Princess Health and Grants of up to $10,000 available for Kentucky communities to fight colon cancer; applications are due July 15.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Grants of up to $10,000 available for Kentucky communities to fight colon cancer; applications are due July 15.Princessiccia

cancer screening colorectal cancer grants prevention

Gusty 09:43 Add Comment

The Colon Cancer Prevention Project has a new "Project Innovation" grant program to help fund local innovative ideas to get more people screened for colon cancer in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Kentucky ranks first in colon-cancer diagnoses and fourth in colon-cancer deaths. It is estimated that 60 percent of deaths from colon cancer could be prevented if everyone were screened at age 50, according to the project's website.

The project, based in Louisville, is a partner in the national initiative to increase colon screening rates to 80 percent by 2018 and hopes to reach this goal by expanding into new communities through volunteer participation.

With this goal in mind, the project is offering up to $10,000 in grants to help individuals lead efforts to raise awareness in their communities about colon cancer and educate people about the importance of screening. The number of approved projects and the amount of funding will depend on the number of applications received and the perceived effectiveness of the project.

Anyone who creates a project to support the expansion of the Colon Cancer Prevention Project that will serve Kentucky or Southern Indiana can apply.

Projects should target African Americans or rural areas of Kentucky and Appalachia. Preference will be given to projects that focus on these counties: Whitley, Knox, Bell, Clay, Madison, Fleming, Morgan, Martin, Pike, Hopkins and Hardin. However, all applications will be considered.

Project requirements can be found online and applications will be accepted through July 15. For more information and access to the application, click here: http://coloncancerpreventionproject.org/help-kick-butt/project-innovation/

Princess Health andHow has the federal health-reform law changed your care?.Princessiccia

Princess Health andHow has the federal health-reform law changed your care?.Princessiccia

cancer screening doctors electronic health records immunizations obamacare physicians prevention vaccinations women's health

Gusty 15:04 Add Comment

Despite the controversy that continues to surround the Patient Protection and Affordable Act five years after its passage, it has probably changed the way your health care is delivered as it drives new models of payment, forces providers to approach care differently, and changes how health care is evaluated, Kavita Patel and Domitilla Masi report for the Brookings Institution.

Here are five ways the authors say that your health care might be different than it was five years ago because of the reform law:

Your physician might be part of a patient care team. New payment models in the ACA encourage an interdisciplinary team-based approach, which evidence shows "can lead to higher quality care and better health outcomes for patient." This approach allows the physician to spend more time diagnosing and devising a treatment plan, while the patient may spend more time interacting with non-physician staff for support care.

Prevention and wellness are more important than ever. The ACA requires health plans to cover all preventive screenings, immunizations and well visits for women at no cost, as part of the minimum benefits required in order for health-insurance plans to participate in exchanges like Kynect. The new payment models also pay physicians who work toward keeping their patients healthy, instead of just treating them when they are sick. " Since the policy took effect in September 2010 it is estimated that an additional 76 million people now receive preventive care," the authors write.

You may have better access to care on evenings and weekends. New payment models are driving this change as practices are often required to offer extended hours to decrease the overuse of emergency departments. Many offices now offer clinical advice around the clock with a clinician who has immediate access to their medical records.

Chances are your health information is being stored in an electronic health record, not a paper file. A separate law encouraged the use of EHRs, but "participation in the new ACA-promoted delivery models is practically impossible" without them. And while EHRs can be used to greatly improve patient care, not all EHRs are created equal and it will take time before patients see seamless integration and exchange between different doctors and settings in "real-time".

You can access care remotely, wherever you are. Doctors are using mobile technology and tele-health in rural and remote areas to provide more efficient care to patients. Insurance companies and employers are beginning to recognize this mode of treatment not only as a way to save money, but to also provide timely access to care, that does not involve the emergency room.

Princess Health andKET to focus attention on cancer with Ken Burns series March 30-April 1, live call-in program on night of April 1.Princessiccia

Princess Health andKET to focus attention on cancer with Ken Burns series March 30-April 1, live call-in program on night of April 1.Princessiccia

cancer cancer screening research television

Gusty 17:17 Add Comment

Kentucky Health News

KET will show a three-night series, "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies," by Ken Burns, an in-depth look at the history of cancer, patients' stories and the "latest scientific breakthroughs that may have, at last, brought researchers within sight of developing lasting cancer cures," the network says in a news release.

The series, which will air March 30, 31 and April 1 at 9 p.m. ET, is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee.

KET will air companion programs to this series that will focus on Kentuckians.

Bill Goodman will host Dr. Mark Evers, director of the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky, on "One to One" March 29 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the latest news in cancer care and research. This show will also air on KET2 March 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

On April 1 at 8 p.m., Renee Shaw will host a live call-in program, "Answers for Cancer," as part of KET's "Health Three60" series. This show will offer viewers a chance to ask questions about cancer screening, treatment and recovery resources in Kentucky.

A recording of the program will air on KETKY April 6 at 9 a.m., April 10 at 11 a.m., April 11 at 4 a.m. and April 13 at 2 a.m. (all times ET).

Viewers can submit questions to the original program via Twitter at @HealthKET, by email at healthnews@ket.org, or by phone at 800-753-6237.

Panelists on the program include Donald Miller, director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville; Patrick Williams, medical director at Norton Cancer Institute; Timothy Mullet, lung cancer specialist with UK HealthCare, who is himself a cancer survivor; and Fran Feltner, director of the UK Center for Excellence in Rural Health.

This show will also offer a pre-taped segment that spotlights cancer screening outreach efforts in Kentucky that target high risk populations.

Princess Health and Princess Health andFDA reviews alternatives to colonoscopies to screen for colorectal cancer, including mail-in, stool-sampling kits.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andFDA reviews alternatives to colonoscopies to screen for colorectal cancer, including mail-in, stool-sampling kits.Princessiccia

cancer cancer screening colorectal cancer health rankings

Gusty 18:34 Add Comment

The Food and Drug Administration is examining the possibility of two alternatives to colonoscopies for identifying tumors and growths in the large intestine. Kentucky ranks high in deaths from colon cancer, partly because people resist having colonoscopies.

According to briefing documents posted online Monday, scientists are evaluating the precision of mail-in, stool-sampling kits from Epigenomics and Exact Sciences, which if approved could be on the market this summer, Matthew Perrone writes for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Stool tests have long been employed to help detect precancerous tumors, and colon cancer is often treatable if found early enough. So far, the two tests are more accurate than traditional blood stool tests, but they also more often reported growths when there were none.

"Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., with over 50,000 deaths expected this year, according to the American Cancer Society," Perrone reports. Last year Kentucky had the fourth highest death rate for colon cancer in the nation, Dr. Amy Tiu noted in a March 15 article for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Though colonoscopy is the most accurate screening, many people shun it because they think it will be uncomfortable or invasive, and a liquid compounds must be used to clean out the colon before the procedure. The blood-in-stool tests, though thought to be less accurate, may work just as well if employed each year, according to a federally appointed panel.

The new screenings are expected to be more expensive than traditional tests, and it is so far unclear how often people would need to be tested, Perrone reports.

"Only through a better understanding of other key factors, such as the screening interval, adherence, cost and diagnostic evaluation of positive results, can we determine the appropriate place for stool DNA testing on the screening menu," Drs. Douglas Robertson Dr. Jason Dominitz said in the briefing documents.

One of the proposed tests, Cologuard, detected colorectal cancer in 92 percent of patients who had cancerous tumors, while the traditional blood stool test only has 74 percent accuracy. "In patients with precancerous polyps the test was accurate 42 percent of the time, compared with 24 percent for the blood test," Perrone reports.

Epigenomics' Epi proColon test, however, did not meet all of the study goals. This test discovered cancer in 68 percent of patients who had cancerous tumors, but it only recognized healthy patients in 79 percent of cases. FDA scientists warned that "lower specificity could lead to an increase in the number of avoidable colonoscopies" and "adverse events associated with such invasive procedures," Perrone writes.

Princess Health and 'Incredible Colon' to march across the state in Colon Cancer Awareness Month; more than a dozen stops scheduled.Princessiccia

Princess Health and 'Incredible Colon' to march across the state in Colon Cancer Awareness Month; more than a dozen stops scheduled.Princessiccia

cancer cancer screening colorectal cancer prevention

Gusty 07:00 Add Comment

A special tour throughout the state of the Incredible Colon � an inflatable model of a human colon, large enough for visitors to walk through it � will promote education about risks and preventive measures of colon cancer during March, National Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in Kentucky and nationwide, and it affects men and women of all ethnicities. Kentuckians have a higher than average risk of colon cancer due to higher rates of obesity, diets high in fat, and lack of regular exercise.

As many as 60 percent of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented if everyone age 50 and older were screened regularly, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Screenings detect any abnormalities or early signs of cancer, like polyps in the colon, and when detected early, polyps can be easily removed during a colonoscopy before they develop into cancer. When colon cancer is found early and treated, the five-year relative survival rate is 90 percent, underscoring the need for preventive health exams.

However, only 63 percent of Kentuckians who should have screening tests have had them, according to Kentucky data from the federal Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing national survey.

The colon tour is a coordinated promotion by the Kentucky Cancer Program, local cancer councils and the Kentucky Colon Cancer Prevention Project. It is free and open to the public and will take place in 13 Kentucky communities March 4-28:

� March 4: Fleming County Hospital, Flemingsburg (10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
� March 5: Walmart, Manchester (Noon - 4 p.m.)
� March 6: Hazard ARH Medical Mall, Hazard (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
� March 7: Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, Morehead (members
  only, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
� March 8: Frankfort Regional Hospital, Frankfort (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
� March 19: Lexmark, Lexington, (Employees only, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
� March 20: Lawrence County High School, Louisa (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
� March 21: Lady of Bellefonte Health Center, Grayson (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
� March 23: Phillip Sharp Middle School, Butler (8-11 a.m. )
� March 25: Town Center Mall, Ashland (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
� March 26: Walmart, Georgetown (3-6 p.m.)
� March 27: Adron Doran University Center, Morehead (9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
� March 28: Walmart, Somerset (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

Attendees are invited to dress in blue, the color of colon cancer awareness, and there will be door prizes, giveaways (while supplies last), refreshments and educational information about colon cancer screening, prevention and early detection. (Read more)

Princess Health and Avoid virus-linked cancers, including cervical cancer, with shots.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Avoid virus-linked cancers, including cervical cancer, with shots.Princessiccia

cancer cancer screening cervical cancer immune system immunizations vaccinations

Gusty 20:13 Add Comment

With a simple vaccine, you can avoid HPV-linked cancer, including cervical cancer and many cancers of the mouth, throat, anus and genitals, which constitute more than 3 percent of all U.S. cancer diagnoses. Vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV) thwarts the virus�s spread, wrecks its ability to jump between people and inhibits a virus that in 2009 led to a cancer diagnosis for 30,000 people in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Insititue. 

HPV infection is common. More than half of women between 14 and 59 catch a genital HPV. Many of these infections are low-risk, but when the body does not sweep out HPV intruders, high-risk HPV infected cells may lead to the unchecked growth of cancerous cells, according to Newswise, a research-reporting service.

HPV is actually a family of more than 150 viruses that infect human skin and mucosa, the moist membranes lining the nostrils, mouth and genital cavities. Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, prevent people from getting HPV infections by helping the body stockpile a medley of cellular defenses. Gardasil and Cervarix target HPV types 16 and 18, the two responsible for most cervical, anal, genital, and oropharynx cancer.  Blocking infection by types 16 and 18 also fights off other cancers, and the vaccines� protection could last a lifetime. Gardasil also targets types 6 and 11.

It is important to complete the three-dose series for the vaccines; series completion rates are low for people in the Southern states, especially those that are poor and without private insurance, according to Newswise. Scientists are working to make a single vaccine that blocks infection by all HPV types, but today�s vaccines can prevent infection by two of the most common high-risk HPVs and may be the first step toward preventing HPV-linked cancers. (Read more)

Princess Health and Federal panel says PSA screening for prostate cancer does more harm than good, but no better test is available.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Federal panel says PSA screening for prostate cancer does more harm than good, but no better test is available.Princessiccia

cancer cancer screening prostate cancer PSA

Gusty 14:13 Add Comment

Prostate cancer cells. Getty Images photo by Abbey Michael.

An influential federal panel says testing healthy men's prostate-specific antigen levels to detect prostate cancer does more harm than good.

The PSA test can lead to unnecessary biopsies for men who turn out to be cancer-free. Those biopsies can also lead to men being treated for cancers that are so slow-growing (a characteristic of most prostate cancers) that they didn't need to be detected.

An estimated 1,000 to 1,300 men die annually from complications associated with treatments that are initiated because of PSA screening, reports Alice Park for Time magazine. Moreover, treating harmless prostate tumors increases the chances of making men impotent or incontinent.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published the recommendation in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In 2009, the panel also recommended that women delay routine mammograms until the age of 50. That was controversial, and "The task force's recommendation goes against two decades of widespread use of the PSA test, a $35 blood test," Park reports.

"The recommendation is not just counter to what the lay public has been taught about cancer prevention but what physicians have been taught as well," said Dr. Michael LeFevre, co-vice chair of the USPSTF and a professor of family and community medicine at University of Missouri. "We've been told for decades to be afraid of cancer and that the only hope is early detection and treatment. So it's hard for physicians and patients alike to accept that not all cancers need to be detected or need to be treated and that there are harms associated with screening, not just benefits."

Through PSA testing, physicians "were finding the cancer earlier, so the time from diagnosis to death was longer, but the patient wasn't actually living longer," explained Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.

But there isn't a better test to replace the PSA, and Ian Thompson, chairman of urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, said to reject it completely is unwise. He said U.S. death rates from prostate cancer dropped between 30 and 50 percent since the screening became commonplace in the early 1990s, though those numbers could also have been influenced by more effective treatments. Thompson said he didn't want to go back to the "bad old days" when doctors only found prostate cancer when it was already unable to be cured, reports Liz Szabo for USA Today.  (Read more)