Colorectal Cancer

Sending a text message reminder to participants about their upcoming fecal immunochemical test improved previously poor adherence rates for colorectal cancer screening.

Danielle Ripley-Burgess, a two-time colon cancer survivor, discusses why she wrote a book about her journey and how her experience strengthened her faith.

While aspirin has been shown to be a protective factor against colorectal cancer in younger adults, recent findings show that the benefit is nonexistent in individuals over the age of 70.

Patients with rectal cancer who maintain a clinical complete response – meaning they are found to have no evidence of disease – after three years, may not need as frequent surveillance after that point, due to a decreased chance of regrowth and metastases.

In the final analysis of the phase 2 TASCO1 trial, patients within the Lonsurf and Avastin arm reached a median overall survival of 22.31 months compared with 17.67 months in the Xeloda and Avastin arm.

The researchers concluded that the overall low health-related quality of life scores for young CRC survivors in the categories of social and functional well-being should be targeted by appropriate methods, which could include counseling and quality of life interventions.

Several studies have identified an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among those suffering from a chronic condition such as Crohn’s disease, diabetes, or obesity. Interestingly, this association is particularly evident among millennials, meaning those who were in the 22-37 age group between 2014 and 2018.

Aside from the physical challenges associated with colorectal cancer, managing the many health administrative aspects of a chronic disease is an added burden to the lives of patients and their caregivers.

A shared decision-making tool is an approach that allows the clinician to collaborate with the patient in reaching evidence-informed decision making.

National guidelines recommend initial surveillance colonoscopy one year after colorectal cancer surgery, but only 57.5% of patients received one in this study due to racial disparities.

As we enter the holiday season, we know that quality time spent connecting with family is upon us. Even if your gatherings are virtual this year, we encourage you to bring up your family medical history and support each other in understanding your family’s risk factors for colorectal cancer.

For one cancer survivor, laughter might have been the best medicine.