Caring4Cancer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Breast cancer patients with lower levels of vitamin D were far more likely to die and far more likely to have their cancer spread than women with normal levels, Canadian researchers reported on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The most common side effect observed in ongoing trials of Amgen Inc's cancer drug Vectibix is skin rash, according to interim analyses of pivotal trials of the drug in colorectal cancer released on Thursday.

Variations within the gene responsible for epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) may be predictive of differing outcomes between male and female patients diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. Details of the study have recently been published in the Journal of Cancer Research.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study suggests that firefighters face higher-than-average risks of several types of cancer, adding to evidence that the job carries hazards beyond the fires themselves.

A recent trial conducted at 15 different medical centers in Korea indicates that a physician must perform at least 150 colonoscopies to be considered competent at the procedure. Details of the study were recently published in the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

A recent study conducted by the American Cancer Society reports that although few cancer survivors follow recommendations for lifestyle changes aimed to improve health and well-being, adhering to these guidelines may improve quality of life among colon cancer survivors. Full details of the study were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Taking drugs that block the secretion of gastric acid does not appear to increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to a new report.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Whether variant forms of a gene called EGFR increase or decrease survival with colon cancer depends on whether the patient is male or female, new study findings indicate.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans may be much more willing to get genetic tests showing predisposition to diseases with this week's expected final passage by Congress of a bill barring discrimination based on one's genetics, experts say.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many African-American women may overestimate the number of cancer screening tests they have had, potentially putting them at risk of late cancer detection, a small study suggests.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Minorities in the U.S. have particularly low rates of colon cancer screening, but guidance from a patient "navigator" might help more people get tested, a study suggests.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with large bellies may die earlier of heart disease and cancer than other women, regardless of their weight, a large U.S. study suggests.

The COX2-inhibitor Celebrex® (celecoxib) reduces the rate of colon adenomas at five years and appears safe, even among patients with cardiovascular disease. These results were recently presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men, unmarried adults and those with low incomes are less likely to accept an offer of free colon cancer screening, a new study suggests.

The combination of the difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and sulindac reduces the rate of colon adenomas (growths or polyps) by up to 95% among patients who have had prior colon polyps. These results were presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Combining a low dose of DFMO (difluoromethylornithine), a substance being evaluated for cancer treatment, with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), reduces the risk of new colorectal polyps, an early sign of colon cancer, by as much as 95 percent, researchers said on Monday.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Latinas think they have a higher risk of cancer than women from other ethnic groups, while Asian women have a consistently lower estimation of their cancer risk than women of other races, according to the findings of the first study of how race and ethnicity influences women's perception of cancer risk.

The combination of Erbitux® (cetuximab) and Camptosar® (irinotecan) may be more effective than Camptosar alone for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer that is positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor. This study was recently published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Extensive cleansing of the bowel is not necessary for patients undergoing virtual colonoscopy, Dutch researchers report in the journal Radiology.

Researchers have identified a test to predict which patients with colorectal cancer would likely respond to treatment with Erbitux® (cetuximab). Details of the study were recently published in the Annals of Oncology.

A large study conducted in Austria reveals that large weight gains or losses may influence an individual’s risk for developing certain types of cancer, including colon cancer. Complete details of the study were published in the Annals of Oncology.

As the month of March brings colon cancer into focus, it’s a great time to increase public understanding of the disease, including its prevalence, approaches to screening and prevention, treatment options, and resources that offer updated colorectal cancer information throughout the year.

TORONTO (Reuters) -- When it comes to ways to keep track of our health, a daily peek in the toilet bowl is probably not what first comes to mind. But one gastroenterologist says that your bowel movements can be an important clue to the state of your digestive health.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Obese women, particularly white obese women, are less likely than their thinner peers to be screened for breast and cervical cancers, researchers reported Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new test that analyzes genetic material can tell doctors the source of some mysterious cancers and perhaps help provide a short-cut for treating them, Israeli researchers reported on Sunday.

A certain common colorectal polyp is much more likely to be malignant than previously thought. Results from this study, conducted at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. guidelines on checking people for colon cancer offer a range of choices, including so-called virtual colonoscopies and at-home tests.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The most dangerous types of pre-cancerous lesions in the colon could be missed by colonoscopies, researchers cautioned on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Testing men with prostate cancer for a substance called endoglin in their blood may help doctors know if the cancer has spread outside the gland to the lymph nodes, new research shows.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many older Americans are not up-to-date with their colorectal cancer screening exams, report researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.

A recent study finds that individuals with a history of long-term, heavy tobacco use were diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a significantly younger age than individuals who had never smoked. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who have used birth control pills seem to have a slightly decreased risk of colon cancer as they age, a new study suggests.

Excess bodyweight increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, according to results recently published in The Lancet.

Healthcare providers can greatly influence the rates at which patients undergo screening for colorectal cancer. These results were recently published in the journal Cancer.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A syndrome that increases the risk of some skin cancers may be a subset of a syndrome that increases the risk of colon cancer, report researchers from The Ohio State University, Columbus.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The most important factor that influences whether or not people undergo screening for colorectal cancer is a discussion of the topic with their doctors, new research findings indicate.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who routinely take aspirin seem to be less likely to develop colorectal cancer, according to new research findings. However, the benefit requires the dose of aspirin to be higher than usually recommended for heart health, and to be taken over at least 6 years.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Cigarette smoking appears to promote the development of polyps in the colon, especially those that are more likely to progress to cancer, a research review suggests.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Coaching from a peer who has been there and done that can help people go through with a first-time colonoscopy, new research shows.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A large new study confirms that physical activity reduces colon cancer risk.

According to results recently published in Lancet Oncology, chemotherapy for Stage II colorectal cancer appears to provide a modest improvement in survival

According to results recently published in the Archives of Surgery, a second surgery to remove colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver can significantly improve survival

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a large study of U.S. veterans, the use of a commonly prescribed class cholesterol-lowering drugs called "statins," which include drugs such as Lipitor, reduced the cancer rate by about 25 percent.

LONDON (Reuters) - A little more sunshine might help you live longer, according to new study findings suggesting that for some people health benefits from the sun outweigh the risk of skin cancer.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. blacks continue to get inferior cancer treatment compared with whites, researchers reported Monday in a study showing that disparities first documented in the early 1990s persist despite efforts to erase them.

LONDON (Reuters) - A married couple who sailed to America from England around 1630 are the reason why thousands of people in the United States are at higher risk of a hereditary form of colon cancer, researchers said on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In women with advanced breast cancer, progression-free survival (that is, a patient remaining alive without the disease getting worse) is improved with the addition of Avastin to the commonly-used drug paclitaxel, but overall survival is not affected, according to a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine this week.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Even with the offer of a free colonoscopy, close relatives of patients with colorectal cancer are apparently reluctant to undergo screening, Spanish researchers report.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Compared with the general population, patients with schizophrenia appear to have an elevated risk of colon cancer and a lower risk of respiratory cancer, according to a report in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

According to an article recently published in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal, increased consumption of beef, pork, lamb, or processed meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham significantly increases the risk of developing several types of cancers.