Major League Baseball and the Prostate Cancer Foundation teamed up this year to form the Home Run Challenge in honor of Father's Day. Their gift to father's across the country: for each home run hit in 60 selected games between June 6 and today, June 17, raised money for prostate cancer, the second most common cancer for men in the United States.

Some fans of this cause made pledges; some posted online tributes to their dads at Dockers San Francisco. For every message submitted, the company donated one dollar. Some messages were even shown in Times Square for all to see.

I just checked the status of the Home Run Challenge on this Father's Day morning and found the most updated total of home runs to be 91. Leading the accomplishment are Ken Griffey, Jr., Alex Rodriguez, and Alfonso Soriano. The current Team Home Run leader: the Cincinnati Reds.

At the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, results were presented from a clinical trial that stated -- Continuous maintenance therapy may improve survival among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Maintenance therapy is used when a patient's cancer is stable and not exhibiting signs of progression. Researchers want to find a way to improve survival, but they also want to find a program that is not too intense and will have limited side effects.

This brings us to the study that was done on 202 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The patients were split in two groups, one group received continuous maintenance chemotherapy with a drug called Eloxatin (oxaliplatin). The second group was only treated again with chemotherapy once their cancer had started to progress.

Even though there has been much hype in recent years about the connection between dietary fiber intake to decrease the risk of colorectal cancer, results of a large study does not support such a link.

The findings were reported in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The conclusion came after analyzing more that 291,000 men and 197,000 women ages 50 to 71 years. "Our study did not show any association between how much dietary fiber you eat and your risk of colorectal cancer" said the lead author of the study.

However, the lead author did say that he found consumption of whole grain foods may lower the risk of developing the disease.

Yes, Farrah Fawcett's cancer has returned, just three months after she was given the all-clear following treatment for rectal cancer. But not all of what is appearing in the media is true, and Fawcett now finds herself fighting for both her life and the truth.

The National Enquirer was right about Fawcett's recurrence -- a malignant polyp has been found in the area where her original cancer began. But reporters for this magazine are wrong about their previous take on her illness.

Farrah Begs: Let me Die was one previous headline. Such words were never spoken, says Fawcett who is planning to file a lawsuit against the Enquirer for libel, invasion of privacy, and infliction of emotional distress regarding numerous fabricated articles about her cancer journey.

This negativity is not only harmful to Fawcett and her family, says her spokesperson. It also jeopardizes Fawcett's chances for a successful recovery, and it's disrespectful to thousands of others surviving cancer.

More on coffee -- a topic of panel discussion at the recent Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, DC, and subject of nearly 400 studies investigating consumption and cancer risk.

Think about this:

No one claims coffee is the new health food. And non-coffee drinkers are not encouraged to drink the beverage for their health. Yet the beverage is certainly losing some of its negative health image.

But is it enough?

Some say coffee protects against colon, rectal, and liver cancers (diabetes too). These same people recognize it also can increase the risk of leukemia and stomach cancer. Those at risk, like pregnant women and children, should limit their consumption.

Like many connections between cancer and diet, there just isn't enough research to tell a whole story. We can only take what's available and make our own educated decisions about our own individual lives.

What decision will you make about coffee?

A reader posted a comment on one of my blogs and asked "What tests positively determines prostate cancer?" It prompted me to do a little research. 80 percent of men over 70 years old will get prostate cancer. That is a devastating statistic. A lot of times in the medical field diagnosing something requires a multitude of tests to rule out things and to get a better diagnosis. Such is the case for prostate cancer.

There are several tests used to diagnose prostate cancer. Blood tests, rectal exams, rectal ultrasounds, needle biopsy, and cystoscopy. A high level of PSA in the blood can be a sign of prostate cancer. PSA is a protein produced by cancerous prostate cells. With a rectal exam your doctor can feel for lumpy or a hard prostate. If a lump or hardening is found then most often they will do a needle biopsy to examine under a microscope. A cystoscopy is an examination of your bladder and uretha but can help determine several types of cancer and not just bladder cancer.

With all kinds of cancer, it is important to stay up to date with yearly exams for prevention. I hope this information helps.

A high intake of vitamin C has been shown to reduce the risks for virtually all forms of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers as well as sex hormone related cancers like breast, prostate, cervix, and ovarian cancers. Vitamin C is your body's first and most effective line of antioxidant protection. Vitamin C protects cell structures like DNA from damage and it helps the body deal with environmental pollution and toxic chemicals. Vitamin C enhances immune function, and it inhibits the formation of cancer causing compounds in the body (such as the nitrosamines, chemicals produced when the body digests processed meats containing nitrates).

Dr. Douglas Brodie states in the book, Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer, "Each one of us produces several hundred thousand cancer cells every day of our lives. Whether we develop clinical cancer or not depends upon the ability of our immune systems to destroy these cancer cells. That's because cancer thrives in the presence of a deficient immune system."

Here is a list of foods high in vitamin C. Adding these foods to your daily diet will help boost your immune system which will aid you in fighting off many diseases as well as cancer.
Fruits and vegetables are both high in Vitamin C. The highest are papaya, raw red and green peppers, oranges, cantaloupe, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, baked potato, cabbage, green peas, kiwi fruit, and kale.

There are a few good vitamin C supplements on the market but one that I particularly am using at present to super charge my immune system is Emergen-C Super Energy Booster which has 1,000mg of vitamin C along with vitamin B and 32 mineral complexes.

Patients who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver are usually treated with resection of the colorectal cancer, followed by chemotherapy and then have another surgery to resect the disease from the liver.

The Society of Surgical Oncology's 60Th Annual Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C. presented information that this might not be the best approach or strategy for some patients.

Patients with minor liver involvement, resection of the colorectal cancer and the liver cancer can be surgically removed at the same time, involving one surgical procedure, safely.

Dr. Bryan M Clary, from Duke University Medical Center, says "These days, there is a more liberal definition of what is resectable. If all clinically evident disease can be removed, while leaving that person with enough liver tissue that it can function, that in general is the standard definition of resectable for healthy patients."

Dr. Clary estimates that about half of patients with colorectal and liver tumors may be good candidates for simultaneous surgery. however, he cautions, a multidisciplinary center is required that includes medical and surgical oncologists skilled in colorectal surgery, as well as surgeons specialized in liver surgery.

It's March. And that means it's the national month for Brain Injury Awareness, Endometriosis Awareness, Nutrition Awareness, Eye Health and Safety Awareness, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness, Sleep Awareness, Problem Gambling Awareness and my favorite, for the purposes of The Cancer Blog -- Colorectal Cancer Awareness.

Colorectal cancer -- cancer of the colon or rectum -- is a disease that affects both men and women and is preventable nearly 90 percent of the time.

Starting at age 50, men at women at average risk for the disease should get screened. Those with increased risk, like African-Americans who typically develop colorectal cancer at younger ages, should be screened even earlier.

Screening -- by way of fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy -- is critical because colorectal cancer often occurs with no symptoms. Symptoms do sometimes present themselves in the later stages of the disease and include rectal bleeding, bright red blood in or on the stool, change in bowel habits, stools that are narrower than usual, general stomach discomfort, diarrhea, constipation, frequent gas pains, unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, and vomiting. Persistence of any of these symptoms for more than two weeks warrant an immediate visit with a health professional.

Treatment for this disease, which strikes about 153,000 people and causes about 52,000 deaths each year, includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

In the spirit of this National Colorectal Awareness Month, experts recommend remembering these important points:

• Colorectal cancer can be prevented.
• Screening for the disease can identify polyps -- grape-sized growths in the colon and/or rectum -- that can be removed to prevent cancer from developing.
• The magic age for screening is 50 -- unless you have an increased risk for the disease.
• Colorectal cancer is treatable.
• Regardless of your age, know the risk factors, know the symptoms, and know your family history.
• Talk with your health professional about colorectal cancer and your own risk for the disease.

Colorectal cancer screening prevents more deaths due to early detection than breast or prostate cancer screening. The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center recently published a report on the 12 myths about colon cancer and getting to know them could save your life and the lives of your family and friends. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and the number one cause of cancer death among non-smokers.

Symptoms of colon cancer can include severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool or rectal bleeding, unexplained loss of weight, or major changes in bowel habits (recurrent constipation or diarrhea). But, these symptoms often do not occur until the cancer is in its more advanced stages. An absence of symptoms does not mean an absence of cancer. In fact colon cancer is often referred to as a "silent killer" because of the lack of symptoms until it is in advanced stages. A colonoscopy is the only method that can actually help prevent you from developing colon cancer in the future because during the screening colonoscopy, if the doctor finds polyps, they can remove them from your colon as part of the procedure, preventing the polyps from ever having the chance to develop into cancer. If the polyps found in your colon happen to already be cancerous, they can often be removed during your colonoscopy and treatment can begin right away.

When colon cancer is caught early, it has a 95 percent survival rate. That's why screening is so important. Once colon cancer has spread to the liver, it's usually deadly, with only a 9 percent survival rate. Colonoscopy screening is recommended for men and women beginning at age 50, unless other risk factors exist such as family history, obesity, smoking, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Metastatic colorectal cancer is commonly treated with a regime called FOLFIRI, consisting of 5-fluorouracil, Camptosar (irinotecan), and leucovorin. Long term survival with this treatment has shown to have mediocre results.

Erbitux (cetuximab) is a type of targeted therapy called a monoclonal antibody. Erbitux targets EGFR, the epidermal growth factor receptor, and can reduce the spread of cancer.

The addition of Erbitux to the chemotherapy regime FOLFIRI can improve progression free survival compared to just receiving FOLFIRI alone. The CRYSTAL study compared Erbitux/FOLFIRI to FOLFIRI alone for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. One thousand patients who had not received any prior therapy after learning of the spread of the disease were enrolled in the Phase III clinical trial.

The study concluded that it was indeed a good idea to include Erbitux with the FOLFIRI in first line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Progression free survival was significantly improved.

More and more we are hearing about monoclonal antibody's like Erbitux. Here is some other information posted on The Cancer Blog about Erbitux:

200 companies, 340 immunotherapy drugs, 600 clinical trials

Terminal cancer patients question worth of remaining life

UK patients angry as new bowel cancer drugs are rejected

First time in 45 years new drug for head and neck cancers

Cancer Drug May Prolong Survival

One common thread woven into overall cancer prevention and survival is this -- exercise.

One hour of daily vigorous exercise -- or two hours of less strenuous activity -- is now linked to a lower risk of colon cancer, according to the results of a recent study.

Jogging, pumping iron, swimming, and even housecleaning can do the trick, as demonstrated by research conducted with 413,000 people in 10 European countries.

Of those studied, people with the highest level of exercise were 22 percent less likely to develop cancer and 35 percent less likely to develop tumors on the right side of the colon. Those of normal weight enjoyed a greater benefit, but exercise was also beneficial for the overweight and obese. Exercise did not have a protective effect against rectal cancer.

This research -- helping to support the fact that about 70 percent of colon cancer cases can be prevented by changes in diet and exercise -- is significant because of the large sample size and the different levels of activity observed across the borders.

Colon and rectal are among the most common cancers in developed countries. More than 940,000 cases are diagnosed each year. About 492,000 people die from the illness.

A report in the October issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology states that capsule endoscopy can aid in the identification and management of small bowel tumors. Capsule endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the middle part of your gastrointestinal tract. Your doctor will use a pill sized video capsule called an endoscope, which has its own lens and light source and will view the images on a video monitor.

Capsule endoscopy helps your doctor evaluate the small intestine. This part of the bowel cannot be reached by traditional upper endoscopy or by colonoscopy. The most common reason for having this procedure is to search for cause of bleeding from the intestine. It may also be used to detect polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers and tumors of the small intestine.

Dr. Adam Bailey from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney says "Capsule endoscopy has the potential to achieve earlier diagnosis of small bowel malignancies offering a greater chance of cure. It should be used early in the course of investigation of suspected small bowel disease, avoiding the delay that has let to many patients having advanced disease at diagnoses.

On the Phil Lesh and Friends website, musician and founding member of Grateful Dead Lesh begins, "What do I have in common with Rudy Giuliani, John Kerry, Bob Dole, Joe Torre, Nelson Mandela, Sean Connery, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Emperor Akihito of Japan, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell, Quincy Jones, Roger Moore, Sydney Poitier, and Robert De Niro?" Prostate cancer.

Lesh, who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, will be undergoing the da Vinci robotic surgical procedure in December to remove the tumor. As a result of his prostate cancer diagnosis, he is urging all men to have a periodic PSA screening for early detection of prostate cancer.

In 1998, Lesh underwent a liver transplant as a result of chronic Hepatitis C infection. He has become an active advocate for organ donor programs and raising awareness for Hepatitis C. Lesh is expecting a full recovery from prostate cancer because it was caught in its early stage. Here are a few fast facts about prostate cancer:

• Age is the most common risk factor for prostate cancer.
• Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms for many years.
  
• Two simple tests are performed as part of a prostate cancer screening --a digital rectal exam and a blood test (PSA) to screen for prostate specific antigen.
  

To learn more about prostate cancer, visit Prostate Cancer.

Rectal cancer usually involves surgery. The surgery that is performed has the possibility of causing the loss of bowel control. The idea behind giving chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant) is to shrink the tumor so that the surgery will be minimal to avoid the loss of bowel control. Researchers have been evaluating the effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy prior to surgery in attempt to combat this after effect of surgery.

The article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine says that survival of patients with rectal cancer fair the same whether or not the chemotherapy is giving before of after surgery. Most patients with rectal cancer are usually treated with radiation before surgery.

Researches affiliated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer (EORTC) conducted a clinical trial that included 1,011 patients with rectal cancer. The researches split the patients into four groups. Those receiving chemotherapy and radiation before surgery, those receiving only radiation before surgery, those that received radiation before surgery and chemotherapy after surgery and those that only received chemotherapy before surgery.

The five year survival rate for those who received chemotherapy before surgery and after surgery were both 65 percent. Local recurrences occurred less in those patients who received radiation plus chemotherapy before surgery.

The impact on long-term survival with the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not been well established. The article did not mention if the radiation or neoadjuvant chemotherapy did at all affect the loss of bowel control after surgery.