Colorectal Cancer Alliance

"Clinical Trials really offer an extra layer of peace of mind that we wouldn't necessarily have had otherwise." - Liz

Today is Clinical Trials Day. Read on to see how clinical trials changed Kevin's life 👇

When Kevin was 54, he had his second colonoscopy. The doctors thought they may have seen something but when he started coughing in the middle of his procedure, they ended it early. They asked him to come back in a year, but due it being 2020, it wound up being longer. He didn’t have a history of colore**al cancer or any symptoms so he felt fine putting it off.

During Kevin’s next colonoscopy, they found a tumor. His wife, Liz, remembers feeling like the world had stopped right then. She felt lost and didn’t know where to turn. Even as she and Kevin got new information from test results and doctors, it was difficult to know how severe things were or how to feel about the diagnosis, especially while juggling life with two kids who were 6 and 8 at the time.

Liz started looking for resources and found the Alliance. It was great to have a one-stop place to learn the basics about CRC, clinical trials, and genetic testing, and a place to learn more about potential treatments, including chemo and its side effects. It felt like a lifeline for their family to have a place to find information that was dependable and reliable while they waited for Kevin’s treatment to begin.

2 months after his diagnosis, Kevin had a partial colectomy. Postsurgical testing revealed that the cancer had spread to a lymph node, leading to a stage IIIB diagnosis. Kevin went on to have several rounds of chemo and was able to participate in a clinical trial at Dana Farber that involved a custom blood test based off of the DNA of his specific tumor that tests for any circulating cancer in his bloodstream. This allows Kevin’s doctors to monitor any potential spread or recurrences of his cancer less invasively.

It has now been 2.5 years since Kevin finished chemo. He had a clean colonoscopy one year post surgery, and while he continues with routine monitoring, there have been no issues or signs of recurrence since.

Learn more about clinical trials 👉 https://bit.ly/ClinicalTrials-Webpage

When they told me I had advanced colore**al cancer, all I could think about was my husband and daughter.

Maya was only two and a half years old, and we were on the most beautiful adventure together. During the day, I taught her about the sports I loved to play as a girl. At night, when she'd wake to nurse, I'd rock her slowly, knowing she was safe, warm, nourished. I cherished our time.

This Mother's Day, our time is threatened by cancer, which — despite three and a half years of barbaric treatment — continues its advance. I endure, it persists. My heart breaks at the thought of her losing me. Everybody needs a mom.

In support of mommies everywhere, I'm asking you to give to the Colore**al Cancer Alliance today. This organization helped me find answers when no one else would, and they're committed to advancing science that saves lives like mine.

My current hope rests on a new therapy that has a 2% chance of getting me to remission. If you don't think that's good, consider that there isn't another treatment that would give me that chance.

If you ask me what I need as a patient, I need researchers to keep doing good work. I need ways for drugs to get to market faster. I need treatment options now.

The Alliance's Project Cure CRC is built to bring more options to patients faster — through care navigation that keeps patients from falling through the cracks and research that creates new and effective treatments.

Mothers need it. Daughters need it. Fathers and sons need it, too.

I promised Maya I'd be here for her. And I will be. This Mother's Day, you can help, and I hope you do.

Make a gift this Mother's Day 👉 https://bit.ly/26-MothersDay-FB

"I was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in October 2023 at the age of 49, had surgery in November of 2023, and started chemo January 2024. I have been cancer free ever since.

I chose an End Colon Cancer Coast to Coast fundraiser because it was the easiest idea — it was because colore**al cancer doesn't stay contained to one family, one neighborhood, or one ZIP code. It reaches across generations and across state lines, and I wanted my response to match that scale: something that could connect people from everywhere into one shared effort.

This was our 2nd year doing our "Pound Your Ass Off" fundraiser. Different Pound Rockout Work instructors from all over the USA come to take part in this event and to support me! We love rocking out for a great cause and getting to work out! Together we all can make a change and get the word out!" - Amber S.

Start your End Colon Cancer Coast to Coast Fundraiser 👉 https://bit.ly/26-C2C-FB