Susan Cohan Kasdas Colon Cancer Foundation

Dr. Fuhrman will be contributing to our website!

2010-02-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

Allow us to introduce Dr. Fuhrman and his insights…

In response to the numerous requests for information and an equal amount of requests for a Healthy Living Section on our site, the Foundation has enlisted the nutritional and lifestyle expertise of Dr. Joel Fuhrman. On a personal note, as Executive Vice President of the Foundation, I have read Dr. Fuhrman's books and subscribed to his website, which provides an online forum with Dr. Fuhrman to ask him questions directly in real-time. I also ordered some of his wonderful products. In fact, after just 8 weeks of following his program, I’ve lost 20 pounds, experienced extraordinary results in reducing my total cholesterol levels from 214 to 155, and I’ve achieved a overall nutritional balance.

After having the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Fuhrman personally, we are confident that he is the best individual to assist the Colon Cancer Foundation in providing to our followers the most current information on health, nutrition, and colon cancer prevention. Dr. Fuhrman has agreed to contribute on a regular basis with important updates on nutrition and health. You can view his website at www.drfuhrman.com

Joel Fuhrman M.D. is a board-certified family physician and one of the country’s leading nutritional medicine experts. He speaks to audiences at conferences and events throughout the United States and Canada. He is a frequent guest speaker at hospital grand rounds and has lectured at benefits for the American Heart Association and the U.S. Olympic Team. Dr. Fuhrman has appeared in hundreds of magazines, radio, and television shows including: Good Morning America, The Today Show, Good Day New York, America’s Talking, TV Food Network, CNN, Oprah & Friends, and the Discovery Channel.

His best-selling book, Eat To Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, published by Little Brown & Co. in 2003, has gone through 17 printings and several foreign language translations. The book describes Dr. Fuhrman’s high nutrient eating style that is the safest and most effective way to permanently lose weight and prevent and reverse disease.

Dr. Fuhrman’s most recent release, Eat For Health guides the reader through a gradual transition to increase the level of micronutrients in their diet, while losing the addictive and psychological dependencies of unhealthy foods. His other books include Disease Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right, Cholesterol Protection for Life, and Fasting and Eating For Health.

Dr. Fuhrman is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine. He is widely published in medical journals such as the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Orthopedics and Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, as well as consumer publications such as Readers Digest, NJ Savvy Living, Mothering Magazine and Health Science.

Dr. Fuhrman is the Medical Director of the Eat Right America Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Americans about the connection between appropriate food choices and long term health. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Health Association and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He sits on the advisory panel of The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and is a diplomat of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Fuhrman is also the Chair of Nutritional Excellence for the Nutrition for Wellness Foundation in East Hampton, NY. Dr. Fuhrman’s corporate wellness program offers corporations an interventional strategy for their employees to prevent and reverse disease while lowering company’s health care expenditures. His other corporate experiences include a position on the PwC Health and Performance Advisory Panel at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Joel Fuhrman is a former world class figure skater and was a member of the United States International and World Figure Skating Team. In 1973, he won Second Place in the United States National Pairs Championships. In the World Professional Pairs Skating Championships in Jaca, Spain in 1976, he placed third.

More and more research continues to prove that proper diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements can be of great value in the prevention of many diseases and specifically Colon Cancer. With that knowledge we are proud to provide you Dr. Fuhrman’s insight and will continue to provide the latest information on achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Your generosity will continue to enable our foundation to continue its mission to eradicate Colon Cancer as a life threatening disease. Please visit the donations section of our website and help us to reach our goals. For assistance please call our National headquarters at 410-244-1778. As always, you can reach me at bobby@coloncancerfoundation.org.

Susie’s Cause
ColonCancerFoundation.org
201NorthCharlesStreet
Suite2404
Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Dr Stein's Chronicles

2010-01-11T11:27:00.001-08:00

The Daily Grind

I recently saw a patient diagnosed with colon cancer. She was relatively healthy, and she was referred to me for a laparoscopic colon resection. I did what I always do. I spoke to her about the risks and benefits of surgery. I discussed what she can expect after surgery, from pain to bowel function. I discussed how we determine her pathologic stage and if she would need chemotherapy. Afterwards, she told me she was also seeking a second opinion and had the appointment already scheduled at a different institution. I told her, as I tell every patient, that I firmly believe my role is to help everyone who comes through my door, and that she has to be comfortable with and trust her surgeon, whether it was me or someone else.

She asked me all the usual questions – laparoscopic vs. open surgery, complications, and how many surgeries have I done, what are my results – and I gave her all my answers. She called me this past Monday morning and told me she was going with the other surgeon and his institution.I wished her the best and that was that.

Yet it gnawed at me for the rest of the day. Did I do something wrong? Did I not spend enough time with her? Did I make her wait too long in the waiting room? Did I not engender enough trust? Should I have done something different? Could I have done something better? Did I fail to help her?

It is inevitable that at some point in time each and every one of us asks the question “Am I doing a good job? Am I doing something worthwhile?” In healthcare, many people enter the field to do something special and to help make people better. In truth, most people enter a chosen area of work because they enjoy it, it stimulates them, and they like the people or lifestyle.

We are extremely excited when start on a new path – whether it is work, exercise or a hobby.We try to excel at what we do – whether it is trying a case, selling a product, cleaning a floor, running on the treadmill or programming a computer. However, as time marches on, the novelty and excitement wear off and we are faced with a daily grind. We become cogs in a wheel, and are unable to generate excitement and enthusiasm for our daily vocations. This is true in medicine as well.

After years of training, we enter practice, and treat thousands of people over the course of a few years. Yet it becomes a routine, tedious, mundane – no more novelty and excitement. Where am I going with this? No, I do not believe I am having a midlife crisis (my wife may disagree), nor am I planning on a career change, but I have started asking myself some tough questions - Am I doing everything I can to provide the best care? Am I staying on top of new research and developments in my field?

I recently read the book Better by Atul Gawande. The basic message is that to make yourself better than average, you need to be able to look in the mirror, critique yourself and implement a change. Whether it is a vocational issue or simply a lifestyle issue (I do need to eat more fiber……) we all have room to improve. It is how we deal with these day to day issues in our lives that will truly define us.

As the New Year begins – I am hopeful that we will all strive to choose an aspect of our lives that we can critique, improve upon and ultimately become better for it.

2009-10-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

COLON CANCER SCREENING MADE FASHIONABLE AT AARP’S VEGAS@50+

Fashion designer and colon cancer survivor Carmen Marc Valvo to encourage screening and early detection

The Venetian

Sands Expo and Convention Center, Hall C 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 12:30 – 1:30 PM

As more than 30,000 people gather in Las Vegas for AARP's national annual meeting October 22-24, 2009 organizers have invited renowned fashion designer and colon cancer survivor Carmen Marc Valvo and a representative of the national nonprofit Susie’s Cause to alert attendees about the importance of colon cancer screening and their options for early detection. Carmen will also host a fashion show featuring some of his most beautiful designs. Carmen’s feature session is being sponsored by Quidel Corporation, manufacturer of the QuickVue^{® iFOB (immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood) test.}

Colonoscopies can be costly for the uninsured and the 2009 Colorectal Cancer Legislation Report Card indicates that many states still do not require insurance companies to cover preventative screenings. While there is not a replacement for a colonoscopy, consumers need to be aware of potential lower cost screening alternatives recommended by the American Cancer Society and other organizations. This includes a yearly fecal immunochemical test also known as FIT, an at-home screening test available through healthcare providers that detects blood in stool which can be an indicator of colorectal cancer.

Carmen Marc Valvo, renowned fashion designer and colon cancer survivor. Carmen's designs, which are currently staples at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales, have been worn by some of the world's most recognized women, including Katie Couric, Kate Winslet, Vanessa Williams, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

COLORECTAL CANCER FACTS:

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009, almost 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and almost 50,000 people will die of this disease. Cancer of the colon and rectum combined are the third most common type of cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The majority of these cancers and deaths can be prevented through early screening and detection.

ABOUT SUSIE’S CAUSE:

Susie’s Cause is a nonprofit foundation that educates the public about the benefits of colorectal cancer screening. Susie’s Cause advocates screening if you are over 50 and are at average risk for colorectal cancer, and over 40 if you have a family history of colorectal cancer.

ABOUT QUIDEL CORPORATION:

Quidel Corporation serves to enhance the health and well being of people around the globe through the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of rapid diagnostic solutions at the point of care in infectious diseases and reproductive and gastrointestinal health.

Second Annual Golf Classic

2009-09-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

We are still accepting foursomes and sponsors for the Second Annual Susie’s Cause Charity Golf Classic to be held on Monday October 5, 2009. The tournament will be held in Frederick, Maryland at The Clustered Spires Golf Course and we are proud to announce that Kendel Ehrlich is the Honorary Chairwoman of this year’s Classic.

Join PGA Golfers Woody Austin and John Rollins and the many corporations and individuals showing their support for our work in eliminating colon cancer as the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women. Take part in this fun event or come out and cheer on the golfers as they shoot their way into Golf
Classic glory.

View all the details in our registration packet:
Registration Packet

A Woman's Strength and Courage

2009-09-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you one of the most moving letters we have received since we began Susie's Cause. It is a great reminder of all of the women that are touched by Colon Cancer and the tremendous strength and character that so of many these women possess. It is another wonderful testimony to the human spirit and the love and support that are all around us. We are very proud of our leading Board member Dr. Howard Berg for his role in Stacy's care and guidance. Most of all it reminds us of the work ahead of us to continue to educate the public and remove the stigmas of this dreaded disease.

Hello,

My name is Stacy Arthur and here is my story. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer 18 months ago and I am currently in remission. Rectal cancer is not glamorous. In fact, it is rather embarrassing because of the body parts involved and the tests and probes required for diagnosis and treatment. I have decided to reveal my painful ordeal to hopefully increase awareness of this disease. I want to thank the numerous medical personnel who provided me with such quality care. It is also a testament that you can win the battle against this nasty disease.

My life was pretty close to perfect on my 37th birthday in March 2008. A few days later on March 27, 2008, I was blindsided when I began to hemorrhage rectally after a nice dinner with my family. My five year old son was home and could not be left unattended. I calmly called my mother around 9:45 p.m. and asked her to pick me up and drive me to the ER. She and my step-father arrived and drove me to the hospital. Upon my arrival, I felt a great need to use the bathroom and before I could make it there, I passed out onto the lobby floor and blood clots the size of steaks began seeping through my pants. I was immediately taken back for treatment and started to receive blood transfusions. I was told that I had lost 3/4 of my blood and was extremely lucky to be alive. As each transfusion entered my body, it was quickly expelled. I believe I received four transfusions before the hemorrhaging began to subside. It took some time but I was finally transferred to the ICU around 1:30 a.m. I had a lovely nurse who saw the terror in my eyes and stayed with me most of the night. She did her best to assure me that the bleeding was not likely to be cancer related. Several other conditions can cause severe bleeding and with my age and lack of symptoms, cancer was the least likely diagnosis. Apparently, the rectum is very venous and severe bleeding can be common. With the bleeding stopped at least temporarily, the plan was to send me for a colonoscopy as soon as a space was available. Around 2:30 p.m. on March 28th 2008, I was taken down for my colonoscopy. The test took little time and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. When the doctor came to visit me in recovery, my mother asked him if it was cancer. She let him know that she was aware pathology reports were needed for true confirmation but with his experience, he should have a pretty good idea if it was cancer. He sadly shook his head and let us know that his experience lead him to believe that the mass was cancerous. Shortly after, I was transferred back to ICU with my mind racing but surprisingly, I felt rather well physically. The next couple of days passed with lightning speed and I was soon transferred to a medical/surgical unit. Dr. Jeffrey Alexander, my primary care physician of more than 15 years came to visit. He sympathetically explained my situation and told me that I would need to have a team of specialists assembled quickly. I don't know how he did it, but within 30 minutes, I was introduced to my oncologist, radiation oncologist, and three colo-rectal surgeons from the same practice. Dr. Howard Berg was the last to speak to me. He in no way sugar coated my situation. He let me know what I was up against and what steps I needed to do NOW! At the time I felt he was a little abrasive but I have come to admire him tremendously and appreciate his honesty however harsh it may be. The next two days were packed with diagnostic tests. I later learned that the Cancer Board of Maryland was meeting on Friday and the physicians wanted results back so my case could be presented during the assembly. I'm still not sure but I took that to mean that the top cancer physicians in Maryland would agree to the best plan of treatment after case review and discussions.

Pathology reports confirmed that I had a seven centimeter tumor in my lower rectum and treatment needed to be started immediately. The cancer had spread to 3 lymph nodes and had also invaded my vaginal wall. I believe the cancer was categorized as Stage III/IV because although it had spread, no major organs were involved. After my release from the hospital, my treatments began almost immediately. Initially, I visited Dr. Jason Citron for radiation treatments five days a week for five weeks. During week one and week five, I also visited my Oncologist, Dr. Richard Huslig for chemotherapy. Radiation was quite painful but I survived. Once the radiation was completed, I was given five weeks to allow the swelling to subside during which time I felt rather well. I have never really asked "Why Me?" but one thing does upset me. My doctors believe that this tumor was slow growing and had probably been present for several years. I was on fertility drugs for eight months and saw my GYN on a regular basis. Had she done a rectal exam this tumor most likely would have been discovered but rectal exams are typically done on women over 40. Having said that, I have also had some very reputable doctors tell me that this tumor was so large that it could have been detected during a vaginal exam.

On July 8th 2008, I was admitted to the hospital to undergo my major surgery not completely sure what to expect. I was however confident that I had the greatest group of surgeons working together to perform the surgery. I fondly referred to them as the A-Team. Dr. Berg and his partner Dr. Akbari were present for the colo-rectal piece. Dr. Neil Rosenshein who is a fantastic GYN Oncologist was on hand to perform the hysterectomy. Dr. Jeffrey Schreiber was the plastic surgeon who had the chore of putting me back together. At the beginning of the surgery, there was some hope that my rectum could be salvaged and I would only need a temporary colostomy. My surgery lasted about 8 hours and I was overwhelmed with joy when I opened my eyes for the first time and realized that I had made it through surgery. Many people were standing around me and I immediately had an uncanny feeling that there was bad news. Everyone smiled and kissed me and said how well I had done and I quickly asked "What is the bad news?" My gut feeling was right and I was informed that I had a permanent colostomy and my rectum was completely removed and replaced with a skin graft.

Using clinical terms, I underwent a total bilateral hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, partial distal vaginectomy as well as sigmoid colon resection with proctectomy, and abdominal perineal resection with a vaginoperineal reconstruction. In my words, I had a total hysterectomy, the cancerous mass and 20 some lymph nodes were removed (the mass and three original lymph nodes that were cancerous prior to radiation came back non-cancerous) Portions of my vaginal wall, my pelvic floor, my rectum and anus were removed. Muscles were removed from my abdomen and were attached to make a new pelvic floor and vagina. A skin graft was also removed from my abdomen and sewn over my bottom. I may have mixed up some medical mumbo jumbo but that is the basic picture.

As the anesthesia wore off, I was transferred to ICU in agonizing pain where I remained for eight long days, flat on my back with nothing to eat or drink. I was having constant hot flashes and despite the thermostat reading in the low sixties, I was still hot. Noise drove me insane and even though my eyes were closed, I was aware of everything going on around me. I did have one scare in the ICU where my heartbeat went out of control but that was soon regulated. On the 9th day, I was moved to a regular room but was still in agonizing pain and very paranoid. After my surgery, I was placed on a Fentanyl drip and it wasn't until it was discontinued did I realize my body did not respond favorably to that drug. Once I was able to take oral medication for pain, I was a little more relaxed and in control. I suffered a complication during my surgery and woke up only to find that my left leg was paralyzed. I could not do anything for myself. I was unsure if I would ever feel better.

I was still hospitalized on my son's 5th birthday. This was the absolute worst day of my life! Not the hemorrhage, diagnosis, pain or paralysis could compare to the feeling I had when he walked into my room and saw me with tubes everywhere on his very special birthday. We had presents, balloons and cake but he trembled when he got near me and kept asking to leave. I was so devastated to see him so scared. He was the reason I had been fighting so hard. I have a locket with his picture that is actually displayed on the outside. I wore this locket to every doctor's appointment and pointed out that dying was not an option for me because I had this son to raise. His 6th birthday just passed and I made sure it was extra special. He was allowed to have two parties and I am so incredibly thankful to be here to share it with him.

I was discharged on July 19th. The pain was still unbearable. My husband had to carry me upstairs and I needed help with everything. I had a large swollen open wound on my backside. I had a home health nurse and physical therapist come every day to pack my wounds and work to just get me out of bed. Then there was the issue of the ostomy bag to get used to. The bags have to be cut and placed just right so waste does not spill all over you. I had several drains left in to collect fluid which were awkward and painful. There were times when I couldn't imagine a time when I would not be in pain. Slowly, I began to regain my strength and made strides in baby steps. I was soon able to walk with a walker. It did take two months before I was somewhat able to manage to get around independently.

I was finally encouraged by my progress and then had to begin chemotherapy on Sept. 9th 2008. I was given oxaliplatin over several hours on a Monday and left with a fannie pack of 5FU that flowed through my veins until that Wednesday. So every other week, I was hooked to chemo for three days. Half way through my treatment, the oxaliplatin was causing permanent neuropathy in my hands and feet. I was then changed to Camptosar still in conjunction with the 5FU. I also received Neulasta shots to boost my immune system. My chemotherapy was finally finished on February 11, 2009.

While most of my story sounds quite gloomy, now I would like to give some insight to some positive outcomes of my illness:

FIRST AND FOREMOST - I AM ALIVE AND GET TO SPEND TIME WITH MY SON!

I am usually able to drive and have resumed working although it is a shorter work week making me somewhat independent.

My husband has stood by me during good times and bad. He carried me up and down the steps when I first came home and slept on the floor in the hallway with his head in my room my first few days home.

My family and friends have shown unwavering support. I have received over 150 cards, flowers, and meals.

I talk to my mother every day and she showed how much I meant to her when she took me for most of my treatments.

If you look, you can see beauty in life every day.

Material things are not important and can be replaced where people can't.

My mother-in-law was a tremendous support when I was diagnosed. She spent her time with me or took my son on special trips. She came to be a good friend to me. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with colon cancer on 10/1/08 and died 3/9/09. I cherish the time I spent with her and really miss her especially after we had grown close.

I would say that we are more closely bonded with all of our family members after this ordeal.

The staff from my place of employment have shown genuine concern for me over the months.

Coming so close to death has made me realize how much living I have left to do.

The anniversary of my surgery really forced me to do some soul searching. For a few weeks, I found myself depressed. During my fight, I never stopped to feel sorry for myself. I always had a hurdle that had to be crossed. Until recently I had no time to dwell on my experience and was always in fighting mode. I gained a considerable amount of weight following chemotherapy. I am very greatful to say that today I am cancer free. One thing that I didn't realize is that there are still complications that arise even though the cancer is in remission. I still suffer from fatigue as well as muscle,,joint, and bone pain. I still have a least four appointments a week for follow-up. I just hope to find a "New Normal"

I had the pleasure of speaking to Susie's dad recently and I hope that I can contribute to this cause. Make no mistake that I feel extremely lucky to be here and anyone that should find themselves faced with a medical such as mine, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

IT REALLY IS A BLESSING TO BE ALIVE!

Stacy Arthur

Dr. Stein's Chronicles

2009-08-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

Colon Cleansing and CAM

Cleaning colons is apparently the rage of the 21st century. Celebrities, friends and TV talk show hosts are all discussing it, but is it a healthy thing to do? Are there truly pounds of waste backed up in that colon that has accumulated over the past 20 years? The answer to the first question is maybe, the answer to the second question is an emphatic NO! The theories behind a build-up of waste were debunked in the early 1900s. The concept was called auto-intoxication, the idea that poisons in the stool built up over time and caused disease.

This theory was disproved more than a century ago. Yet it seems so logical that people say it must be true. When one truly understands how miraculous the human body is you realize that these theories make no sense. The body is designed to not waste anything - in fact our waste - the stool, contains the nutritional components that keep the colon healthy! Bacteria in our colon help our body modify the waste so it is usable for the cells in the colon lining, known as the mucosa. Repeated cleansing actually traumatizes the colon lining and may lead to problems such as colon ulcers, bleeding and perforation.

So why the obsession? It is true that most of Western Societies have an element of constipation, but this is mostly do to a lack of fiber intake. If we all took in the recommended dose of dietary fiber, and drank enough water, we would eliminate constipation, diverticular disease and symptomatic hemorrhoids. So if colon cleansing means taking high-dose fiber products, I have no problems with it. For a full review on colon cleansing feel free to go to http://www.betterbowel.com/articles/the-truth-about-colon-cleansing - an article I wrote a year ago.

Much of the publicity for colon cleansing comes from sources in alternative medicine. We have learned over the years that there is much value in understanding herbal remedies, and many of them work. Witch hazel is used for hemorrhoids, and is also the active ingredient in Preparation H (sorry - I can talk about this stuff for days). So how do you figure out what is reliable and what is pure fiction? You need to find resources for complementary alternative medicine.

So what is complementary alternative medicine, affectionately called CAM? Nobody seems to know. On the one hand, the Institute of Medicine defines it as follows: "Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of resources that encompasses health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes such resources perceived by their users as associated with positive health outcomes. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and the domain of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed."

I am not sure that helps - I did not understand that definition at all. The bottom line is CAM is what you make of it. It varies between people, religions, cities and countries. In some countries, CAM programs are run by medical physicians. In the United States, CAM has traditionally been independent of Medical Doctors. Many Naturopathic Physicians obtain degrees for Alternative Medicine via web based programs. The question is simply how one can decide if their CAM practitioner is well trained and understands the complementary nature of traditional medicine and alternative therapies.

Modern medicine has needed to embrace and understand the nature of alternative therapies and for most of the 20th century has failed to do so. Recently, academic medical centers have begun incorporating alternative therapies into their healthcare delivery systems.
My simple advice is to only use those CAM Centers affiliated with Medical Schools and Hospitals, such as the University of Maryland’s Center. This may help weed out alternative therapies that really have no basis in science or medicine, such as colon cleansing enemas. Did I mention colon cleansing enemas are a load of..........waste?

Dr. Stein's Chronicles

2009-08-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

An aspirin a day to keep colon cancer away!

The media has been buzzing about newly published data on the use of aspirin in patients with colon and rectal cancer. Since the 1980s, the genetic mechanism of colorectal cancer development has been known. Colon cells, called colonocytes, take a "hit" to one of their genes. The cells begin to grow abnormally, and they form disorganized tissue which can become a polyp. A second "hit" makes the cells even more irregular, and the polyp turns into a cancer. Although admittedly, this is a simplified version of the genetic mechanism, these are the genetic steps required for the development of cancer. Why does it happen to some people and not others?

The human body is complex. There is an interaction between a person’s immune system, the environment and genetics. These complex interactions are what determines who will develop cancer and who will not. We have known for some time about something called the inflammatory response. Basically, an increased inflammatory response may actually worsen injury – think keloid formation – the body tries so hard to heal it forms bigger scars as the cells grow more.

This response is mediated by a protein called Cox-2. This protein is stimulated during an inflammatory response, and Cox-2 also stimulates cellular growth. That is why the inflammatory response also promotes colon polyp and colon cancer growth – Cox-2 causes these cells to multiply at a faster rate.

This pathway has been extensively studied in patients with abdominal obesity (the metabolic syndrome), and the increased risk of colon cancer and polyps may be due in part to the increased production of Cox-2. Inhibiting Cox-2 has been studied for many years as a way to decrease cellular growth and reduce cancer risk.

Aspirin and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) decrease the inflammatory response and they inhibit Cox-II. That is why they are effective as pain relievers. The pain from an injury is due to the inflammatory response. This is also why aspirin benefits patients with coronary artery disease and heart attacks, as it decreases the injury to the blood vessels that supply the heart.

There have been prior studies in the New England Journal of Medicine and other journals showing aspirin use decreases polyp formation and may also reduce the risk of colon cancer. The study in this week’s JAMA showed that even after a diagnosis of colon cancer, aspirin use reduces the risk of dying from non-metastatic colon cancer by almost one third.

There are some caveats. Firstly, the aspirin used was full strength and not a baby aspirin, so there is the risk of side effects such as bleeding and GI problems. Second, not every colon cancer is caused by Cox-2, so the benefit is limited to those cancers that express the Cox-2 protein. That being said, I routinely recommend a daily aspirin to all of my patients that have had polyps or colorectal cancer. This study at least re-enforces this aspect of my practice, and tells us that an aspirin a day can keep some colorectal problems away.

Dr. Stein's Chronicles

2009-08-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Beginning

As I am now entering the world of the blogosphere, I cannot help but to think back to chronicle the events that brought me here. It was a cold night in December, 2004 (I really do not remember if it was cold or in December but it sounded good) and my cellphone rang. It was one of my patients who had undergone a laparoscopic right colon resection for a large polyp in the cecum and appendix. He was a few months out from surgery and he was doing great. He asked me if I was willing to speak with a colleague of his who was trying to get a foundation off the ground. I said sure.............. my life would never be the same.

I spoke with Bobby Smith and became involved in Susie's Cause. Together we designed websites, established the mission and I was fortunate enough to meet David Cohan. His passionate and articulate plea that no one desrved to die from colon cancer and suffer like his daughter had resonated within me. It was then I decided I would do everything I can to help this fledgling foundation grow. It was soon afterwards that we decided to combine interactive learning with the energy of teenagers, and the concept of The Save Our Parents Program was born.

Throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico The Save Our Parents Program has galvanised teens to educate their parents and loved ones about screening for colorectal cancer. Featured on the news and on morning shows, this program placed a unique stamp on Susie's Cause, and with each successful program, Susie's Cause repuation as a grass roots organziation that gets involved at the patient level has grown.

In the coming months, as a blogger for Susie's Cause, I will attempt to provide important or interesting information related to GI Health. Although alot of the information will be related to Colon and Rectal Cancer, I will discuss other topics as well. Even for me, there is a limit as to how often I can write about the colon.

2009-08-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

November Newsletter 2007

2007-11-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone and Welcome to our November 2007 Newsletter

The number of Americans who died of cancer has

dropped for a second straight year, marking a

milestone in the war on the disease, officials

said yesterday. More than 3,000 fewer Americans

died from cancer in 2004 than in 2003.

The biggest drop occurred in colorectal cancer, with 1,110

fewer men and 1,094 fewer women dying from the disease.

The decline with attributed to broader screening efforts and

improved treatment. The work that Susie's Cause

is going is effective and we need your help!

The Holiday season is rapidly approaching and there are many

wonderful causes seeking support. All of our supporters realize that

there are no more important than ours. We would like to take this

opportunity to thank you for your generous past donations to our

Foundation. Your dollars have been used to fund our Save Our Parents

program that helps educated people of all ages throughout North

America about the necessity of early screening for colon cancer. We

have been tirelessly working in High Schools, College Campuses,

Museums, Health Fairs, Hospitals, Community Events and many more

settings to reach out to tens of thousands of people. Our work has

consistently been featured on Comcast/CNN reaching millions of

viewers. We have continued our Sharing, Caring, and Surviving Colon

Cancer series to provide a day of physical and emotional support for

the colon cancer patients, their families, and friends. We spend hundreds

of thousands of dollars to create and implement the first live accredited

education series for 5,000 Primary Care Physicians in 10 cities, to better

educate them and attack colon cancer at a very important source.

As many of you know, we receive millions of visitors on our website,

which is the leading colon cancer website in the world. We take

great pride in responding to each and every person; personally doing

everything in our power to provide information, guidance, second

opinions from our brilliant medical advisory board, and often times

just someone to talk to. We have been able to arrange life saving

surgeries for people who simply could not afford their care. We are

saving lives each and every day.

However, this is just the beginning. Our most important work is

still ahead of us. There are still over 50,000 men and women who often

times die prematurely each and every year. Hundreds of thousands

of family members and friends unnecessarily lose their loved ones.

We are more motivated than ever to turn the tide of the tragedy

of colon cancer.

We have created a series of programs for 2008 that we believe will

raise the bar in colon cancer and all cancers for decades to come.

We will be able to provide education, support, and assistance for

millions of people. This is the most aggressive campaign ever devised

in the battle against colon cancer. We can only imagine the impact

that this could have had on the loved ones lost. We cannot bring Susan

back to her husband, children, and family. We cannot change the

past, but we can work harder than ever to stop a disease that is 90%

preventable and save countless families that pain that many

of you have endured. With your help we can literally change

the world!

We are asking you, our most generous contributors, to reach

into your hearts and help us fight the fight. Please hold onto

your passion and your memories for loved ones lost and support

the most aggressive campaign in history to help stop colon cancer

and help those battling this disease. Please visit the donations section

on our website www.coloncancerfoundation.org to make an online

contribution or send your check to:

Susie's Cause

201 N. Charles St. Suite 2404

Baltimore, MD 21201

For more information please contact our National office at 410-244-1778.

Again, thank you for your past support and Bless you for your continues support.

Robert Smith

Executive Vice President

Susie's Cause

colon cancer foundation

2006-03-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

Susie's Story

by David Rodman Cohan

My daughter Susan was a beautiful little girl and perfect child and sister. With her brightsmile and curly blond hair she literally lit up a room. Her piercing, innocent blue eyes, belied her inner grit and determination. Throughout her childhood she developed a wonderful, optimistic, perspective of the people, and the world around her. She cherished her family and friends and began to develop life long friendships. Susan attended college in Maryland with the desire to pursue a career in broadcasting, perhaps a news anchor. Throughout college, Susan worked at my law firm part time and familiarized herself with human resources and accounting aspects of the practice.

When Susan graduated from college, she submitted resumes to various television stations and at my suggestion she included her picture. Within one week, she received an offer from a public broadcasting station in Florida. However, her family values and a desire to start her own family kept her in Baltimore. She remained with my law firm and expertly managed all financial and administrative aspects of the practice. Susan then met her husband to be from Athens, Greece. They married and had two beautiful children, Alex and Demi. Her husband's business took them to Florida. We still spoke on the phone almost daily, and she maintained close relationships with her mom, brother, and two sisters, her other family members and friends in Baltimore.

On November 4, 2002, Susan celebrated her fortieth birthday. We all were excited that the Thanksgiving holiday was approaching knowing Susan and her family would soon be joining us in Baltimore. We couldn't wait to see her…. In the previous months, Susan had mentioned she was not feeling too well and was having stomach pain and rectal bleeding. She saw several doctors who told her it was nothing serious and prescribed laxatives. Susan, as always, was immersed in her family constantly putting her husband and children first. She quietly endured the pain and discomfort, but never discussed it with me or the rest of our family.

Then suddenly, our unimaginable nightmare began. Susie called me from the emergency room in Boca Raton, Florida. She had admitted herself earlier that day in excruciating pain that she could no longer tolerate. She had been told in the emergency room that she had an advanced stage of colon cancer and that she could only expect to live a couple of months. Susie was hysterically crying, and I was devastated. Her husband and I made immediate arrangements for her to be flown by air ambulance to Baltimore. Her husband and two children, who at the time were 6 and 8, accompanied her in the air ambulance, and when they arrived in Baltimore you could see the shock and distress in their faces worrying about Susan. Upon her arrival Susan came under the care of a brilliant oncologist, Dr. Rodrigo B. Erlich. Dr. Erlich was candid in his diagnosis and prognosis, but displayed so much warmth and compassion that Susan responded with incredible determination. Susan required emergency surgery which included a colostomy. The tumor in her colon at the time could not be removed surgically because it was too big. Awakening from the anesthesia, Susan was greeted by her husband, children, and the rest of our family. She responded with such cheerfulness and dignity, that no one could have imagined what she had just been through, both physically and emotionally. Her inner strength and her genuine concern for others inspired everyone touched by her.

Unfortunately, her war had just begun. Over the next six months, Susan endured five intensive rounds of chemotherapy which required her to travel on a continuous basis from Florida to Baltimore. She longed for her children, who were in school in Florida and could not fly with her on most occasions. Even though Susan was so weak she took the journeys back and forth as a loving mother so that she could spend as much quality time as possible with her children. It was heartbreaking to see Susan on so many occasions unable to drive them to school, to attend school programs or athletic events and do the many other things with them she could not do anymore. Susan became close friends with several mothers in Florida that she met at her children's school, and these friends were always there for Susan and displayed remarkable compassion for her.

At each round of chemotherapy, that lasted about six hours, she was always accompanied by her sisters, and most times also by her mother and me. The initial chemotherapy was a newly introduced protocol from Europe that did not cause hair loss. Susan was happy because she though it would be less traumatic for the children. Cat and pet scans were taken, and the results showed that the huge mass in her colon had been substantially reduced, and although the cancer had metastasized (spread) to her liver and her lung, the chemotherapy seemed to contain the spreading. Next, a skilled surgeon, Dr. Mukund S. Didolkar, performed an intensive seven hour surgery and was able to remove the shrunk mass from the colorectal area. A biopsy was performed on the mass, and surprisingly it was now cancer free.

Susie and the entire family's optimism soared. Three weeks later Dr. Didolkar was able to reverse the colostomy and Susan was able to regain normal bowel functions. Thereafter, Susan was being constantly monitored by cat scans and pet scans. There were cancerous lesions still found in her liver and lung. Susan once again had to travel back and forth from Florida to Baltimore for a number of surgical procedures to attack and burn the lesions in her lung and liver. This battle raged on for almost two years. In the midst of all of this, Susan's two sisters, Kim and Jody, along with her brother Allan, were urged to have colonoscopies. Susie saved her two sister's lives, as they both had pre-cancerous polyps that were removed during their colonoscopies. Susie, who was so selfless, was thrilled that although she had endured so much she had at least saved her sisters' lives. Susan's faith was unshaken. It was at this time that Susan and I discussed establishing the foundation because she wanted to save lives and suffering by telling people how horrible colon cancer is and how important it is to obtain early screenings. Susan's brother Allan left his business and literally put his life on hold to move to Florida and be a daily ally of Susan in her war and an inspiring uncle and buddy to the children. Susan's cousins were providers of love and care to her in particular, Stephanie, who spoke to her everyday and visited regularly helping her with the children.

Then Susie endured new and more intensive rounds of chemotherapy causing her to lose all her hair, but she joyfully had pictures of her and Allan, who is bald, taken and laughed and reminisced about how people had mistaken them for twins growing up. Alex and Demi cared for their mother with incredible courage beyond their years while their father Panos had to concentrate on Susie's care and continue his business at the same time. I constantly had to hold back tears watching the children care for her, because I could see the worry in Susan's eyes not for herself but for the pain she perceived she was causing the children.

We were always a close family but Susan's unanticipated tragic illness brought us even closer together physically and even more important spiritually. For two years she fought with the grace, courage and charisma of a proud young woman who refused to have self pity or bow down to this vicious disease. She never lost her beauty, nor did she complain. When people met her, they could not believe she was sick. Her faith was unshaken, and every time family and friends got together with Susie she inspired and uplifted all of us with her courage and remarkable attitude. She would say that "The heart is the only major organ that the cancer can not attack". Susie and I started the Foundation, and she had hoped to live to inform everyone she could reach how important it is to detect colon cancer in its early stage, as polyps; this early detection could have saved Susan's life. Susie wanted to have the Foundation help the efforts to eradicate colon cancer as a life threatening disease which is the second leading cancer related death.

The Foundation known as "Susie's Cause" is to remind all of us of everything about Susan's faith and courage and her adamant desire to help everyone and prevent unnecessary deaths and suffering from colon cancer. No mother or father should ever have to bury a child. No children should lose their brother or sister to this disease. No child should have to grow up without a mother or father. Observing her children without a mother is heart wrenching. Alex said to me shortly after Susie died, "Pop, I have two questions. How do you think mommy is doing as an angel, and why did mommy have to leave so soon?" He then cried as he told me how much he and Demi missed her hugs and kisses. In reflection, the only answer that made any sense was, "Mommy is doing awesome as an angel and she left so soon because as an angel, looking over us, she had hundreds of thousands of lives to save."