Gastrointestinal Cancer Archives

A Teen’s Journey: Developing a Diagnostic Test for Pancreatic Cancer

This post was originally written and published on Vector, Boston Children’s Hospital’s science and clinical innovation blog. At age 13, Jack Andraka lost a family friend to pancreatic cancer. At age 15, he developed a diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer that early findings suggest is highly accurate. In this session from Boston Children’s Hospital’s Global Pediatric … Read more

Five Things You Need to Know About Stomach Cancer

by Dana-Farber Staff

Medically reviewed by Peter C. Enzinger, MD Although not a common type of cancer in the United States, stomach (gastric) cancer is the second leading cancer death worldwide, and affects more men than women. “The United States’ risk is much less because of hygiene and the safety of foods we eat, and more to do … Read more

50 Years of Discovery: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

by Dana-Farber Staff

The fight against cancers of the digestive system – including colorectal, stomach, esophageal, hepatic, and pancreatic cancers – has made significant progress in the past 50 years, especially in prevention and early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, where screening with tests such as colonoscopies is continuing to make a major impact. “In some areas we have done … Read more

Esophageal Cancer: Five Things You Need to Know

by Dana-Farber

Medically reviewed by Peter C. Enzinger, MD Although it is not a common disease, esophageal cancer affects about 18,000 new patients each year in the United States. Typically, the disease is found more often in men than in women, with men having about a ten-fold higher risk of developing esophageal cancer. “Esophageal and gastric cancers … Read more

Colorectal Cancer Screening: Which Test is Right for Me?

by Dana-Farber Staff

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in both men and women. It is also considered one of the more preventable cancers due to the effectiveness of screening. But which screening option is right for you? As of May 2018, the American Cancer Society recommends that men and women of average colon cancer … Read more

Do Men and Women Have Different Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?

by Dana-Farber Staff

While there are slightly more incidences of colorectal cancer in men (71,860 new cases projected in the U.S. in 2014) than women (65,000), both men and women generally exhibit the same symptoms of the disease, according to Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH, clinical director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center.

Colorectal Cancer: Five Things You Need to Know

by Dana-Farber Staff

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the U.S., with about 143,000 new patients diagnosed last year. But thanks to increased awareness about screenings, the death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping for more than 20 years.

“For the most part, colorectal cancer is a curable and preventable disease,” says Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH, clinical director of the Dana-Farber Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment Center. “We have very good data that shows screening prevents disease and saves lives.”

With March marking Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, here are the answers to some key questions about the disease:

Infographic: Pancreatic Cancer by the Numbers

by Dana-Farber Staff

As November marks Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, view the infographic below to learn more about the disease:

Why Should I Get a Colonoscopy? (Colorectal Cancer)

by Dana-Farber

Colonoscopy exams get a bad rap. Even though such exams are brief and painless, many people fear and avoid them. Roughly one third of Americans for whom the exams are recommended are not getting them. Yet colonoscopy is one of the most effective of all cancer prevention methods. As many as 60% of colon cancer deaths could be … Read more

Specialists recommend regular colonoscopies

by Dana-Farber Staff

If you’re over 50, have you been screened for colorectal cancer? If not, the month of March would be a great time to talk about screening with your doctor. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in men and women in the United States. In 2012, an estimated 141,210 people will be diagnosed … Read more