponed the decision until November 30th, promising at that time to have a decision by year's end. At the end of December, an FDA spokesperson stated only that no decision would be made by the end of the year.

Evidence Overwhelming

According to the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), the evidence of harm from BPA is overwhelming.

In a letter to the FDA, Ken Cook of EWG highlighted that, "Dozens of animal studies suggest that very low doses of BPA disrupt the endocrine system, undermine normal neurological and reproductive development and trigger a variety of chronic and serious disorders such as cancer, diminished brain function and intellectual capacity, asthma, obesity and diabetes."

Nearly Everyone Exposed

BPA is found in the blood of 93% of Americans and 9 out of 10 newborns. In addition to the dangers cited by Cook, BPA has been linked with sexual dysfunction, neural and behavioral problems, and heart disease. A study out of Harvard has indicated that drinking from plastic bottles made with BPA can increase levels of BPA in urine by nearly 70%.

Colon and Other Cancers Also a Concern

Cell studies point to the possibility that BPA causes other cancers, including those of the colon. At this point, there simply is no reason for BPA to be used in the food supply.

Go BPA Free

To date, only Eden Foods line of canned foods is BPA-free. If you can get Eden foods in your area, you may want to spend the extra money to go with this BPA-free option.

If you can't fit these more expensive canned goods into your food budget, focus on getting only your canned tomatoes from a BPA-free source. Acidic foods such as tomatoes are believed to absorb more BPA. For items such as tomato and pizza sauces go for glass jars if you can, to limit your exposure.

FDA Delays Decision On Cancer-Causing BPA...Again originally appeared on About.com Colon Cancer on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 11:41:51.

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