At 41 years old, I was relatively young, healthy, and enjoying time with my young family. My children were 5 and 8 years old. In the spring of 2022 we were planning our next adventures: a trip to Disneyland and camping trips throughout Alberta. In late April I experienced bloody stools, an alarming symptom which I knew not to ignore. With hindsight, I can also say I was more fatigued than before, which I downplayed as a sign of ‘getting older’ in early middle age. I was regularly choosing to go for walks when previously I enjoyed intense strength workouts. I also had experienced some periodic ..read more

January 2023 There is increasing evidence to support the use of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) in colorectal cancer (CRC). Biomarker: a molecule that can be found in the the body (e.g. in the blood or tissues) that can be used as a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or as a indicator of a specific disease. What is ctDNA? ctDNA refers to the DNA or genetic material that comes from cancer cells and tumours. Normally DNA is stored inside a cell, but as a tumour grows, its cells die and are replaced by new ones. The dead cells release the ..read more

January 2023 Findings from the phase III SUNLIGHT trial were presented at the 2023 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, demonstrating that the combination of bevacizumab (commercial name: Avastin®) plus trifluridine/tipiracil (commercial name: Lonsurf®) promoted an improvement in overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that had become refractory or unresponsive to previous treatment. Bevacizumab is a type of intravenous (given through a vein) therapy used in the treatment of mCRC. It works by interfering with a process known as a ..read more

November 2022 A new study involving patients with different cancer types who were undergoing chemotherapy found that exercising during treatment helped patients overcome the treatment’s debilitating effects and speed up the return of function following chemotherapy. While previous research has shown that exercise can benefit cancer patients, this study focused on how exercise during treatment was able to impact the treatment’s negative effects on the body. The study In the Dutch study, 266 patients who were undergoing chemotherapy for testicular, breast or colon cancer or non-Hodgkin’s lympho ..read more

November 2022 To better understand the role of the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, a new study investigated associations between physical activity, body mass index (BMI), gut microbiome diversity and different abundances of gut microbes among CRC patients. The study, published in the American Journal of Cancer Research, showed that regular exercise had a positive impact on promoting a healthy gut microbiome while also reducing inflammation in the body. The researchers found that patients who are more active have more diverse microbiomes and lower amounts of colorectal c ..read more

October 2022 A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that patients with diverticular disease are more likely compared to the general population to develop a range of cancers, including colorectal cancer. What is diverticular disease? Diverticular disease, also called diverticulosis, is a condition that affects the wall of the colon (large intestine), causing the inner lining of the large intestine to be pushed out through weak points in the surrounding muscle, causing small pouches or bulges known as diverticula (singular: diverticulum) to form. Alone, d ..read more

Earlier this month, controversial news headlines emerged: “Colonoscopies have a lower-than-expected benefit in preventing colon cancer, with no reduction in colon cancer mortality”, “Disappointing results on colonoscopy benefits”, creating confusion about the study and whether colonoscopies are an effective screening test. Let’s explore the study. The study The NordICC trial included average-risk individuals between the ages of 55-64 years old from several European countries who were not experiencing any symptoms of colorectal cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to: a) Receive an invi ..read more

Location: Canada-wide Status: Currently recruiting Trial Description: EXCEL is the EXercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well Study. This study provides an exercise program to Canadians living with and beyond cancer. The purpose of the EXCEL trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a smart phone application for supporting physical activity in remote and rural cancer survivors within an online-delivered exercise oncology program. Who is eligible to participate in this study? To be eligible, participants must: • Have/had a cancer diagnosis • Be pre-cancer treatment, receiving treatment, or ..read more

Lisa Martin is a stage II colorectal cancer survivor and a passionate advocate for mental health and well-being. In this video, she talks about how colorectal cancer affected her mental health, and how she approached her journey to recovery ..read more

Findings from the global FRESCO-2 trial showed that a drug called fruquintinib (fru-kin-tih-nib) significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that has stopped responding to treatment (also known as refractory metastatic colorectal cancer). The findings were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022 held earlier this month in Paris, France. Refractory metastatic colorectal cancer: colorectal cancer that no longer responds to treatment. These findings are encouraging, as patients who develop ..read more