By Curt Pesman and Mary Miller

In an unusual move, sanofi pharmaceutical company has instituted a 50 percent discount, effective immediately, on its latest cancer drug Zaltrap.  The reason for the sharp price drop, company officials said, was “market resistance” to the initial price.

Zaltrap was approved in August by the FDA for second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.

One possible result of the price cut is that the new drug may become more widely available. However, due to complex pricing and regulation issues, it’s not yet known how the actual cost to patients will change over the next several months. Fight Colorectal Cancer is gathering more information today on this issue from oncologists and company officials. Read the rest of this entry »

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Disaster preparedness

Knowing that thousands of our neighbors are still struggling (and will be, for days or weeks) with power loss, flood cleanup, lost wages, inability to get from one place to another, there is one pro-active response we can take: Check our own crisis plans—especially if you live with or care for people who have cancer.

 The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology have a free wallet card for patients, in English or Spanish. It has space for critical information in case the patient must be seen by a doctor unfamiliar with their care, as well as a 1-800-4-CANCER number to get disaster advice.

 There are other key steps you can take to be prepared for any emergency. Read the rest of this entry »

Glad to see that many of our friends are ‘reporting in’ on our Facebook “Good News Tuesday” page that they weathered Storm Sandy.

For those without power or affected by flooding, snow or wind damage—or for those worried about people in possibly affected areas, read on for some quick tips about contacting friends or family, dealing with power outages, and food safety.  Read the rest of this entry »

Lisa Dubow with her son Sean Twersky

It’s the beginning of autumn in the fifth year since I lost my mother, Lisa Dubow, to colorectal cancer.

Many of you know my mom as the namesake of the Lisa Fund, a grant program that she helped establish which supports late stage colorectal cancer research. Perhaps you’ve donated to the Lisa Fund in the past. If so, thank you.

I am writing today to humbly ask for your continued support.

Speaking candidly, her death still does not seem real to me. I still feel her presence every day. Each time I go for a jog I remember her taking me to the gym on Sunday mornings, and my eagerly awaiting being old enough to join her on the workout floor. Each time I walk by a toy store I remember how she would take me to the Disney Store for my gift-of-the month when I behaved for the entire month, though I’m pretty sure she still took me even when I didn’t. Each time I see a silly eighties movie on TV, I remember how she insisted that I spend part of my free time renting and watching “classics” like Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and Dirty Dancing. But most important are those occasions when I’m told that people can still see her in me. There is no greater compliment.

Read the rest of this entry »