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.
COLONTOWN Website Redesign
June 4, 2022 – Time for a facelift! We’ve updated our COLONTOWN website to provide a friendly one-stop destination for all our programs to support colorectal cancer patients and caregivers.
Our Facebook groups, our training programs, the latest DocTalks – come see everything we have to offer!
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!
Live Facebook Event: Meet Our People!
Join us on March 9th at 1 pm EST for a Live Facebook event. Meet some of our amazing patients and caregivers!
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!
Second Opinion Stories
November 19th, 2021 — Meet Chastity and James, 2 of the stage IV patients who reached NED (No Evidence of Disease) thanks to the second opinions they sought with the help of PALTOWN’s Second Opinion Project.
COLONTOWN Presents: Rectal Cancer Doc Talk
November 15th, 2021 – Join Dr. J. Joshua Smith of MSKCC for a Zoom discussion: Nonoperative Management in Rectal Cancer: Is It Time for Watch-and-Wait or Just More Wait and See?
- Friday, November 19th, 12 ET. The video will also available in COLONTOWN University‘s Lecture Hall.
Precision Medicine Learning Center Launches
October 25, 2021 — We invite you to explore COLONTOWN University’s newest Learning Center. We’ve asked leading researchers – and one very smart patient – to explain what precision medicine is and how it is changing treatment options for some CRC patients.
We are grateful to xCures for supporting this project, and for providing a look “under the hood” at their xInform service as part of the Center.
Colon Cancer Coalition Supports Cabinet
Sept 15, 2021 — We are thrilled to announce that the Colon Cancer Coalition has provided a grant to help support the COLONTOWN Cabinet for the coming year. The Cabinet, a team of patients and caregivers, manages all aspects of our COLONTOWN community, from onboarding to outreach to member support. They work with over 100 volunteers to keep our 120 groups safe, respectful spaces where CRC patients and caregivers can “find their people!”
Research Roundup: June 2021
June 24, 2021 — PALTOWN’s Scientific Director Manju George and FightCRC’s Trial Curator Maia Walker have teamed up to discuss some of the most interesting CRC research presented at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in this blog produced by our partners at Fight CRC.
Community Engagement Initiative Launches
June 21, 2021 –COLONTOWN’s network of 36 U.S. and 6 international “Crews” connect members who live or are treated near each other. The Community Engagement Initiative will bring live versions of our Doc Talks series to patients around the country, beginning with Cleveland in August, 2021.
Many thanks to sponsor Thermo Fisher for supporting this Initiative.
COLONTOWN Presents: Doc Talk
June 18, 2021 — In the latest installment of our Doc Talk series, Dr. Gholami from UC Davis discusses HAI Chemotherapy for CRC Liver Metastases.
Empowered Patient Leaders: Summer 2021 Workshop
June 18, 2021 — Our next Empowered Patient Leaders Training is now accepting applications. This popular program trains patients and caregivers to become leaders in our COLONTOWN community.
The Summer 2021 Program will be virtual, following the successful model of our 2020 Workshops.
Lecture Hall Video Library
June 4, 2021 – The Lecture Hall, COLONTOWN University‘s newest Learning Center, offers videos on a wide range of topics for colorectal cancer patients and caregivers, including:
- Doc Talks from leading clinicians
- Education and inspiration from our patient and caregiver staff
- Medical education from our partners – learn like the docs do!
We thank our University sponsor, Thermo Fisher, for their support of this project.
COLONTOWN Doc Talk Series
April 5, 2021 – This spring, COLONTOWN presents a series of Zoom talks for colorectal patients and caregivers with some of the leading clinicians in the U.S.
You can catch up on all our Doc Talks in COLONTOWN University’s The Lecture Hall. It’s free and open to all!
PALTOWN 2020 Annual Report
March 3, 2021 – Our yearly summary has arrived! Meet some of PALTOWN’s amazing people and get up to speed on our programs and operations with this short snapshot of 2020.
COLONTOWN Junior: a new community space
January 21, 2021 – COLONTOWN Junior is a new community for families impacted by pediatric colorectal cancer. Parents and caregivers of crc patients under 21 are invited to join COLONTOWN Junior. Experienced COLONTOWN administrators help families find the support and resources they need.
Second Opinion Project Launches
January 20, 2021 – PALTOWN is excited to announce the Second Opinion Project, supported by the Lu Family Fund. The Project provides financial assistance to stage iv colorectal cancer patients seeking second opinions and new treatment options.
Co-Founder Erika Brown Leaves PALTOWN
January 18, 2021 – COLONTOWN’s Founding Mayor and PALTOWN Co-founder Erika Hanson Brown is moving forward in her quest for increased patient empowerment in healthcare through new ventures in 2021. The PALTOWN Board of Directors extends deep gratitude to Erika for her work and leadership.
Video Series: Stage IV to NED
PALTOWN presents the stories of stage iv colorectal cancer patients with “no evidence of disease” (NED). COLONTOWN Mayor Lindsey Emma introduces these inspiring COLONTOWN members.
