Born Since 1990? Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer Just Went Up

Born Since 1990? Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer Just Went Up By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD MSPH The age at which people at average risk of colon cancer should start being screened used to be 50.2 In May 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered it to 45. It’s been lowered because the age at which people are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) is going down even as the survival rate of people with CRC over 50 is improving.1 My son, he’s 28, was diagnosed in September 2019 with stage 4 rectal cancer, the tumor was [...]

Searching For Colorectal Cancer Treatment Answers

Searching For Colorectal Cancer Treatment Answers By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD MSPH Inspire members discuss their colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment options and choices in the Fight Colorectal Cancer Support Group on Inspire because there is a lot to discuss. While it’s the third most common cancer in the United States,1 determining a course of treatment for an individual’s CRC is a multi-step process.2 A positive test is followed by other tests: biopsies, scans, blood tests, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or others.3 Surgery is the most common treatment; but treatments can include chemotherapy, radiation, radiofrequency ablation, and cryosurgery; some are determined [...]

Hacking clinical trials: Two awareness and protocol strategies invented by patients and caregivers that work

Hacking clinical trials: Two awareness and protocol strategies invented by patients and caregivers that work By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD Patients with life-threatening diseases aren’t waiting for someone to make participating in clinical trials easier for them. They are breaking down the barriers themselves. Two of these innovative methods were described at a March 18 Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CITI)-FDA event, “Enhancing the incorporation of the patient perspective in clinical trials.”1 Breaking barriers to clinical trial awareness In 2012, Tom Marsilje and his team from Novartis presented a cancer drug he had co-invented at the annual American Society [...]