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In this issue:
ASCO Research Highlights
 The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, FL, from May 29th to June 2nd. The big news for colorectal cancer was that some big ideas didn’t work which, in their own bittersweet ways, are successes in themselves. Negative clinical trails are important because they help push us in the right direction and also eliminate unproductive off-label usage of drugs.
Photo: C3 Director of Research Communication Kate Murphy at C3's ASCO Booth
Avastin Does Not Impact Disease-Free Survival in Stage II and III Patients
Long-awaited results of the clinical trial named “NSABP C-08” which randomly assigned stage II and III colon cancer patients to standard chemotherapy with FOLFOX or FOLFOX with the addition of Avastin were disappointing. Although there was an initial benefit for AvastinŽ (bevacizumab) in the year when it was being given, that benefit disappeared by the third year. After three years there was no significant difference between disease-free survival whether or not patients in the trial had Avastin. Read more...
Genetic Studies May Hold the Key to Solving Stage II and III Treatment Mysteries
With an emphasis on personalized medicine at ASCO this year, several studies looked at molecular markers in stage II and III colon cancer to see if we might be able to predict either chances of recurrence or whether a particular treatment would reduce that risk. Studying mutations in cancer tissue, researchers also discovered that there are very different changes in stage II and stage III colon cancer leading them to ask whether the two stages might represent two different diseases. Read more...
Changing Rectal and Anal Cancer Treatments Offers No Improvements
Researchers tried to improve the standard treatments for rectal and anal cancers without success in three trials presented at ASCO. In the two rectal trials, STAR-1 and ACCORD 12/0405, oxaliplatin added to pre-surgical chemoradiation didn’t improve tumor response and significantly increased serious diarrhea. Changing chemotherapy from mitomycin-C to cisplatin during chemoradiation for anal cancer didn’t improve on a high 95 percent response rate, nor did extra doses of cisplatin and 5-FU after radiotherapy improve relapse-free survival. Read more...
Health Care Reform Legislation Announced in the Senate
 Recently Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) introduced The Affordable Health Choices Act. The bill aims to reduce health care costs, protect individuals’ choices of doctors, hospitals and insurance plans and guarantee quality and affordable health care for all Americans. It has the potential to completely overhaul the American health care system. Read more...
Help C3 Win a Social Media Makeover
 C3 has been actively using tools like Facebook, Twitter and blogs to continue the conversation about colorectal cancer and extend our reach. Social media is not just for kids anymore. In fact, many of the 3,000 calls Congress received from our Butt-in last March came from advocates who heard about the initiative through social media.
Just think of how many more butts we can reach with $25,000 worth of help from an agency whose clients are some of the biggest brands in the world. You can help. Based on votes submitted to the CommuniCause website through July, one of the top 10 most voted organizations will win a Social Media Makeover from MindComet.
All you need to do is click this link, enter your email address (which they are only using to keep the voting honest) and submit. Then, visit this page to help spread the word to YOUR social media network.
Thank you! |
Summer '09 Momentum Available Online
In this issue:
- COVER STORY: Medical Advocates Smooth the Path
- FITNESS: Riding High for Health
- POLICY: C3 Advocates Go to the Hill
- ADVOCACY: Donations Honor Memories
Don't Miss Updates from the Desk of Dr. Lenz
 Since the beginning of the year, Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz has been writing regular blogs on the C3 site.
Written for the patient in lay terms, his topics range from What to Do for Gas and Abdominal Cramping to his front-line analysis of the latest research. Subscribe to his posts or visit our site to read more.
Purchase CRC Awareness Materials
Bracelets, Blue Star of Hope lapel pins, and Cover Your Butt t-shirts on sale in the C3 store.
Visit the C3 store today.
C3 Answer Line Takes Your Calls
Get answers to your questions about your disease, treatment options and available clinical trials. C3 Answer Line Associates are ready to take your call Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM Eastern.
877-4CRC-111
(877-427-2111)
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