C3 Founder and Board Chair Nancy Roach has been invited to sit on the Department of Defense (DOD) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Integration Panel for a one-year term.  The PRCRP Integration Panel reviews research proposals that are submitted to the PRCRP program.

As a member of the Integration Panel, Ms. Roach will help with: (1) formulating a PRCRP vision and funding strategy that best addresses the research gaps for colorectal cancer; and (2) conducting a second-tier review of research proposals that are received by the US Army Medical Research and Material Command PRCRP program.

Ms. Roach issued the following statement after being invited to sit on the PRCRP Integration Panel: “It has long been a dream of mine to get funding through the Department of Defense for colorectal cancer research.  This new funding will support research efforts that investigate new methods of studying early detection, screening and treatment of colorectal cancer as well as attracting new researchers to the field.  It marks an important milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer with research on track to receive its fair share of federal resources, and I am honored to have been asked to sit on the PRCRP Integration Panel and have a role in setting the vision for the colorectal cancer research program.” Read the rest of this entry »

More evidence is emerging that right-sided colon cancers are different in significant ways from those on the left side.

Information from 17,641 colon cancer patients in the German Colon/Rectum Cancer Study Group found that people with cancers on the right side of the colon were older, had more chronic illness, and were more likely to be women.  There were significantly more deaths in this group. Read the rest of this entry »

A blood test that helps to detect colorectal cancer is now available.

The ColoVantage™ test detects changes in DNA shed into the blood stream from colon and rectal tumors.  It will be offered in the United States by Quest Diagnostics.

In preliminary results from a clinical trial of nearly 8,000 people, the blood test found colorectal cancer in about 50 percent.  Previous studies have identified cancer at all stages in 70 percent of those who had it.  The test is over 90 percent specific with few false positives. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, C3 joined with twenty-one groups to send a letter to Congressional leaders about ways Congress can improve the final health care reform bill to make high quality and affordable health care available to cancer patients.

House and Senate Leadership were back at the White House today for another day-long negotiation session aimed at reconciling differences between the House-passed and Senate-passed bills.  President Obama is scheduled to met with Democrats this evening at the Democrats’ annual issues conference to talk about health care reform.

Congressional leaders are working to get a final compromise agreed to, and sent to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) by Friday.  CBO will need 10-15 days to analyze the bill and put together a cost estimate.  Members want to see a final cost estimate and analysis before voting on the package.

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March is quickly approaching, and now is the time to register for the 2010 Call-on Congress!

We already have a number of great speakers confirmed -

• Public relations expert Caitlin Carroll will be leading a breakout session on media advocacy.
• Dr. Jeffrey Chou will be speaking about the innovative research he has been doing with stem cells using a grant he received last year from C3′s Lisa Fund.
• Author and CRC survivor Brenda Elsagher will be talking about her battle with cancer.
• Donna Kimbark, PhD, PRCRP Program Manager, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs IPA of Battelle Memorial Institute will update attendees regarding colorectal cancer research in the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.
• Dr. Laura Seeff, Acting Chief, Comprehensive Cancer Control Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be talking about the program’s recent expansion and what is in store for 2010.

Register today, to hear from these and lots of other great speakers!

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