Interesting News from Hopkins

KathiM said:

WOW! Does this mean that I won't drink my "Phospo-margaritas" anymore sometime in the future????? Nuts, just secured my Zorro tape to watch while drinking it (Antonio Banderas...yum!).

Seriously, that would end the 'yuck factor' part of finding this beast...thanks for the news!!!!

Semi-colons, raise your glasses...lol

Hugs, Kathi

I am also heartened that they have added this 'new' topic forum...colon cancer...Yeah for all us semi-colons getting the word out that we are a force to contend with!!!

Hugs, Kathi

Taunya,

It is so good to have you back!!!!!!

I have been part of a sister study for this same blood work for the last 3 years and just gave them 4 more vials of blood in May (the 4th time I've given blood in this study).

It is great they are looking for better indicators, but sadly here in the US, the question then becomes which doctors will even know to ask for the test and even more importantly, will the insurance companies pay for it.

I will give an example: CEA has been a good indicator for me from my blood work BUT no one ever even asked to have it tested until AFTER my diagnosis, even after I had a HUGE symptom with my colon perforating. Had it been requested during my 40 and 45 year old physicals years earlier, I don't think I ever would have been a stage IV colorectal cancer survivor.

I don't want to rain on parades but testing is great, after all we have the absolute fail safe colonoscopy testing option but getting one when you are under 50 is almost impossible without treatening to kill someone.

My point is; I will continue to scream loudly to whoever will listen that insurance companies have got to stop governing our health!!!!!!!

Don't expect the feds to ever get involved in our health care system, since we already have companies much more powerful that control our government along with our opportunity for wellness and optimal health.

Lisa P.

scouty said:

Taunya,

It is so good to have you back!!!!!!

I have been part of a sister study for this same blood work for the last 3 years and just gave them 4 more vials of blood in May (the 4th time I've given blood in this study).

It is great they are looking for better indicators, but sadly here in the US, the question then becomes which doctors will even know to ask for the test and even more importantly, will the insurance companies pay for it.

I will give an example: CEA has been a good indicator for me from my blood work BUT no one ever even asked to have it tested until AFTER my diagnosis, even after I had a HUGE symptom with my colon perforating. Had it been requested during my 40 and 45 year old physicals years earlier, I don't think I ever would have been a stage IV colorectal cancer survivor.

I don't want to rain on parades but testing is great, after all we have the absolute fail safe colonoscopy testing option but getting one when you are under 50 is almost impossible without treatening to kill someone.

My point is; I will continue to scream loudly to whoever will listen that insurance companies have got to stop governing our health!!!!!!!

Don't expect the feds to ever get involved in our health care system, since we already have companies much more powerful that control our government along with our opportunity for wellness and optimal health.

Lisa P.

Lisa -

I know how you feel about insurance companies (although I have been lucky - CIGNA does stupid things and makes "mistakes" (accidentally on purpose), but in the end it always is resolved and they pay for everything). I do agree that insurance companies should not be making health decisions.

But, the CEA test is not considered to be a reliable diagnostic tool in someone who has not already been diagnosed with cancer. Maybe current medical opinion will change, but that is clearly it now because the test isn't all that reliable. Nothing to do with insurance companies, just the state of the art. In fact, I would bet that most insurance would pay for a CEA test without batting an eyebrow - not that expensive - just in the noise. Doctors don't routinely order it because the issues of "false positives" outweigh the possibility of detecting a legitimate cancer. As a cancer patient, you may be right that CEA test MIGHT have detected your cancer earlier. BUT, this has to be traded off against all the people you freak out with an elevated CEA that means nothing. I think this is the rationale behind the current recommendations.

If a test that is more reliable than CEA can be developed, I think it could be a great thing, because it could then be used as part of a preventative medicine plan. The downside is that it won't be 100% accurate, but sadly (depending upon GI doc's care, colonoscopies can miss things too.) But a test that is highly accurate with few false positives would undoubtedly catch more colon cancers at an earlier stage.

I'm happy to hear about this test development and Lisa, I think you are doing a good thing by participating in trials.

Still friends, right?
Betsy