Audio Recordings or Summaries of Doctor Visits Helpful to Cancer Patients

Patients find it valuable when doctors provide cancer patients and their families with either an audio recording or a written summary of their visit. Most read the summary or listened to the recording at least once, and they shared the records with their families

Researchers at the Cochrane Collaboration reviewed randomized studies of the effect of providing a recording or a written record of a visit to cancer patients. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 20th, 2008
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Call for New Staging System for Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Experts in treating colorectal cancer that has spread to distant sites say that the need for a better staging system for advanced disease is urgent. More specific staging could identify patients whose cancer could be cured with surgery.  For others, modern chemotherapy might make curative surgery possible.

In addition, a more precise staging system, with more categories, would provide better survival prognosis.

Currently all patients whose cancer has spread beyond their colon or rectum to distant sites (metastatic colorectal cancer) are lumped together in one group, classified as stage IV or Dukes D.  No difference is made for those who have liver tumors that could be surgically removed or those where chemotherapy might make surgical cure possible. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 19th, 2008
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Tags: metastatic colorectal cancer, staging, surgery

Journalist Leroy Sievers Dies

Leroy Sievers, who built a community of support and caring with his blog My Cancer, died Friday, August 16, 2008 at his home in Maryland. He was 53.  His wife, Laurie Singer survives him.

First diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001, he found out four years later that it had spread to his brain and his lungs.  Pushing his doctors for the worst-case scenario, they told him six months.  Shortly afterwards he aired the first of a series of commentaries on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 16th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 1 Comment »
Tags: obituaries

People Don’t Know that Exercise Reduces Colon Cancer Risk

Although physical activity reduces colon cancer risk, few Americans are aware that exercise can help prevent it.

Only 15 percent of people responding to the Health Information National Trends Survey listed physical activity as one way to reduce the chances of getting colon cancer.

Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 11th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 2 Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer prevention, exercise

Depression Can Hasten Cancer Death

Depressed patients with advanced cancer die sooner than those who are not depressed.  The more serious the depression, the more likely they are to die prematurely.

Researchers in the United Kingdom screened cancer patients for depression using tests that were originally designed to diagnose depression in women after childbirth.  They looked at feelings of worthlessness and sadness and thoughts of suicide, as well as measuring pain and cancer symptoms.  They found a little less than one-third (29 percent) of advanced cancer patients were depressed.  Six months later half of those identified patients who were still alive remained depressed. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 10th, 2008
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Tags: depression, palliative care, survival