March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with approximately 148,000 new cases diagnosed annually and 56,000 deaths from the disease. However, with proper screening, colorectal cancer is highly preventable through the identification and removal of polyps before they become cancerous.

"Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in Europe as well as in the United States and research related to screening, diagnosis and treatment is of global concern," said Selma R. Schimmel, Founder and CEO of Vital Options® International TeleSupport® Cancer Network and host of The Group Room. "We are happy to help facilitate a worldwide dialogue about colorectal cancer with prominent opinion leaders from Europe and America with this special live broadcast of The Group Room."

Schimmel will be joined by a panel of German colorectal cancer experts, including Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, Director of the University Hospital for Internal Medicine IV, Oncology/Hematology, Martin Luther University, Halle, and General Secretary of Vital Options International, Germany; and Dr. Volker Beck, Psycho-Oncologist and Coordinator of the Prevention Department at the German Cancer Society, Frankfurt. Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of the GI Oncology Program and Scientific Director of Cancer Genetics, at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, will be calling in from Los Angeles.

The broadcast will be produced in collaboration with Radio Marsden-the in-house radio station of The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, England, the world's oldest cancer hospital.

The Group Room airs live every Sunday (4-6 pm ET; 1-3 pm PT; 9-11 pm GMT; 10 pm-midnight CET), reaching more than half-a-million radio listeners a week in addition to its worldwide web audience, which hears the show simulcast on the Internet at www.vitaloptions.org. Callers worldwide can call into the show toll-free to voice their opinions, question and concerns. Callers from the U.S. dial 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666); callers from Germany dial the toll-free access code 0800 2255 288 followed by 1-800-477-7666. (For additional toll-free access codes for other countries please go to www.vitaloptions.org.)

All phone calls to The Group Room are screened by a licensed oncology social worker. During the week, individuals can reach Vital Options for support or to receive more information about cancer resources or stations carrying the broadcast.

Founded in 1983 when Schimmel was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28, Vital Options was the first organization to address issues related to young adults with cancer before expanding to include issues and information related to everyone touched by cancer. In 2001, Vital Options was officially renamed Vital Options International to reflect its international expansion.

In addition to The Group Room, other Vital Options' projects include CancerTalk ™, an in-flight audio program on American and Northwest airlines; The Cancer NewsMinute™, a cancer news radio feature; and The Professor and The Survivor ™, an international clinical trials awareness project.

Vital Options International is a not-for-profit cancer communications, support and advocacy organization headquartered in southern California. Vital Options and The Group Room are supported through educational grants from founding sponsor Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and corporate sponsors Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. and Pharmacia Oncology.

Ortho Biotech is the lead sponsor of Vital Options International's growth in Europe; Pharmacia Oncology is an associate sponsor.