April 1, 2026 – The COLONTOWN Community marks an important leadership transition, grounded in the same foundation that defines it: leaders with lived experience supporting others through colorectal cancer.
Deep gratitude goes to Meagan Lockhart for guiding the Community through a period of growth and complexity, including a major platform transition. Her leadership helped ensure patients and caregivers could access connection, information, and hope. As Mayor Emeritus, she will remain an important part of COLONTOWN.
Tiffany Freeman steps into the role of Mayor, bringing years of leadership within COLONTOWN and lived experience as a patient, parent, and advocate. Her approach reflects the Community’s core strength—people supporting people with empathy and understanding.
With Tiffany’s leadership and Meagan’s continued involvement, COLONTOWN moves forward with continuity, experience, and a strong sense of community.
March 2026 — COLONTOWN partnered with Twist Out Cancer to host a special Twistshop: an opportunity for our community to pause, create, and reconnect through art.
These guided sessions are rooted in art therapy principles, offering a space to explore self-care, creativity, and emotional expression in a supportive, judgment-free environment. Participants were invited to reflect on their experiences and translate them into visual form, using art as a tool to process, release, and reframe.
The response was deeply meaningful. Members shared not only their artwork, but also moments of vulnerability, insight, and connection. In a community often navigating the clinical and the complex, Twistshop provided something equally essential: room to breathe, to feel, and to create without expectation.
We’re grateful to Twist Out Cancer for bringing this experience to COLONTOWN, and to every member who showed up and made it their own.
At United in Blue, a sea of advocates made the impact of colorectal cancer impossible to ignore. At the Cologuard Classic, that same energy carried onto a national stage, where awareness met action in a different but equally powerful way.
For many, taking part in something like this is not simple. It takes energy, planning, and courage. And still, this community shows up. For themselves. For each other. For those who will come next.
March 2026 — For patients with stage IV colorectal cancer, knowing your KRAS status is not just informational. It can directly shape your treatment path.
December 31, 2025 – As we close out the year, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible COLONTOWN volunteers whose patience, dedication, and steady support make our community possible, and to our members, whose generosity in sharing knowledge, encouragement, and friendship lifts others every single day. It is this willingness to show up for one another—answering questions, offering hope, and walking alongside fellow patients and caregivers—that forms the true heart of COLONTOWN. Because of you, no one has to face colorectal cancer alone, and our community remains a place of trust, strength, and connection.
December 2025 – COLONTOWN University has updated its biomarker education with clearer, patient-centered information on treatment toxicity biomarkers, helping people with colorectal cancer understand why chemotherapy side effects can vary so widely. The update explains pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing—tests of your body’s genes, not the tumor’s—and how these tests can support safer, more personalized treatment decisions, even though they are not yet routinely used in the U.S.
The update also expands guidance on the DPYD gene, which affects how the body processes 5-FU, a key drug in many CRC chemotherapy regimens. It highlights FDA recommendations to discuss DPYD testing before treatment and outlines symptoms that should prompt urgent testing, such as severe diarrhea or chest discomfort. By clarifying risks and management options, the new content empowers patients to recognize side effects early and work with their care teams to reduce toxicity while staying on treatment.
September 2025 — A giant thank you to the sponsors of our new home, Takeda and Pfizer. With their support, we’ve welcomed thousands of COLONTOWNies, including 500+ NEW members, to our platform and app in just the past few weeks. As we reach the one month mark, we are updating the experience based on community feedback, including instant access to posts from all the neighborhoods a member belongs to. One of the popular new features is Find Friends, where members can find others sharing their experiences, or connect with local TOWNies for meet ups!
If you are a COLONTOWN member and have not yet made the transition, please fill out the email validation form and join us. New members can join through the onboarding form on our website.
It’s an exciting time for COLONTOWN as we connect conversation, support, and education under one (virtual) roof!
September 2025 — At Stage IV, it’s never too early for a second opinion, especially if you’ve been told chemo-for-life is your only option. However, it can often be too late if you wait too long. Give yourself every chance to improve your outcome. Make your own luck whenever you can. So to all who try…good luck!” – Felix Lu, Creator of the Lu Family Fund, which supports the Second Opinion Project
Find out all you need to know about getting that very important second opinion right now, by reading our new Guide on COLONTOWN University!
August 2025 — August was Make a Will Month and, in honor of that, COLONTOWN Community host and member Lauryn Cooney prepared a 2-part series covering topics related to end-of-life preparation and care.
On Thursday, August 21, Julie Wrigley, PALTOWN Board Co-Chair and Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Alaska Anchorage lent her legal mind to the issue of wills and why they matter, going over the basics of wills and other essential documents related to estate preparation. The recording of this important COLONTOWN Presents event is now live on CTU.
On August 26, our latest Resource Fair informed patients and caregivers about trusted organizations and resources for end-of-life planning, including legal, medical, emotional, and logistical support. The goal? To break down barriers to discussing this sensitive topic and encourage healthy conversation and support. Find the recording in our Lecture Hall.
August 1, 2025 — The COLONTOWN team launched a beautiful new online home for our patient and caregiver community. We’ve already welcomed thousands of TOWNies and begun onboarding brand new members into the new site and companion app. Our Facebook groups have been paused; no new posts can be created, but existing members can find and read posts. Our many volunteer admins and dedicated community staff are hard at work in the new space, which gets more lively every day.
If you are a COLONTOWN member and have not yet made the transition, please fill out the email validation form and join us. New members can join through the onboarding form on our website.
It’s an exciting time for COLONTOWN as we connect conversation, support, and education under one (virtual) roof!
July 2025 — Artist Monica Twigg is using her most personal work, Transitioning Through the Pane, to give back in a powerful way: she is donating 100% of the profits from this emotionally charged charcoal painting to COLONTOWN. Inspired by the loss of her husband and her own journey through grief, Monica created this piece as an expression of the silent, isolating experience of caregiving and loss. In COLONTOWN, she found a community that offered the understanding, resources, and strength she needed when she felt most alone.
Funds raised will support COLONTOWN’s patient-led communities and free educational programs. To view the piece, read Monica’s story, and support the cause, visit her web site.
COLONTOWN Conference Reporting
June 3 2025 — COLONTOWN sent both an on site team and a virtual conference reporting corps of trained patient and caregiver volunteers to the annual ASCO cancer research conference this weekend. This program is part of our unique, patient-driven approach to making medical research more accessible and actionable. We go beyond the major headlines, focusing on the specific findings that matter most to individual patients — often delivering insights ahead of what’s shared in the clinic. Our team reported dozens of updates, including final data from trials we’ve been tracking in our COLONTOWN Clinical Trials groups, which could soon change the standard of care for certain patient subgroups. We also saw growing evidence for supportive strategies — from exercise to infusion timing — that may enhance outcomes when combined with current treatments, plus exciting early data from new trials just getting underway.
April 15, 2025 — Now live: COLONTOWN University’s “All About Liver Mets” Guide!
The Liver Guide is a comprehensive new resource about navigating colorectal cancer with liver metastases created by and for patients and caregivers. It delves into treatment planning strategies, surgical and non-surgical options, and offers patient perspectives to aid informed decision-making.
By combining medical insights with first-hand patient and caregiver experiences, it empowers readers to navigate the complexities of liver metastases with confidence and clarity.
April 10, 2025 – Our Empowered Patient Leader (EPL) and digital teams have launched an e-course of our popular EPL training program.
COLONTOWN members who want to give back by volunteering in the community can now complete this course on their own schedule. The on-demand course joins our existing scheduled EPL offerings online and in person.
We are always working to make our programs accessible to our patient and caregiver members around the world; the e-course has already seen a number of registrations as COLONTOWNies take advantage of this new modality.
Thanks to Taiho Oncology and Lilly for making this program possible!
April 2, 2025 – PALTOWN and BLKHLTH are working to address barriers facing Black colorectal patients and caregivers in accessing patient support and education.
As part of this collaboration, we have launched an online resource collection to connect patients and caregivers with a wide range of services and programs from more than a dozen organizations.
Many thanks to Takeda, Exact Sciences, and Bristol Myers Squibb for their support for this project.
Now Available: Bag It/COLONTOWN CRC Bag
March 19, 2025 – We are excited to announce the arrival of a great new resource:
Bag It’s signature Bag of essential resources for patients and caregivers impacted by colorectal cancer, with CRC disease education materials provided by the COLONTOWN University team.
The colorectal cancer inserts have been adapted from our popular CRC101 module in COLONTOWN University.
Many thanks to Bag It Cancer, and to funders GSK and Exact Sciences, for making this possible.
The Bag is currently available in English, with a Spanish language version slated for later this spring.
When ordering, use the code CRC2025 for a free bag!
CRC Bulletin Board Launches
March 17, 2025 – Check out our new online bulletin board, featuring educational events, support resources, opportunities for patient and caregiver input, and COLONTOWN news.
The bulletin board collects offerings from partner organizations and other entities, along with COLONTOWN’s own events. Each listing provides a link to register or to get additional information.
Now, from one place, patients and caregivers can:
- sign up for our next DocTalk
- register to attend a webinar about taking time off work, or parenting through cancer, or navigating the health care system
- find specialized resources from our nonprofit partners
- browse survey and interview opportunities
If your organization has events and opportunities to share, please reach out to us.
COLONTOWN Onboarding Team Expands
February 20, 2025 — We welcome longtime COLONTOWN admin Michele Leslie to the community onboarding team. Michele has been an integral part of COLONTOWN’s caregiving groups since 2016.
She brings a deep experience with the particular needs of our caregiver members to her new work with the onboarding team. This team guides each new member through an orientation to COLONTOWN and its resources. The team connects members directly to the groups that will be most relevant to them.
COLONTOWN’s onboarding process has enabled the community to grow without losing its “special sauce,” the unique personalized support and care that every member receives. The team welcomes hundreds of new patients and caregivers each month, and we are grateful to add Michele to help meet this need.
COLONTOWN is Moving!
February 14, 2025 — We are excited to announce that COLONTOWN’s 100 neighborhoods will be moving to a new dedicated space and app in 2025. This will enable us to better support our members’ needs in our fast-growing community in many valuable ways.
This project has been in the works for a long time; we are grateful to Takeda Oncology for providing support to help bring it to life.
We’ve assembled a team of COLONTOWN members with relevant expertise to focus on building a welcoming, engaging, and content-rich space for the thousands of colorectal cancer patients and caregivers who call COLONTOWN home.
Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to launch!
COLONTOWN Patients present at ASCO GI
January 25, 2025 — PALTOWN staff and CRC patients Julie Clauer and Manju George presented several findings at the ASCO GI research conference in San Francisco.
An examination of patients’ experiences and needs surrounding the communication of biomarker testing results proved extremely popular with conference attendees. This poster, based on a survey conducted in COLONTOWN, provided important insight into how clinicians can more effectively discuss biomarker results with their patients.
Julie Clauer, PALTOWN’s Education Lead, also served as a panelist and presenting author on presentations stemming from last year’s survey of metastatic colorectal cancer sponsored by Takeda Oncology.
Dr. Manju George, PALTOWN’s Scientific Director, co-authored an abstract on time burdens for people affected by GI cancers.
Familiar Faces, New Responsibilities
January 6, 2025 – PALTOWN is growing! COLONTOWN is now home to more than 13,000 patients and caregivers, and our education and support programs are all expanding their reach and impact.
We are pleased to announce that Stacey Runfola has been named Director of Programs for PALTOWN.
Replacing her as COLONTOWN Mayor is Meagan Lockhart, who has served as a COLONTOWN group admin, a Community Leader, and part of COLONTOWN’s management team.
Finally, co-founder Nancy Seybold steps out of her roles stewarding programs and external relations to become our first Director of Technology and Solutions. We have some exciting new initiatives on tap for 2025 in this space that Nancy will manage; stay tuned for more on that front!
Insights from our Caregiver Survey
November 28, 2024 – Our webinar on the caregiver experience is now available on COLONTOWN University.
This discussion looked at insights from our recent survey of caregivers in COLONTOWN. We had a number of COLONTOWN carepartners participate in the discussion, sharing firsthand accounts of their experiences.
This was a powerful and important conversation that we hope will be valuable to all those devoting time and resources to cancer care in any capacity.
Meet Lindsay Sichta, PALTOWN's New Executive Director
October 30, 2024 – PALTOWN’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce Lindsay Sichta as our incoming Executive Director starting November 4, 2024.
In this role she will be tasked with building and implementing the strategic vision for the continued growth of the organization through our focus on empowering colorectal cancer patients and caregivers via education and peer support, including the COLONTOWN community.
Lindsay is a caregiver for her husband, a colorectal cancer patients, and comes to PALTOWN from a background in educational leadership.
Listening to Our Caregivers
Sept 26, 2024 — The COLONTOWN team recently conducted a survey to better understand caregivers’ involvement in treatment decision making and care delivery.
More than 300 caregivers from 18 countries responded, demonstrating the reach of our caregiver community!
Education Lead Julie Clauer is presenting an abstract based on the survey, “Understanding the Extent of Caregiver Involvement and Needs in Treatment- Impacting Activities” at the ASCO Quality of Life Symposium in San Francisco this week.
Stay tuned for a follow up Zoom on the findings from this important survey!
PALTOWN 2023 Annual Report Released
Sept 24, 2024 — PALTOWN’s 2023 Annual Report is now available. It’s short, it’s colorful, and it’s a love letter to our people — the patients and caregivers who create our programs, and the extended family of supporters who make all our work possible. Check it out!
Connecting Black CRC Patients with Support
Sept 19, 2024 —PALTOWN is excited to announce a collaboration with BLKHLTH to identify and address barriers experienced by Black colorectal cancer patients and caregivers in accessing support and disease education.
The project kicked off with a virtual conversation to discuss barriers Black CRC patients and caregivers face connecting with these critical resources.
You can catch up on the panel discussion portion of this event on COLONTOWN University’s Lecture Hall (and check out some of our 80+ other videos while you are at it!).
We are grateful to Takeda Oncology and Exact Sciences for their support of this project.
Dr. Fong DocTalk: A COLONTOWN Legend
August 30th, 2024 — A not-to-be-missed DocTalk saw a record number of COLONTOWN members logging in to hear Dr. Yuman Fong of City of Hope discuss “All Things Liver” with PALTOWN Scientific Director Dr. Manju George.
Many stage IV COLONTOWN patients with liver involvement have worked with Dr. Fong. PALTOWN’s Second Opinion Project, supported by the Lu Family Fund, has enabled patients from around the country to seek second opinions with Dr. Fong.
The DocTalk is now available on COLONTOWN University’s Lecture Hall, where it joins 90 other talks by leading researchers and clinicians.
Meet our Latest Superhero
August 10, 2024 — Our COLONTOWN Superhero series continues with Laura, our Community Leader for the 7 caregiver neighborhoods in COLONTOWN.
Laura came to COLONTOWN as a caregiver, and stayed with us after the death of her husband in 2019. She now helps more than 1,000 caregivers connect, support one another, and find disease education and resources in our caregiver-only groups.
Learn more about Laura and the work she does to help so many in COLONTOWN!
Collaboration with Bag It Cancer
July 20, 2024 –PALTOWN is pleased to announce a collaboration with Bag It Cancer to produce tote bags and resource notebooks for newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients. The notebooks will feature Bag It’s resource tools and a print version of COLONTOWN University’s CRC101 guide, and will be available in English and Spanish.
The bags and notebooks should be available by early spring, 2025.
New Empowered Patient Leader Team
July 1, 2024 — Introducing our new training team!
PALTOWN’s Empowered Patient Leader program trains patients and caregivers from our COLONTOWN community to step up to leadership roles in COLONTOWN and beyond.
Thanks to the support of sponsors Taiho Oncology and Lilly, we have engaged 4 fantastic EPL graduates to ensure this important program continues to grow!
PALTOWN Executive Director Search
June 24, 2024 — PALTOWN is seeking its next Executive Director!
Strong candidates will be both strategic thinkers and doers who are deeply passionate about our mission and experienced in creating inclusive, caring and respectful work cultures. In particular, candidates must demonstrate the capability to embrace the collaborative, patient-centric nature of the organization, including its commitment to supporting patients and caregivers as they return to the workforce as part of PALTOWN.
The position is fully remote and flexible. Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, to [email protected] as soon as possible.
In Memory of Sam Dharia
June 20, 2024 — It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sam Dharia, PALTOWN Board Treasurer and COLONTOWN member.
Sam served on PALTOWN’s Board and brought his keen mind and gentle manner to oversight of our finances. At the same time, he was an active member of COLONTOWN, and will be missed by many of his “neighbors” there.
Sam’s family has asked that those wishing to honor his memory make a donation to PALTOWN. Please visit his memorial page for more pictures and a message from his family.
Patients Stepping Up
June 7, 2024 — We are excited to announce new roles for two COLONTOWN patients and PALTOWN staff members!
Tiffany Freeman, a stage III CRC patient, has been named PALTOWN’s Director of Operations and Finance, after serving as Operations Manager for the past 3 years.
Keith Hollingsworth, a stage IV CRC patient, will take on the new position of Empowered Patient Leader Program Coordinator. Keith is also a member of the COLONTOWN Cabinet, the team of patients and caregivers who manage PALTOWN’s COLONTOWN community.
All our staff are patients and caregivers, bringing education and connection to thousands through their work every day.
Guide for Skin Issues
May 30, 2024 — Now live on COLONTOWN University, a comprehensive guide to the skin issues colorectal cancer patients can experience – from rashes to hand and foot syndrome and more.
The guide includes patient perspectives, options for managing skin issues, and how to talk to your care team.
New Trials Education Staff
May 15, 2024 — PALTOWN’s focus on clinical trials education gets a boost with the addition of two new staff members.
Laure Chotel, a caregiver based in France, takes on the curation of the Alanna Project. This resource collects anonymized experiences from COLONTOWN members on clinical trials, including disease status, time on trial, and side effects.
Natalia Muñoz, a caregiver based in Ireland, comes on to the team with a background in biochemistry. She will serve as the Data Analyst and Research Librarian for PALTOWN’s new Trials Hub project. This repository will offer COLONTOWN members online access to all PALTOWN’s resources on current clinical trials, from DocTalks to the Alanna Project to published data curated and contextualized by Natalia.
Look for the Trials Hub launch later this year!
Caregiver Resource Fair
May 7, 2024 — Caregivers are an integral part of all of PALTOWN’s programming. In 2024, half of the new members in COLONTOWN are caregivers, who often are the designated information seeker in families dealing with cancer.
Now available on COLONTOWN University, our latest Resource Fair, “Caring for the Caregiver,” features contributions from 15 organizations, all focused on the needs of caregivers.
Meet COLONTOWN's Volunteer Coordinator
Ann Elliot
April 1, 2024 – PALTOWN’s COLONTOWN community runs on its patient and caregiver volunteers. Community members participate in our Empowered Patient Leader Workshops, and then step up to help admin one of COLONTOWN’s 100 groups, or contribute to the many education and support efforts that make COLONTOWN special.
Patient Ann Elliot will serve as COLONTOWN’s first Volunteer Coordinator, managing our more than 100 volunteers and providing tools and mentoring to help them help their neighbors.
Superheroes Power COLONTOWN!
Feb 1, 2024 — Everything we do is powered by our patients and caregivers. In 2024, we are highlighting some of the many people who have done something truly extraordinary – taken their experience with colorectal cancer and transformed it into a mission to help thousands of others.
Each month, we’ll feature a different superhero, from the Knight of Knowledge to the Solution Seeker. Follow along as we introduce you to these amazing folks!
Education Team Presents Trials Workshop
Jan 20, 2024 — Education Program Director Julie Clauer, Scientific Director Dr. Manju George, and Program Manager Nancy Seybold presented the impact of PALTOWN’s Searching Safari Workshop at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology GI conference.
The poster presentation looked at how this new program can reduce barriers for stage IV CRC patients interested in pursuing clinical trials.
Clinical Trial Access Resource Fair
Dec 4, 2023 — Now available on COLONTOWN University, the trials access resource fair featured free-to-patient resources that enable additional paths to evidence-based investigational treatments.
Participating organizations provided details about their programs, which can help patients when relevant clinical trials do not seem to be available locally or participating in trials elsewhere seems unattainable.
New COLONTOWN Cabinet Member
Keith Hollingsworth
I was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer on 5/5/21, have completed multiple surgeries, SBRT, and quite a bit of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy.
When I heard those words “You have cancer” as you can imagine, my world flipped upside down. I immediately thought…”How long do I have.” I am a husband to my wife Casey of 16 years, as well as a father to my 2 sons Logan and Parker.
You can find yourself digging into a dark hole as a stage IV patient, while researching survival rates, treatment options etc. My nurse navigator recommended that I investigate the group “COLONTOWN.” This community has been a tremendous part of my treatment plan. They have helped me answer questions, seek advice, helped empower me to get a 2nd opinion, and helped me to become a better advocate for myself.
The Empowered Patient Leadership program offered me a way to give back to others that have helped me along my journey. I proudly serve as admin for my local regional group The INDY CREW. I am also part of the COLONTOWN Cabinet, which manages the overall community.
Dec 1, 2023 — We are excited to welcome Keith Hollingsworth to the COLONTOWN Management Team. Keith joins the COLONTOWN Cabinet, the group of patients and caregivers who oversee the 130 neighborhoods of our community. Keith is a stage IV CRC patient, and is already a COLONTOWN group admin and part of the team that runs our Empowered Patient Leader Workshop program.
2023 PALTOWN Leadership Retreat
Nov 13, 2023 —As an entirely virtual organization, we try and get together in person once a year to plan for the coming year’s programs. We held our 2023 Retreat in the DC area this past weekend, working through a full agenda generating a wealth of ideas and energy for the future of PALTOWN. We also enjoyed the rare chance to do some team building, including the first annual PALTOWN Trivia Night.
Searching Safari Trials Workshop Update
Nov 8, 2023 — Our newest patient education project has been accepted as part of the program at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology GI Symposium!
We are so proud of our Education Team Lead, stage IV patient Julie Clauer, for developing this amazing resource. Julie and our Scientific Director, rectal cancer patient Dr. Manju George, will present “COLONTOWN Searching Safari: Education to remove barriers to pursue clinical trials for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.”
The team is currently developing an on-demand version of Searching Safari to expand its reach with our stage IV patient population.
Mental Wellness Resource Fair
Oct 10, 2023 – COLONTOWN’s new Resource Fair series continues with Mental Health & Wellness.
Partner organizations are invited to provide an introduction to their programs for patients and caregivers in these virtual events. The video and associated resource guides are then posted in COLONTOWN University for all to access.
Landmark DocTalk on Liver Mets
Aug 28, 2023 — COLONTOWN members got a first look at the PUMP trial in this panel discussion on August 30th.
Colorectal cancer patients with unresectable liver mets will find this a valuable discussion of an important new trial.
As with all our DocTalks, the video has been posted to the Lecture Hall in COLONTOWN University.
Surgery Resource Launches
Aug 24, 2023 — The latest module in COLONTOWN University’s popular CRC101 Learning Center focuses on surgery.
This resource provides clear explanations of each major type of surgery offered to colorectal cancer patients, along with practical considerations, questions to ask your surgeon, and more!
PALTOWN Board Chair on AACR Podcast
July 17, 2023 –PALTOWN Board Chair Howard Brown discusses survivorship and cancer research on this episode of the “Believe in Progress” podcast from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
Howard is a two-time stage IV cancer survivor, entrepreneur, published author, and member of COLONTOWN. He has served on PALTOWN’s Board of Directors since 2018, and became Chair in 2023.
Scientific Director Dr Manju George on Fear of Recurrence
June 3, 2023 — PALTOWN’s Scientific Director, Dr. Manju George, co-authored an article addressing fear of recurrence in cancer patients for a recent issue of the ASCO Daily News. This publication from the American Society of Clinical Oncology reaches oncologists and other health care professionals. We are proud of Dr. George’s reputation among CRC clinicians and researchers as a leading patient advocate!
Resource Fair for Kids' Programs Now in COLONTOWN University
May 24, 2023 — Check out our newest resource on COLONTOWN University: a roundup of programs for kids who parent has or had cancer. The resource fair, hosted by COLONTOWN’s Parents Talking Assocation group, featured presentations from 6 organizations, and the downloadable resource guide provides even more material.
PALTOWN Welcomes New Board Members
May 23, 2023 — Please join us in welcoming our new members of PALTOWN’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Leslie Cloud and Alexa Morell are colorectal cancer patients, and Susan Pfau and Jackie Robins bring experience as caregivers. All are part of our COLONTOWN community.
Get to know our Board!
PALTOWN's 2022 Annual Report Available
May 22, 2023 — PALTOWN has published its 2022 Annual Report.
The Report features our programs, our people, and our finances.
This year, we remember three remarkable staff members – Jen Eldridge, Lindsey Musick, and Steve Schwarze. Each of them left a lasting impact on our programs and on everyone they touched in our community.
New Diet and Lifestyle Resource
April 16, 2023 — The latest edition to COLONTOWN University is now live. The Diet and Lifestyle module in CRC101 covers eating, exercise, living with an ostomy, and working through treatment. Like all our content, this wonderful resource draws on the lived experience of thousands of COLONTOWN members!
Meet the Mayor
April 1, 2023 —We are excited to introduce Stacey Runfola, COLONTOWN’s new Mayor. Stacey has been a member of COLONTOWN since 2011, as a caregiver for her husband Rick. After Rick passed away in 2014, Stacey remained an active part of COLONTOWN as it grew. She has been a leader of our caregiver neighborhoods and helped develop the Empowered Patient Leader training program.
Stacey will work closely with the Cabinet, the team of patients and caregivers who manage COLONTOWN on a daily basis.
Community Fundraising for the Win
March 31, 2023 — More than 40 COLONTOWNies participated in our March Calendar Campaign, asking their networks to help them fill 31 days with donations.
Thanks to everyone who made this our most successful March Campaign to date! We raised more than $15,000 – enough to run a second in-person Empowered Patient Leader program this year!
COLONTOWNies Represent at the Cologuard Classic
March 5, 2023 — 5 COLONTOWN members attended the Cologuard Classic Golf Tournament, thanks to sponsor Exact Sciences. Each member was paired with a pro who played in their honor, and everyone participated in events to raise awareness around colorectal cancer screening and treatment.
Stage 3 survivor Meghan Wallace played in the Pro-Am as a special treat!
Colon Cancer Coalition Supports Community Leaders
February 20, 2023 —We are thrilled to announce that the Colon Cancer Coalition has provided a grant to help support the COLONTOWN Community Leader Program for the coming year. Our Community Leaders, a volunteer team of patients and caregivers, oversee the more than 120 “neighborhoods” in COLONTOWN. They work to to keep COLONTOWN a safe, respectful space where CRC patients and caregivers can “find their people!”
New PALTOWN Board and Executive Leadership
February 1, 2023 — PALTOWN congratulates longtime Board of Directors member Howard Brown for his election to Chair of the Board, and welcomes Susan Wysoki as Executive Director of the organization.
Howard, a stage IV CRC survivor, author, and entrepreneur, and Susan, a caregiver to daughter Jessica, who passed away in 2018, both bring deep experience and commitment to their new roles.
PALTOWN 2023 Leadership Retreat
January 9, 2023 — PALTOWN staff and volunteers gathered in San Diego for a weekend of team building and program planning. As a virtual organization, we find these annual events provide us much-needed time to brainstorm and connect.
Many thanks to lead sponsor Taiho Oncology for their continued support!
Lindsey Musick, COLONTOWN Mayor
December 3, 2022 – It is with tremendous sadness that we share the passing of our beloved COLONTOWN Mayor Lindsey Emma Musick. She led the community fearlessly and with complete compassion. We will miss her and are committed to continuing her tireless work to empower and embrace patients and caregivers in COLONTOWN, and through the Empowered Patient Leaders Program.
All New Clinical Trials Resource
November 20, 2022 – Our COLONTOWN University team has completely reimagined our Clinical Trials Basics Learning Center.
This unique resource draws on the experiences of COLONTOWN members to help patients and caregivers understand not just what clinical trials are and how to access them, but how to approach trials as part of their own treatment plan.
Survivorship (and Cookies): New Book from COLONTOWNie Howard Brown
October 10, 2022 – Howard Brown’s new memoir, “Shining Brightly” looks at survivorship through a lens of hope and resiliency. Howard, a COLONTOWNie, two-time cancer survivor, and a member of PALTOWN’s Board of Directors, celebrated the publication with custom cookies created by COLONTOWN Cabinet member Jenn Bass.
Remembering Steve
August 25, 2022 — We are all deeply grieving the loss of Steve Schwarze, who served the community in many ways over his years with us. As Interim Mayor, Community Leader, Workshop Faculty, Cabinet Member, and Director of Clinical Trials Programming, Steve was always at the heart of COLONTOWN. He was a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. Please take a moment to learn more about this extraordinary human being.
New COLONTOWN Cabinet Members
August 20, 2022 – The COLONTOWN Cabinet, the patient and caregiver team that manages our online CRC community, welcomes two new members. Meagan is a stage IV patient from Canada, and Jenn, a stage III patient, also helps manage our Empowered Patient Leader training.
Empowered Patient Leader Training Goes Live
June 27, 2022 – We are thrilled to announce the return of our popular Empowered Patient Leader training to an in-person format.
We hosted our first live session in 2 1/2 years in New Jersey, and it was a great success. We continue to offer virtual EPL training as well, which allows folks from all around the world to participate.
Many thanks to our sponsor Taiho, who has funded this program since its inception.
Trial "Safari" Program Launches
June 25, 2022 — PALTOWN’s newest training program, the Searching Safari, has just wrapped up its inaugural sessions. This program, developed by COLONTOWN Cabinet member Julie Saliba Clauer and Clinical Trials Program Director Steve Schwarze, helps patients navigate the dense world of trials information to develop a short list of trial options.
PALTOWN at ASCO
June 7, 2022 – PALTOWN staff attended the world’s largest cancer conference, hosted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology Chicago.
Our patient and caregiver team attended scientific sessions, staffed our booth on the convention floor, and met with advocates, researchers, and sponsors in person for the first time since 2019.
These events provide us with the opportunity to interact directly with the investigators working on cutting edge clinical trials, and to make connections and spread the word about the work, and the people, that make COLONTOWN so amazing.
New in CRC101: Radiation
May 10, 2022 – Our CRC101 Learning Center in COLONTOWN University continues to grow!
Check out the latest resource from our fantastic content development team: a guide to radiation therapy for newly diagnosed patients.
2021 Annual Report
April 4, 2022 — PALTOWN’s 2021 Impact Report provides a look at our year, our programs, our finances, and, of course, our people!
We are so grateful to our donors, partners and sponsors, who enable PALTOWN to continue to benefit the lives of thousands of patients and caregivers.
We’ve also included a peek at our plans for this year!
News and Notes from Our Scientific Director
March 28, 2022 — Our new resource in COLONTOWN University features a round up of research news as well as some personal insights from PALTOWN Scientific Director (and patient) Dr. Manju George.
We launch with a look at recent conversations in the CRC “Twitterverse,” and Manju’s “How to Cancer” piece reflecting on her 5 years since diagnosis.
Meet the Mayor
March 21, 2022 — Meet COLONTOWN Mayor Lindsey Musick in this new interview. Emmy-award winning journalist Christy McDonald produced this video as part of her CRC Awareness Month series. Christy was a caregiver for her husband Jamie Samuelsen, who passed away in 2020. Many thanks to Christy for her continued work to advocate for early screening!
Chemotherapy Resource for Newly Diagnosed Patients
March 9, 2022 — COLONTOWN University’s CRC101 guide for newly diagnosed patients just got even better! We’ve added an extensive new section on chemotherapy – everything from side effects to ports and PICC lines.
Check out this unique resource, created from the experiences of the thousands of patients in COLONTOWN!
COLONTOWNies Represent at the Cologuard Classic
February 23, 2022 — We’re having fun this week watching Team COLONTOWN at the Cologuard Classic PGA Champions Tour event. Richard Jue is playing in the Pro-Am, and all our participants are paired with a pro playing in their honor.
Follow along on our Facebook page and at #cologuardclassic!
PALTOWN Presents at Research Conference
January 22, 2022 — PALTOWN presented a poster (a visual summary of a research project) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.
PALTOWN COO Nancy Seybold and Scientific Director Manju George provided a look at the unique methodology for developing COLONTOWN University, along with some data about the impact of this educational resource for the patients and caregivers who use it.
New Home for COLONTOWN University
January 20, 2022 — We’re excited to launch the new and improved version of COLONTOWN University.
This updated website includes our brand new CRC 101 Learning Center — which breaks down everything newly diagnosed patients need to know about their cancer — as well as the Learning Centers you already know and love.
We invite you to explore learn.colontown.org for more information! We have more content in the works, so check CTU on a regular basis for updates.
PALTOWN Leadership Summit
December 14th, 2021 — PALTOWN held its first ever Leadership Summit in San Diego this month. The weekend-long event brought together PALTOWN staff and board members, the COLONTOWN management team, the science and clinical trials education teams, and key volunteers in COLONTOWN and our EPL training program.
Many thanks to sponsor Taiho Oncology for their support of this milestone!