Colon Cancer

Actress Farrah Fawcett, 62, was diagnosed with anal cancer almost three years ago in September 2006. She died today at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., of anal cancer.

Former “Charlie’s Angel” Fawcett declared herself cancer-free four months after her initial diagnosis. The cancer was reported to return in May 2007. She then traveled to Germany for alternative treatment and documented her experiences.

The higher the number of African Americans in a U.S. county, the lower the number of specialists who diagnose and treat colorectal cancer.

That’s according to University of Michigan’s Awori J. Hayanga, M.D., M.P.H., who, with colleagues, analyzed data from the 2004 version of the Area Resource File, a nationwide database of health care, economic and demographic information.

The database is derived from a variety of sources and comprises data from all 3,219 counties in the United States.

With a pre-emptive, prophylactic skin regimen, patients who receive panitumumab for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer may be able to avoid some of the skin-associated toxicities, according to data being presented at the 2009 ASCO Annual in Orlando.

The vast majority of advanced colon cancer patients in a clinical trial were not concerned about the cost of prescription drugs for managing chemotherapy side effects, such as infection, pain and nausea, and few adopted strategies to reduce drug cost burdens after joining the clinical trial, according to a study led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

The combination of chemotherapies 5FU and oxaliplatin compared to 5FU alone after surgery for colon cancer decreases colon cancer recurrence and promotes longer survival for patients under 70 — but not for those who are older, according to Mayo Clinic and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists who will present their findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Nearly nine million people watched a special documentary dedicated on how Farrah Fawcett copes with her anal cancer and to her farewell message to the American public. According to friends, Farrah cried watching that documentary. She bravely documented her three year battle with anal cancer with an home camera.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided as of yesterday not to cover CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening.

CMS began looking at its policy regarding virtual or CT colonography in May 2008. Over the past year they have looked at the submitted comments, clinical studies and other scientific information related to the technology.

Researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center are trying to test ways to improve colorectal cancer screening participation among patients age 50 and older who are treated within the OSU Primary Care Network.

Compared to screening exams for other cancers, Americans are less likely to obtain regular colorectal cancer screening, said principal investigator Electra Paskett, associate director of Population Sciences at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced a new on-line resource to enhance awareness of colon and rectal (colorectal) cancer risk and genetic testing for hereditary colorectal cancer.

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) recognizes March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Michigan, is largely preventable, beatable, and treatable.

In 2006, 910 men and 984 women died of colorectal cancer in 2006. Michigan is ranked 31st in the nation in colorectal cancer deaths. The good news is that screening tests can find polyps - abnormal growths in the colon or rectum - early when the chance of being cured is more likely.