The Colon Club

In up to 75 percent of people who initially responded to cetuximab, the liquid biopsies picked up changes in the RAS gene before a standard imaging scan showed that cancer had returned, with computer modeling able to predict the estimated waiting time until the tumor would stop responding to the drug.

Often there's a misconception that more tests and more health care leads to better health, when data suggest the opposite is true.
The global Choosing Wisely campaign aims to educate consumers about risks of over-testing.
In the future, symptoms-based algorithms and new diagnostic tests might improve a doctor's ability to identify those at increased risk of bowel cancer for colonoscopy.
In the meantime, prioritising colonoscopy for patients who are at higher risk should be the goal.

It's hard to describe just how stressful losing your hair is. It's the public manifestation of what is going on inside
and it means you're no longer in control of the message.

...And in many countries in Europe, all of the Scandinavian countries, plus the UK, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, elsewhere, it was proven that by having centers in which rectal cancer care was focused with expertise and a multi-disciplinary team approach, outcomes improved...l

“By stimulating the ability of our immune system to attack tumor cells, this year’s Nobel Prize laureates have established an entirely new principle for cancer therapy.”

Abstract
Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota are associated with a number of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, including diarrhea, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and liver diseases. Probiotics, live microorganisms that may confer a health benefit to the host when consumed, are commonly used as a therapy for treating these GI conditions by means of modifying the composition or activity of the microbiota. The purpose of this review was to summarize the evidence on probiotics and GI conditions available from Cochrane, a nonprofit organization that produces rigorous and high-quality systematic reviews of health interventions. Findings from this review will help provide more precise guidance for clinical use of probiotics and to identify gaps in probiotic research related to GI conditions.

"One of the hardest things for a family care-giver is deciding when the benefits of medication
are worth the burden on the patient. It's a fine line to walk," she says.

If you are divorced, widowed or never married and develop cancer, watch out. You may get less aggressive treatment than your married friends.

We’ve often heard about studies showing that married adults are more likely to survive cancer than singles. But buried in those same studies is another finding that hasn’t made the headlines. When surgery or radiotherapy is the treatment of choice, patients with spouses are more likely to get it.

I had no idea that marital status might affect medical care until an oncologist, talking about what treatment to give me, asked if I have a spouse or children. When I said no to both, he looked genuinely concerned. “But how will you manage?” he asked. He then proposed to give me only one mild drug, although the standard of care was a much harsher — and more effective — combination chemotherapy. When I tried to describe my strong network of friends and extended family, he talked right over me.

If I hadn’t moved on to another oncologist who gave me the recommended treatment, I probably wouldn’t have survived.

Caitlin Miron has found something huge: She was honoured for discovering a chemical compound with the ability to prevent cancer growth, but it could also have significant applications in halting the spread of HIV, too. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Canada News, the Ontario PhD student revealed why her discovery could be more far-reaching — for everything from HIV to Zika — than originally reported.