Imagine a 20-foot long replica of a human colon that you can walk-though!  That is what Hope Through Grace, Inc. is bringing for an exhibit at the The Texas Black Expo on June 16th and 17th, 2012 with the purpose to bring awareness to the Houston community of the importance of colorectal cancer prevention. Visitors will walk through a 20-foot long replica of a human colon and visually experience a walk through areas of a healthy colon, a few colon health conditions, and even colon cancer. The Texas Black Expo (http://www.texasblackexpo.com/2012-expo-events.html) event will take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas Houston, TX 77010.  We hope to see you there!

Hope Through Grace, Inc. brings the Adventure Colon to the Texas Black Expo June 16-17, 2012

WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) — Differences in screening account for much of the disparity in both colorectal (colon) cancer incidence and death rates between white and black Americans, a new study says.

The screening differences are responsible for 42 percent of the gap in cancer incidence and 19 percent of the disparity in death rates, according to the study.

The study also found that differences in survival linked to the stage of cancer at diagnosis account for an additional 36 percent of the disparity between blacks and whites in colorectal cancer death rates.

The results suggest that equal access to care could greatly reduce these disparities, according to the study published online April 18 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Researchers led by Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, then a visiting scientist at the American Cancer Society, used a computer model to apply colorectal cancer screening and survival rates seen among whites to black Americans age 50 and older. They then compared those rates to actual incidence and death rates in blacks to determine how much of the racial disparities in colorectal cancer rates are due to differences in screening or stage-specific survival.

Applying to blacks the screening pattern seen among whites would reduce the gap in colorectal cancer incidence rates among those age 50 and older from about 28 to 16 cases per 100,000, and reduce the gap in death rates from nearly 27 to 22 deaths per 100,000, according to an American Cancer Society news release.

The researchers also found that if blacks had the same stage-specific relative survival as whites, the disparity in colorectal cancer death rates would decrease to about 17 deaths per 100,000.

Altogether, differences in screening and survival accounted for 54 percent of the disparity in colorectal cancer death rates between whites and blacks. The researchers said the remainder of the disparity most likely is due to lifestyle factors that increase the risk (such as alcohol use, smoking, obesity and meat consumption) and decrease the risk (such as physical activity and hormone-replacement therapy in women after menopause).

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about colorectal cancer.

– Robert Preidt

SOURCE: American Cancer Society, news release, May 3, 2012

WASHINGTON – A new forecast on obesity in America has health experts fearing a dramatic jump in health care costs if nothing is done to bring it under control.

“If nothing is done, it’s going to hinder efforts for health care cost containment,” says Justin Trogdon, a research economist with RTI International, a non-profit organization in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.

• Extra weight takes a significant toll on health. It increases the risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, many types of cancer, sleep apnea and other debilitating and chronic illnesses.

“The obesity problem is likely to get much worse without a major public health intervention,” says the study’s lead researcher, Eric Finkelstein, a health economist with the Duke University Global Health Institute.

In an earlier study, Finkelstein and experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that medical-related costs of obesity may be as high as $147 billion a year, or roughly 9% of medical expenditures.

If the obesity rate stays at 2010 levels instead of rising to 42% as predicted, then the country could save more than $549.5 billion in weight-related medical expenditures from now till 2030, says study co-author Trogdon.

The obesity rate analysis was presented at the CDC‘s Weight of the Nation meeting. The study is being published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The increase in the obesity rate would mean 32 million more obese people within two decades, Finkelstein says.

Obesity has been one of the biggest contributors in driving up health care spending over the past 20 years, says Kenneth Thorpe, a professor of health policy at Emory University in Atlanta.

The obesity rate was relatively stable in the USA from 1960 to 1980, when about 15% of people fell into that category. It increased dramatically in the ’80s and ’90s and was up to 32% in 2000, according to CDC data. Obesity inched up slightly over the past decade, causing speculation that the obesity rate might be leveling off.

Finkelstein, Trogdon and colleagues predicted future obesity rates with a statistical analysis using different CDC data, including body mass index, of several hundred thousand people. Body mass is a number that takes into account height and weight. Their estimates suggest obesity probably will continue to increase, although not as fast as it has in the past.

Finkelstein says the estimates assume that the environment that promotes obesity in the USA has neared a peak. The country “is already saturated” with fast-food restaurants, cheap junk food and technologies that render people sedentary at home and work, he says. “We don’t expect the environment to get much worse than it is now, or at least we hope it doesn’t.”

Study is published at:

http://www.ajpmonline.org/webfiles/images/journals/amepre/AMEPRE_33853-stamped2.pdf

(Houston, TX-May 3, 2012) The story of The Bee Gees Robin Gibb, who has colorectal cancer and recently woke up after a 12 day coma is incredible as it is heartlifting; we look forward to hearing more about his story. In the meantime, here at Hope Through Grace, we continue our mission of offering eligible Harris County residents the chance to prevent colon cancer with a low cost or no cost colonoscopy.

Colorectal (colon or rectal) cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among adults in the United States.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented if everyone aged 50 years and older were screened, as recommended. According to The State of Health Houston/Harris County 2012, more than 40% of residents remain unscreened for this highly preventable and curable disease.

Hope Through Grace, Inc., (HTG) wants to change that by removing financial barriers that prevent people from getting the baseline colonoscopy.  Currently, this offer is afforded to at risk Harris County residents without health insurance.  To determine full eligibility, individuals need to contact us by phone (713.668.HOPE) for a brief consultation.

Colon cancer can be prevented through the screening method known as colonoscopy, which is considered the “gold standard” of colon screening. During a colonoscopy, when polyps are detected in the colon they can be removed, preventing cancer from developing.

Hope Through Grace has offered financial support for the baseline screening colonoscopy to dozens of people over the last decade; many of whom were found to have lesions.   Additionally, we conduct health education forums so that people will have a better understanding of how they might lower their risk while at the same time they will develop more healthy lifestyles.

Please call us at 713.668.HOPE (4673) to determine whether you are eligible. Remember, a colonoscopy could save your life!

28 Apr. 2012

Western diets are typically low in fibre and have been linked with a higher incidence of bowel cancer. Even though Australians eat more dietary fibre than many other western countries, bowel cancer is still the second most commonly reported cancer in Australia with 30 new cases diagnosed every day.
Dr David Topping, from CSIRO’s Food Futures Flagship, said this is referred to as ‘the Australian paradox’.

“We have been trying to find out why Australians aren’t showing a reduction in bowel cancer rates and we think the answer is that we don’t eat enough resistant starch, which is one of the major components of dietary fibre,” Dr Topping said.

These findings, published in the latest issue of The Journal of Nutrition, reinforce the fact that dietary fibre is beneficial for human health, but go further to show that fibre rich in resistant starch is even better.

“It’s not just the amount of fibre that we eat that’s important, but the diversity of fibre in our diet,” Dr Topping said.

“We studied various sources of resistant starch, including corn and wheat, and the results suggest they could all protect against DNA damage in the colon, which is what can cause cancer.”

Dr Trevor Lockett, colorectal cancer researcher with CSIRO’s Preventative Health Flagship, said Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of bowel cancer in the world.

“Research suggests that improving our diets could go a long way to reducing our personal risk of developing this disease, which would also have the follow-on benefit of reducing healthcare costs associated with bowel cancer.

“These new studies suggest that increasing the amount of resistant starch in our diets may be one important step along the path to reducing the burden of bowel cancer. It takes about 15 years from the time of the first bowel cancer-initiating DNA damage to the development of full-blown bowel cancer, so the earlier we improve our diets the better,” Dr Lockett said.

The recommended intake of resistant starch is around 20 grams a day, which is almost four times greater than a typical western diet provides. Twenty grams is equivalent to eating three cups of cooked lentils.

“Currently, it is difficult for Australians to get this much from a typical diet,” Dr Topping said.

“We have already had success in developing barley with high levels of resistant starch, and now our focus is on increasing the levels of resistant starch in commonly consumed grains like wheat. These grains could then be used in breads and cereals to make it easier for Australians to get enough resistant starch from their diet.”

Resistant starch is a component of dietary fibre that resists digestion in the small intestine and instead passes through to the bowel where it has positive effects on bowel health. Resistant starch is sometimes called the third type of dietary fibre (in addition to soluble and insoluble fibre) and is found in legumes, some wholegrain breads and cereals, firm bananas and cooked and cooled potatoes, pasta and rice. 

• A Medicare database study found that rates of colonoscopy increased for whites when colonoscopists were present in the community but decreased for black and Hispanic patients, thereby increasing the disparity in receving the screening test for racial/ethnic minorities.

• Note that the investigators had hypothesized that racial disparities for colorectal cancer screening would decrease in areas where colonoscopists were plentiful but found the opposite.

Communities that have more physicians available to perform colonoscopies actually have bigger — not smaller — disparities in screening rates between minority and white patients, according to a recent study of Texas Medicare claims data.

In the study of claims for nearly 975,000 Texas Medicare beneficiaries, colonoscopy use was higher in whites (40.7%) than in blacks (35.0%) or Hispanics (28.7%), reported Taylor S. Riall, MD, PhD, and colleagues from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

In areas where the availability of colonoscopists or primary care physicians was higher, there was an association with higher levels of colonoscopy use among whites. For blacks and Hispanics, the usage remained unchanged or actually decreased, they wrote online in Health Services Research.

Studies have shown that there are racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening. To explore the issue further, the researchers examined the associations between the availability of colonoscopists and PCPs, the racial/ethnic differences in use of this procedure, and interactions with availability of both specialist and primary care physicians.

Using the claims and enrollment data for 100% of the Medicare beneficiaries in Texas, the researchers selected those ages 66 to 79 in 2007. After various exclusions (interruptions in Medicare enrollment; race other than white, black, or Hispanic; or enrollment in an HMO during the study period of 2002 to 2007), there were 974,879 participants in the final analysis.

Physician availability was defined as the number of doctors per 10,000 people 65 or older in a given Hospital Service Area (HSA). A colonoscopist was defined as a physician who performed more than five colonoscopies a year as shown in Medicare claims data. A PCP was a general practitioner, family physician, general internist, or geriatrician as designated by their specialty codes on Part B claims.

After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, presence of risk factors for colon cancer, and income, the odds of undergoing colonoscopy were 20% lower for blacks (OR=0.80, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.82) and 32% less for Hispanics (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.69) when compared with whites.

In the model that included availability of a colonoscopist, those living in the area with the highest quartile of availability had higher odds of colonoscopy (OR=1.09, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18), but neither colonoscopist nor primary care physician availability had an impact on the racial and ethnic disparities.

In fact, the black-white and white-Hispanic disparities increased as the availability of colonoscopists increased. As an example, the author pointed out that blacks living in the HSAs in the lowest quartile of colonoscopist availability were 13% less likely to have the procedure than whites. Those in the highest quartile were 23% less likely than whites to have a colonoscopy.

One of the limitations of the study cited by the authors is that they included colonoscopies performed for any reason, without differentiating between screening and diagnostic purposes. Also, because their cohort included Medicare beneficiaries (all 65 or older) from a single state, the results may not be generalizable to younger populations or those in other states.

The authors also noted that the total number of colonoscopies in the Hispanic population might be reduced because of that group’s tendency to use other kinds of screening tests.

“Our data imply that increasing colonoscopist capacity alone may not improve colonoscopy use and may be associated with increased racial/ethnic disparities,” wrote the authors. “This finding takes on more significance given that our study population was uniformly covered by Medicare Parts A and B.”

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. No author disclosure information was given.  
Primary source: Health Services Research
Source reference:
Benarroch-Gampel J, et al “Colonoscopist and primary care physician supply and disparities in colorectal cancer screening” Health Serv Res 2011; DOI:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01355.x

By Shalmali Pal, Contributing Editor, MedPage Today

December 12, 2011

MedPage Today Action Points

•             A database study determined that the incidence of colorectal cancer has been rising in individuals under the age of 50 since 2001, at a time of decreasing incidence in older patients.

•             The increasing incidence was found especially in cases involving rectal cancer and more advanced stages of colorectal cancer, as well as in patients of nonwhite race/ethnicity and those lacking health insurance or Medicaid coverage.

Review

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among adults younger than 50 has increased by 2.1% in the past decade, according to results from a study of the National Cancer Database.

“The median age for young-onset CRCs was 44 years, with most (75.2%) occurring between ages 40 and 49 years,” wrote Yi-Qian Nancy You, MD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues, in a research letter published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The authors identified 64,068 cases of young-onset (before age 50) invasive adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum between January 1998 and December 2007. The increase was greater for young-onset rectal cancers (annual percentage change [APC] 3.9%, 95% CI 3.1% to 4.7%) compared with colon cancers (APC 2.7%, 95% CI 2% to 3.3%).

These results contrasted with those of people over the age of 50, in whom the incidence of CRC has been falling.

Geography, ethnicity, and financial status also played a role in the distribution of CRC incidence among this population.

“Compared with later-onset disease, young-onset CRCs were more prevalent among patients with nonwhite race/ethnicity (29.5% versus 17.6%, P<.001) who were not insured or insured by Medicaid (16.5% versus 4.7%, P<.001) and who lived in the southern and western parts of the U.S. (56.2% versus 50.3%, P<.001),” the investigators wrote.

In addition, advanced-stage disease (stage III/IV) was diagnosed more commonly in young patients, with an occurrence of 63% for colon cancer and 57% for rectal cancer.

The researchers found that one of the independent risk factors for advanced-stage disease was younger age:

•             Ages 30 to 39 versus 40 to 49 years: hazard ratio 1.21, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4

•             Ages 18 to 29 years versus 40 to 49 years: HR 1.4, 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.6

Race also was an independent risk factor, with an HR of 1.2 for African Americans versus whites (95% CI 1.1 to 1.3).

Insurance status was another factor:

•             Lack of insurance versus insured: HR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.3

•             Lack of Medicaid versus insured: HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 1.8

The authors commented that contributing factors to these trends may include a reluctance on the part of young adults to seek medical care and the large percentage of young adults without insurance or ready access to care.

Also, there may have been an underappreciation of the increasing risk for young-onset CRC, which led clinicians to overlook or dismiss nonspecific symptoms that may have been consistent with CRC. These symptoms included rectal bleeding, abdominal pain or cramping, and a change in bowel pattern.

Limitations of the research were that it could not establish the mechanisms underlying the observed sociodemographic disparities, nor did it explore the molecular basis of young-onset CRC. In addition, familial adenomatous polyposis was excluded, the authors noted.

The study was funded by a grant from the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Co-author Barry Feig, MD, reported links with Genomic Health.

Primary source: Archives of Internal Medicine

Source reference:

You YN, et al “Young-onset colorectal cancer: Is it time to pay attention?” Arch Int Med2011.

On Capitol Hill today, colorectal cancer experts and advocates will gather to promote the establishment of a national colorectal cancer screening program in an effort to save lives. In conjunction with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), Fight Colorectal Cancer, Olympus, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation will hold a briefing on Capitol Hill with several high-profile speakers, including Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., MPH, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Tonya L. Adams, M.D., a gastroenterologist and colorectal cancer survivor.
“Federal funding and support for colorectal cancer screening and prevention must remain a national policy priority to save lives and to combat this largely preventable disease,” said Gregory G. Ginsberg, M.D., FASGE, president-elect, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. “Prevention is the primary goal of colorectal cancer screening, which is accomplished by the identification and removal of polyps, growths in the colon, before they turn into cancer. Screening not only saves lives, but it saves money.”
The briefing sponsors are advocating for passage of legislation, the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act, which would establish a national program under the CDC for colorectal cancer screenings and treatments. The program would target the pre-Medicare population – those 50-64 years of age – who are considered at high-risk for colorectal cancer. The program would give priority to low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals who do not otherwise have coverage for colorectal cancer screening, diagnostic follow up, and/or treatment. The legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and in the House by Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jim McGovern (D-MA).
“While the Affordable Care Act will lower the cost of preventive services like colonoscopies for many Americans, the law will not do anything to increase awareness about the importance of early detection and screening. Today, even among those with health insurance, screening rates for colorectal cancer are much too low – less than half of those who should be screened get screened,” said Nancy Roach, chair of Fight Colorectal Cancer’s board of directors. “When the national breast and cervical cancer screening program was enacted in the mid-80s, the screening rate for breast cancer was around 29 percent. Today, that rate is close to 80 percent. It is time we made the same headway in the fight against colorectal cancer and enacted a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer.”
“Olympus has long been a champion of all efforts to fight colorectal cancer,” said Olympus Corporation of the Americas President and CEO, F. Mark Gumz. “Prevention is key for this disease and we’re heartened that our legislators have recognized this important fact and taken bold steps to ensure all Americans can get screened.”
The legislation would expand upon an existing CDC program, the Colorectal Cancer Control Program, which currently provides education and screening programs in 25 states and four tribes. Although the use of colorectal cancer screening has been shown to reduce the incidence of, and deaths from, this disease, utilization rates still lag behind other well accepted preventive services. The CDC reports that if all precancerous polyps were identified and removed before becoming cancerous, estimates show that the number of new colorectal cancer cases could be reduced by 76 to 90 percent and deaths could be reduced by 70 to 90 percent.
“Colon cancer has a five-year survival rate of over 90 percent when diagnosed early, but a survival rate of only 11 percent when diagnosed late,” said Christopher W. Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “Colon cancer screening has been proven to prevent cancer through the detection and removal of premalignant polyps. Less than 20 percent of the uninsured have been properly screened for colorectal cancer, which means that too many Americans are going without this lifesaving screening because they cannot afford it. This legislation will help stop a cancer that can be prevented in many cases and help to save lives, prevent suffering, and reduce the cost burden of colon cancer on our country.”
“Educating our policymakers about colorectal cancer and the effectiveness of screening is a high priority,” said Lisa Hughes, director of policy and advocacy for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “Educational efforts, like the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™ exhibit and Congressional briefing, can have a significant impact on the development of legislation and policy that improves access to screening for all individuals.”
Following the briefing, guests will meet for a reception featuring the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Super Colon™ exhibit, an 8-foot tall, 20-foot long replica of the human colon that is an interactive educational tool reminding Americans that colorectal cancer is preventable and beatable through proper screening.
About Colorectal Cancer
A report released by leading cancer groups in 2009 showed that from 1975 to 2000, colorectal cancer incidence rates dropped 22 percent and death rates dropped 26 percent. The decline reflects the impact of increased colorectal cancer screening, changes in lifestyle and diet, and improved treatments. Unfortunately, approximately 50,000 people still die each year from colorectal cancer in the U.S. In some ethnic populations and underserved communities, colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates remain disproportionately higher than in white Americans. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, excluding skin cancers, and is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. Based on scientific evidence, there is widespread agreement that regular screening can help prevent colorectal cancer.
ASGE screening guidelines recommend that, beginning at age 50, asymptomatic men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should have a colonoscopy every 10 years. People with risk factors, such as a family history of colorectal cancer, should begin screening at an earlier age. Patients are advised to discuss their risk factors with their physician to determine when to begin routine colorectal cancer screening and how often they should be screened. Screening for colorectal cancer is especially important because colorectal cancer is often present in people without symptoms. People should speak to their physicians about an appropriate screening schedule and which screening method is best for them.
For more information about colorectal cancer screening or to find a qualified physician, visit ASGE’s colorectal cancer awareness website at www.screen4coloncancer.org. To get involved in colorectal cancer advocacy and research, log on to the Fight Colorectal Cancer website at www.FightColorectalCancer.org.
About American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.
About the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Since its founding in 1941, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has been dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy. ASGE, with nearly 12,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education. Visit www.asge.org and www.screen4coloncancer.org for more information and to find a qualified doctor in your area.
About Fight Colorectal Cancer
Fight Colorectal Cancer (formerly the C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition) is the leading colorectal cancer advocacy organization in Washington, DC and demands a cure for the second leading cancer killer in the United States. In addition to our advocacy work, we offer support for patients, family members, and caregivers and serve as a resource for colorectal cancer advocates, policymakers, medical professionals, and healthcare providers. We also do everything we can to increase and improve research – at all stages of development and for all stages of cancer. Find out how you can get involved at FightColorectalCancer.org.

RELATED LINKS

http://www.asge.org

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 04:02 AM PDT

In 2007, 62 out of every 100,000 black men in the United States were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer, the highest rate of colorectal cancer of any US group.

Overall, men were more likely to get colorectal cancer than women — almost 53 of every 100,000 American males compared to 40 per 100,000 females.

Reporting colorectal cancer incidence rates for 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged regular colorectal cancer screening for all average risk adults 50 years and older to cut deaths from colorectal cancer.

According to the CDC, 142,672 Americans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007, including 72,755 men and 69,917 women.

Incidence rate means how many people out of a given number get a disease in a given year.  Colorectal cancer incidence rates are reported per 100,000 people.

Across all groups, 52.7 of every 100,000 men were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007 and 39.7 per 100,000 women.

The incidence rates per 100,000 men were:

• § Blacks: 62.0
• § Whites: 51.5
• § Hispanics: 44.8
• § Asian/Pacific Islanders: 39.7
• § American Indians/Alaska Native: 33.5

For women,  incidence rates were

• § Blacks: 47.1
• § Whites: 38.5
• § Hispanics: 32.6
• § Asian/Pacific Islanders: 31.1
• § American Indians/Alaska Native: 28.8

The CDC estimates that as many as 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented if all men and women age 50 and over were screened routinely.

Data comes from the United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Cancer Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report.