In a nutshell This study investigated the predictors of recovery of patients with colorectal cancer two years after surgery. Researchers reported that depression and capacity to manage problems before surgery are associated with health and well-being in recovery two years after surgery. Some background The support a cancer patients receives...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the safety of localized surgery compared with total mesorectal excision (TME; bowel and lymph nodes around the tumor are removed) in early stages (0 and 1) of rectal cancer. Researchers reported that localized surgery is as efficient as TME in early stages of rectal cancer. Some background Chemotherapy...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated the causes of mortality in the period following surgery in colorectal cancer patients. Researchers suggested that post-surgery mortality is very often the result of other existing diseases rather than the result of technical complications of surgery. Some background Colorectal cancer is one of the most...
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The Central Dogma of Biology Doesn’t the title above sound imposing? Yet this central idea has moved biological science forward over the last 60 plus years. What we know about cells, genetics and cancer today relies on this “Dogma”: DNA carries our hereditary information and transfers that information in a process called transcription. In...
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We are made of elegant, interacting, dynamic structures called cells. The best estimate is that there are around 32 trillion cells in the human body. Today 5th graders begin to learn about cells and cell biology. But for the rest of us, who may be a bit rusty, or who aren’t as caught up with all the advances that have occurred in understanding...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated the association between the most frequent post-surgery complications and survival rates and recurrences (when the cancer comes back). Researchers reported that post-surgery complications have a strong impact on short and long term survival. Some background A high number of patients with colorectal cancer...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the protective effect of probiotics in the intestine of colorectal cancer patients after surgery. Researchers suggested that probiotics are beneficial for the intestine of colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgery. Some background Colorectal cancer patients are commonly subjected to surgery as part of...
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“Nixon asked, ‘Doctor, what do you consider the most pressing problem that medicine has today?’…My answer was simple: ‘Cancer.’ He said, ‘I’m amazed. Why do you say that?’ My reply was, ‘I think every physician who is dedicated and sincere never goes on the floor of a hospital where he has...
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In a number of posts here on Medivizor we have described research on weight and cancer. For example, we reviewed research on weight loss and patient survivorship and physical activity and patient survivorship. Here is an infographic by the American Institute for Cancer Research which provides some further information on the link between obesity and...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy (capecitabine and oxaliplatin, or XELOX) combined with bevacizumab (Avastin) as treatment for metastatic (spread to other areas of the body) colorectal cancer in patients 75 or more years old. Researchers suggested that XELOX plus bevacizumab was effective in patients aged...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated the impact of different durations of post-surgery chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced (spread to the lymph nodes) rectal cancer patients. Researchers suggested that longer post-surgery chemotherapy for stage 3 patients was associated with lower metastasis (spread to other parts of the body) rates and...
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In a nutshell This study investigated whether aspirin and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors improved the survival outcomes of colon cancer patients. The authors found that in comparison to non-users, patients who took aspirin or COX-2 inhibitors had better survival outcomes. Some background Studies have shown that the drugs aspirin and...
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