“While March is designated National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it is vitally important that there is an ongoing dialogue about a disease that strikes approximately 150,000 Americans each year and is the third most common cancer type in the U.S . There are significant advances in the treatment of colorectal cancer and The Group Room is committed to raising awareness and helping individuals understand their treatment options so they are better equipped to speak with their physicians and loved ones,” said Selma Schimmel, founder & CEO of Vital Options International.

The on-air discussion will feature Heinz-Josef Lenz, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Director, GI Oncology Program, Scientific Director, Cancer Genetics, USC Keck School of Medicine. “Novel targeted therapies in combination with chemotherapy will cure more and more patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in the future. Now the goal is to personalize chemotherapy to increase the efficacy and therefore increase the cure rate in patients with metastatic disease,” said Dr. Lenz.

Joining the show from Massachusetts General Hospital will be David P. Ryan, M.D., Clinical Director, Tucker Gosnell Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Assistant in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

Founded in 1983, Vital Options was the first national organization to singularly focus on young adults with cancer. In 1993, Vital Options expanded its work into cancer communications, serving patients of all ages. Today, Vital Options is an international not-for-profit cancer communications, advocacy and support organization, headquartered in Southern California.

This special broadcast is made possible through an educational grant by Pfizer Oncology.