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Understanding Cancer SeriesDecember 7, 2009, 5:25PM
Colorectal cancer mortality rates have been declining in the last decade. Along with screening, advances in colorectal cancer treatment have played a pivotal role in reducing mortality rates. Surgery, traditional chemotherapy and newer targeted therapies have been important tools in treating this disease.
May 23, 2006
Molecular diagnostics is a new approach to understanding the biology of cancer. It offers the ability to characterize the genes, proteins and biochemical pathways within a cancer cell. Using molecular diagnostics to define the genetic profiles of cancers has been a pivotal development in the delivery of more effective treatments for cancer. For some cancers, clinicians can select the most effective therapy based on the specific genes expressed in a patient’s tumor.
November 2, 2005
Pain can be a harsh reality of cancer, whether the pain is related to a tumor or caused by treatment of the disease. Some studies show that 30 percent to 50 percent of patients undergoing active treatment for cancer and 70 percent of those with advanced stages of the disease experience significant levels of pain and may be reluctant to discuss their pain with their doctors.