The first show, an ASCO clinical information update live broadcast, will air from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. CT. The Group Room's host Selma R. Schimmel; Frank Haluska, MD, PhD, Chairman of ASCO's Cancer Communications Committee; David H. Johnson, MD, President-Elect of ASCO; and other leading oncologists will discuss highlights of the meeting and clinical updates about cancers affecting the breast, lung, and the lymphatic system as well as quality of life.

The second show will be a Patient Advocacy Feature Special focusing on survivorship issues in support of National Cancer Survivors Day, and will air from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. CT. Joining Ms. Schimmel for the second show will be Ellen Stovall, President and CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS); Diane S. Blum, Executive Director of Cancer Care, Inc., and Editor-in-Chief of People Living With Cancer; Kim Thiboldeaux, President and CEO of The Wellness Community; and other distinguished representatives from the patient advocacy community. While in the first broadcast the panelists will be oncologists, the second show will feature patient advocates on the panel and the doctors in the audience, entering into a live discussion about issues related to patient advocacy.

The FDA Watch, a new feature of The Group Room providing listeners with an update about oncology-related activities of the Food and Drug Administration by means of 90-second taped interviews, will be launched during the Patient Advocacy Feature Special. The FDA Watch will air every few weeks or when there is important news that the FDA would like disseminated to cancer patients and their families and friends.

"Although most people have heard of the FDA, many may not be familiar with the specific responsibilities of the Food and Drug Administration. We are pleased to have this opportunity to provide listeners of The Group Room with periodic regulatory updates on cancer drug development," said Patty Delaney, associate director of the Cancer Liaison Program at FDA's Office of Special Health Issues. For more information, go to www.vitaloptions.org and click on FDA Watch.

Both broadcasts are a collaborative effort of Vital OptionsŪ International, the cancer communications, support, and advocacy organization whose mission is to facilitate a global cancer dialogue (www.vitaloptions.org); OncoLink, the award-winning cancer information resource on the World Wide Web from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania (www.oncolink.org); and People Living With Cancer, the award-winning patient information website from ASCO (www.plwc.org).

"This unique collaboration with OncoLink and People Living With Cancer will allow us to maximize our audience reach and further support our mutual efforts and goals of providing first-hand clinical information from many of the world's oncology leaders. The double broadcast will also be the first time that we are able to align the voices of both the cancer advocacy community and medical oncologists to address the myriad of issues that cancer survivors, patients, their loved ones, and medical professionals must face together," said Ms. Schimmel, Founder and CEO of Vital Options International and a 20-year breast cancer survivor.

Listeners can join the discussions by dialing 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666). To listen live to the ASCO Clinical Information Update, please go to www.vitaloptions.org; to see the live video webcast, please go to www.oncolink.org. To see the live Patient Advocacy Feature Special video webcast, please go to www.oncolink.org or www.plwc.org.

"Providing useful sources of oncology information and empowerment for people touched by cancer is a mutual goal for OncoLink, Vital Options, and People Living With Cancer," said James Metz, MD, Editor-in-Chief of OncoLink, and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center. "I believe that merging radio, video, and Internet technology helps to reach broader audiences and facilitate greater dialogue between doctors and cancer patients."

"We are pleased to be a partner in this joint effort. The two broadcasts of The Group Room perfectly match the theme of this year's Annual Meeting: 'Commitment. Care. Compassion. ASCO Honors People With Cancer,'" said Charles M. Balch, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of ASCO. "We believe that this public dialogue among doctors, patient advocates, and people who call in to participate in the show is an excellent way to highlight the important role that patients and their advocates can play in the advancement of cancer treatment and care."

The Group Room reaches more than half-a-million radio listeners each Sunday throughout the United States, as well as others worldwide who hear the show simulcast live over the Internet at www.vitaloptions.org where the show is also archived. The Group Room is produced by Vital Options in association with Premiere Radio Networks, the nation's largest radio network. The show features Ms. Schimmel and The Group Room's regular on-air medical experts and therapist who are joined each week by callers affected by cancer, as well as renowned cancer experts and advocates who provide updates on research, medical advances, and advocacy efforts. All phone calls 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, Vital Options International is a not-for-profit cancer communications, support, and advocacy organization headquartered in southern California. In an effort to facilitate a global cancer dialogue, Vital Options is considered "everyone's best partner" and works collaboratively with other cancer organizations and groups in various cancer communication initiatives.

OncoLink - founded in 1994 at the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center - is an award-winning cancer site on the Internet that provides information about specific types of cancer, research advances, cancer treatment updates, clinical trials, and daily news reports.

ASCO is the world's leading professional society of multidisciplinary medical professionals who treat people with cancer. ASCO's more than 20,000 members from the U.S. and abroad set the standard for patient care worldwide and lead the fight for more effective cancer treatments, increased funding for clinical and translational research, and, ultimately, cures for the many different cancers that strike 1.3 million Americans every year. ASCO publishes the semi-monthly Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), the foremost, peer-reviewed journal focusing on clinical cancer research, and produces the award-winning website People Living With Cancer (www.plwc.org), which provides oncologist-vetted cancer information to help patients and families make informed healthcare decisions.

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 Pfizer Oncology. The live remote broadcast from ASCO has been made possible through additional support from Eli Lilly and Company, and GlaxoSmithKline Oncology. The Patient Advocacy Feature Special has been made possible through additional support from Abbott Diagnostics, Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc., and GlaxoSmithKline Oncology.