Preventing disparities in colon cancer screening

How to prevent disparities in colon cancer screening – People living in poverty are less likely to be screened regularly for colorectal cancer — and more likely to develop the disease and die from it. How to end these disparities — and raise screening rates, lower disease rates, and prevent deaths?

Prevent colon cancer with colon cancer awareness

Work with your health care provider to find out what your personal risk is and how often you should be screened. Have you had your colon cancer screening test? – March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in US. “Colon cancer can be prevented with screening and removal of any polyps before they develop into cancer” says Sheryl M. Ness, R.N., Mayo Clinic nurse educator.

Electronic health records improve patient care quality

Electronic health records shown to improve the quality of patient care — New Weill Cornell study provides compelling evidence that commercially available electronic health records are associated with better physician performance – A new study provides compelling evidence that electronic health records (EHRs) enhance the quality of patient care in a community-based setting with multiple payers, which is representative of how medicine is generally practiced across the United States.

Zaltrap for metastatic colorectal cancer approved by FDA

FDA approves Zaltrap for metastatic colorectal cancer – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zaltrap (ziv-aflibercept) for use in combination with a FOLFIRI (folinic acid, fluorouracil and irinotecan) chemotherapy regimen to treat adults with colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer and rectal tumor constitute a single type of cancer

Study shows colon and rectal tumors constitute a single type of cancer — The Cancer Genome Atlas generates genomic data for colon and rectal cancers that point to potential targets for treatment – The pattern of genomic alterations in colon and rectal tissues is the same regardless of anatomic location or origin within the colon or the rectum, leading researchers to conclude that these two cancer types can be grouped as one, according to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project’s large-scale study of colon and rectal cancer tissue specimens.

GI cancers risk higher among childhood cancer survivors

Study finds high risk of GI cancers among childhood cancer survivors – Survivors of childhood cancers are at an increased risk of another battle with cancer later in life, according to new research published by the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers found that childhood cancer survivors develop these malignancies at a rate nearly five times that of the general population.

CT colonography a front line colorectal cancer screening tool for seniors

A recent analysis of data collected in the National CT Colonography Trial conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network confirms the efficacy of the exam as a front line colorectal cancer screening tool for seniors – Computerized tomographic (CT) colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, is comparable to standard colonoscopy in its ability to accurately detect cancer and precancerous polyps in people ages 65 and older.

Regorafenib improves survival of colorectal cancer patients

Drug improves survival of colorectal cancer patients, trial results show – Regorafenib – an investigational drug – slowed the progression of tumors and lengthened the lives of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. This is the first novel agent in eight years to show improvement in overall survival of colon cancer patients who have run out of treatment options.

Cancer screening in older adults appears common, US

Cancer screening among older adults appears common — What is the Right Cancer Screening Rate for Older Adults? – A high percentage of adults age 75 years and older continue to report receiving cancer screenings, despite U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommending against routine screening for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer for patients age 75 years and older.