| Valuable
Resource Now Available from NCCN and ACS
originally posted as part of U-M CCC in the News on April 17, 2000
Philadelphia and Atlanta –
Patients with colon and rectal cancer now have an invaluable
resource in the fight against the disease, thanks to a collaborative
effort between the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
With the American Cancer Society’s translation
of the NCCN guidelines, which were originally designed for
oncology professionals, colon and rectal cancer patients and
their families now have the reliable, specific, and easy-to-understand
information they need to make timely and well-informed decisions
about this critical health issue.
According to the American Cancer Society, this
year an estimated 130,200 Americans will learn that they have
colorectal cancer. This form of cancer is the third most common
cancer in men and women. The ACS also says that in 2000, an
estimated 56,300 deaths in the U.S. will be from colorectal
cancer.
Rather than having to consult numerous different
sources, colon and rectal cancer patients will now have easy
access to a wealth of information in a convenient, clearly
written format. Among the topics covered are: known risk factors,
prevention and early detection of colon and rectal cancer,
stages of the disease, medical decisions and treatment options,
side effects of treatment, important questions for patients
to discuss with their doctors, general information about clinical
trials, and a glossary of terms commonly used in colon and
rectal cancer treatment.
Each of these topics are covered in-depth and
incorporate the latest available information in cancer care.
Patients are also aided by numerous visual aides, including
flow chart algorithms that represent appropriate treatment
for different stages of colon and rectal cancer. The charts
illustrate in a clear manner steps patients and the doctors
can take in determining the most effective treatment for the
patient.
“The partnership between the NCCN and the ACS
provides access to patient versions of the same guidelines
oncologists use to aid their decisions about appropriate treatment,”
says William T. McGivney, CEO of the NCCN. “Our goal is to
inform and facilitate this critical decision-making process
between patient and physician.
American Cancer Society president Gerald L.
Woolam, M.D., said "The patient guidelines collaboration with
NCCN has developed some of the best patient materials available
today. When you can give a patient an easy to understand,
state of the science tool to help them deal with their cancer,
you've done a very important thing."
The NCCN and ACS previously released Breast
Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients and Prostate Cancer
Treatment Guidelines for Patient; Colon and Rectal Treatment
Guidelines for Patients is third in this series. In addition,
the NCCN and ACS are planning to translate other NCCN clinical
guidelines for lung cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, bladder
cancer, and ovarian cancer, as well as supportive care guidelines,
into patient versions. The patient guidelines will be updated
regularly to remain current with the clinical recommendations
of the NCCN; both Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients
and Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients will
be updated later this year. In addition, the Guidelines will
be translated into Spanish. A Spanish version of Prostate
Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients is already available.
Founded in 1995, the National Comprehensive
Cancer Network, was created with one goal in mind: to more
effectively fight cancer. A total of 17 prestigious institutions,
representing the finest in cancer care across the United States,
are part of the Network. The NCCN member institutions are:
The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Research Institute at
Ohio State University, Columbus; City of Hope National Medical
Center, Los Angeles; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston;
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia; Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center, Seattle; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research
Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa; Huntsman
Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City;
Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore; Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center, New York; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer
Center of Northwestern University, Chicago; Roswell Park Cancer
Institute, Buffalo; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,
Memphis; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive
Cancer Center, Birmingham; UCSF Stanford Health Care, San
Francisco and Stanford; University of Michigan Comprehensive
Cancer Center, Ann Arbor; UNMC/Eppley Cancer Center at the
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.; and University
of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide,
community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to
eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing
cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer
through research, education, advocacy and service.
To obtain copies of the patient version of
the colon and rectal cancer guidelines, contact the National
Comprehensive Cancer Network at 1-888-909-NCCN or American
Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. You may also visit their
web sites at www.nccn.org
or www.cancer.org. For
bulk orders, please contact the American Cancer Society. In
addition, the American Cancer Society has Spanish-speaking
Cancer Information Specialists available to assist callers
around the clock, and can also provide general cancer information
in Spanish.
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