Colon Cancer Alliance Hosts Interactive Support Program At Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Main Category: Colorectal Cancer
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology;  Cancer / Oncology;  Public Health
Article Date: 15 Mar 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Every four minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a diagnosis that can be overwhelming without appropriate information and support. People living with colorectal cancer now have the opportunity to exchange ideas and information with experts in the field and fellow patients through an educational seminar series called "Conversations About Colorectal Cancer." The program, which launched in 2006, will be hosted in Washington, DC on Saturday, March 24 at the Georgetown University Conference Center.

The interactive seminar will allow patients to have a dialogue with thought-leading physicians in the area of colorectal cancer on a range of topics, from the latest treatment advances with targeted therapies to managing their side effects. In addition, patients and caregivers will have the opportunity to listen to, and support one another, in their collective battle against colorectal cancer.

"This program is an important way for those living with colorectal cancer to learn more about the nation's second-leading cancer killer," says Jill Pasqualetto, Colon Cancer Alliance's Voices of DC Chapter Coordinator. "By encouraging increased dialogue between patients, health care providers and caregivers, we hope to help patients learn how to successfully continue their daily activities and ultimately improve their quality of life."

According to a Harris Interactive survey of more than 500 cancer patients and 300 oncologists, patients who held discussions with their physicians about cancer topics were more knowledgeable about their condition than those who did not hold discussions. For example, only 10 percent of patients who did not participate in dialogue with their physician were knowledgeable about the extent of available treatment options. In addition, patients who did not have discussions with their physician were less knowledgeable about the possibility of treatment delays, infection, impact of low red and white blood cells, and proper patient education.

This seminar is part of a series of free educational events throughout the country in 2007. For information about where additional seminars will be held patients and their loved ones should visit http://www.ccalliance.org. This educational seminar series is funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Amgen.

About Colorectal Cancer

Although more Americans have become aware of colorectal cancer in recent years, one person still dies of the disease every nine minutes. Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States. In fact, one in 18 people in the United States will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime, yet if caught early, it is one of the most curable cancers. The American Cancer Society estimated that 153,760 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2007; an estimated 52,180 will die from colorectal cancer.

The Colon Cancer Alliance

The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is a national patient advocacy organization, with chapters located across the country, and the official patient support partner of Katie Couric's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA). CCA is dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. The Colon Cancer Alliance brings the voice of survivors to battle colon cancer through patient support, education, research and advocacy. CCA invites any and all organizations, government agencies, members of the medical community and individuals impacted by this disease to add their voices by joining CCA in their determination to eradicate colorectal cancer.

The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center and Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Lombardi is one of only 39 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute, and the only one in the Washington, DC, area. For more information, visit http://lombardi.georgetown.edu.

Colon Cancer Alliance
http://www.ccalliance.org

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