Gastrointestinal Cancer

USPSTF issues draft recommendations.

The oral nucleoside TAS-102 (Lonsurf) received FDA approval today for the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) who are not responding to other treatments.

The US Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft guideline today recommending the use of low-dose aspirin for certain individuals for the prevention of CRC and cardiovascular disease.

For patients with stage III colon cancer, drinking four or more cups of coffee per day may reduce risk of recurrence by 42% and death by 34%.

Researchers have identified three "hotspots" in the United States where progress on reducing death rates from colorectal cancer have lagged, shining a light on areas of the country where efforts to increase screening uptake and promote healthier lifestyles could make a big difference.

Though having a high body mass index is associated with a higher risk for colorectal cancer, patients who are thinner may not do as well after treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.

Susan R. Mazanec, PhD, RN, AOCN, Research Assistant Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, discusses a study that examined activation for health management in colorectal cancer patients and their family caregivers during the transition to post-treatment survivorship.

Lynch syndrome (LS) is a hereditary syndrome that causes a marked increased risk of colorectal and other cancers. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means that it is due to a mutation in one copy of a gene (in LS, a DNA mismatch repair gene).

Oncology nurse navigators are known for identifying gaps in cancer care, being proactive in setting goals to address them, and designing specific interventions that lead not only to better-and measurable-outcomes but also to increased patient satisfaction.

A recent study joins a body of evidence suggesting that long-term, regular aspirin use is associated with a reduced risk for cancer, with the most dramatic reduction being seen in colorectal cancer incidence.

Carmela Hoefling, RN, MSN, APN-C, AOCNP, advanced practice nurse, Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Oncology Program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, discusses the findings of a project on pancreatic treatment, care, and risk factors.

Although the treatment landscape for advanced pancreatic cancer has expanded in recent years, this diagnosis remains one of the most devastating for patients and their loved ones.

A new study has shown that men with a high fitness level in midlife are not only at a lower risk of developing lung and colorectal cancer, they're also at a lower risk of dying from cancer if they're diagnosed later in life.

Based on results from a new study, researchers now have a better understanding about the mechanisms behind the link between aspirin, NSAIDs, and colorectal cancer prevention.

Karen Chelcun Schreiber was first touched by gastric cancer in 1982, when her mother Elaine died of the disease at age 52. She was impacted again in 2007 when her brother Greg was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer. He was 56.

Carmela Hoefling, RN, MSN, APN-C, AOCNP, advanced practice nurse, Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Oncology Program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, discusses some of the challenges that nurses face when treating patients who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

When survivors of colorectal cancer smoke, their risk of death more than doubles compared with their counterparts who do not smoke, a new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society has found.

When motivating people to get screened for cancer, fear may not be the best way to do it.

Changing the administration schedule for gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) from weekly to every other week significantly reduced side effects without impacting efficacy as a frontline treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to a retrospective study presented at the 2015 GI Cancers Symposium.

Researchers from the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered new gene mutations that are unique to colon cancer in African American patients, who have the highest incidence and death rate from the disease.

Patients with newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had higher levels of vitamin D in their blood lived a median of 8 months longer and experienced greater disease-free survival after their cancer treatment

Decline seen for older adults but rates are rising for young adults.

The Colon Cancer Alliance is holding a summit, titled "Fighting a Smarter War on Colorectal Cancer" on December 4-6th.

Families are communities within themselves-full of intrigue, adventures, worries, joys, and assorted characters.

Findings from two studies are shining a light on demographic and socioeconomic factors impacting who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC), who is more likely to die from it, and what preventive measures might make a difference.

A list of events for the month of November

The Colon Cancer Alliance will be awarding 20 individuals with $300 each to help offset the cost of receiving a colonoscopy.

Patients with certain lung and colorectal cancers whose physicians participated in weekly, treatment-focused tumor board meetings had improved survival and were 60% more likely to enroll in a clinical trial

As new therapies enter the treatment landscape for metastatic disease, the role of the oncology nurse becomes even more critical in educating patients about what side effects to look out for and the importance of reporting any adverse events promptly.

A new study has found that obesity and high inflammation during adolescence was associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer later in life