Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Flickr, YouTube. It’s a new world of real-time communication online that goes way beyond email.

Social media is not a new concept to C3. We introduced our Research & Treatment news and Advocacy blogs over four years ago. Now we’re on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ColorectalCancer) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/FightCRC). What we lack are the resources to take our social media presence to the next level.

Our problem as colorectal cancer advocates is that there are so many wonderful causes competing for your time and attention. To get the attention for colorectal cancer that will help us make a difference against the disease, we know that we need to get our social media campaigns running on a much larger scale. We need thousands of followers and fans instead of hundreds. We need to get people talking about colorectal cancer with their friends and family. People who can talk about colorectal cancer can get others to take action against it.

Enter CommuniCause. It’s a month-long contest run by the MindComet interactive agency to award the winning nonprofit $25,000 worth of services. We want to win this grant and we need your help.

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An FDA task force has been formed to examine transparency at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “President Obama has pledged to strengthen our democracy by creating an unprecedented level of openness and public participation in government, and the FDA looks forward to participating in this process,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “I have asked the Transparency Task Force to deliver recommendations to me for ways to make more information available and foster better understanding of decision-making.”

One public meeting has been held, and a request for public comments has been posted. C3 provided comments urging FDA to review transparency requirements to ensure that the public is given accurate information both pre- and post-approval. Read the rest of this entry »

The Beacham Family In Their Cover Your Butt Shirts at the 2009 Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon

When Brian Beacham decided to run in his second triathlon he knew that this one would have a more significant meaning but he wasn’t able to anticipate what an emotional experience it would become.

On February 13, 2008, Brian’s future brother-in-law, Billy, as family and friends referred to him, was diagnosed with colon cancer that had also spread to his lymph nodes and liver.  After originally deciding to participate in the 2009 Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon for a second time, Brian decided that he also wanted to dedicate his efforts to help raise awareness and money for the fight against colorectal cancer in Billy’s honor. Continue reading…

Pfizer announced yesterday, June 30, 2009, that they are discontinuing a phase III trial comparing FOLFIRI chemotherapy alone to FOLFIRI with added Sutent® (sunitinib).

Based on results so far, the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) determined that a significant reduction in progression-free survival was not statistically possible.  No new safety concerns were identified. Read the rest of this entry »