Fight Colorectal Cancer

President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order yesterday addressing the drug shortage issue.

As we have reported extensively on www.FightColorectalCancer.org, the current drug shortages have impacted colorectal cancer patients who have been unable to get 5-FU, leucovorin or on occasion, irinotecan.

The Executive Order does not change the law, and it will not help patients who cannot get their drugs today, but it does reinforce the powers of the Food and Drug Administration to take steps that would ease the burden by:

• Broader reporting of when a manufacturer has stopped producing a drug that could lead to a shortage.
• Increased effort to review drug suppliers and manufacturing sites and changes. It also directs the FDA to prioritize its resources according to the burden of the shortage to the public health.
• Collaboration with the Department of Justice to address drug stockpiling and price gouging.

Older colorectal cancer patients on Medicare who saw their primary care physician more often were less likely to die from colorectal cancer and from other illnesses.

They were almost three times as likely to have been screened and more likely to be diagnosed early. Read the rest of this entry »

Colorectal cancer patients in a phase III clinical trial who took the oral drug regorafenib lived longer than those who got the best supportive care along with a placebo.

In fact, when the independent Data Monitoring Committee analyzed the progress of the trial, they recommended it be unblinded so that patients who had been randomly assigned to supportive care and a placebo pill could receive the new medicine.

The survival benefit was statistically significant, although how much time was gained isn’t yet available. Overall survival benefits are expected to be reported at an upcoming scientific meeting.

Patients enrolled in the randomized Phase III CORRECT trial had already had their cancer get worse on all standard approved treatments. Read the rest of this entry »

In partnership with Fight Colorectal Cancer, California-based company Genomic Health has launched a free mobile app for their My Colon Cancer Coach program.

The Coach app allows patients and caregivers to walk through the My Colon Cancer Coach tool on their smartphones to access information about their personalized cancer treatment options. The app also includes note-taking and audio-recording functions, a list of questions to ask the doctor, a calendar, a glossary of terms and links to additional resources.

My Colon Cancer Coach is a unique, interactive website that helps patients better understand their diagnosis and treatment options. Based on answers that patients provide regarding their diagnosis, patients receive a guide which gives them information about treatment options specific to them. The goal of the Coach program is to empower patients with individualized information to facilitate more meaningful discussions between them and their doctors.

To access the free app, search “Cancer Coach” in the Android marketplace or iTunes store, or go to www.mycoloncancercoach.org.

CancerCare is offering a teleconference in collaboration with Fight Colorectal Cancer:

• Current Developments in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
• Wednesday, October 26, 2011
• 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Eastern time
• Register online

A panel of experts will cover topics including new treatments for colorectal cancer, clinical trials, personalized medicine, nutrition, controlling symptoms and pain, and communicating with your healthcare team.

Read the rest of this entry »