Richard Goldberg

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. In fact, about 52,000 men and women will die from colorectal cancer this year. The Breaking Boundaries program, conducted by C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition helps raise awareness for the disease, and seeks to break down the boundaries that can limit treatment for older colorectal cancer patients. Recent research shows that combination chemotherapy after surgery has similar safety and efficacy profiles for patients over 65 and for younger patients. Combination chemotherapy has been recognized by many institution guidelines as standard of care, but is often not used to treat older patients because of the potential for co-existing health conditions. Three individuals age 65 and older who have been successfully treated with surgery and combination chemotherapy for colorectal cancer are being honored as 2008 Breaking Boundaries award recipients for their valuable leadership and advocacy contributions to their local communities. Carol Larson, two of the award recipients, exemplify what can be achieved when the barriers to treatment are broken down for older patients and are role models for other people with colorectal cancer. Their advocacy and patient education contributions have helped others in their fight against colorectal cancer and provided advice to family and friends who have been touched by the disease. Dr. Richard Goldberg is Professor of Medicine, Chief of Hematology and Oncology, Physician-in-Chief of the North Carolina Cancer Hospital and the Associate Director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Goldberg was listed in Best Doctors since 2001 and Who’s Who in Medical Sciences Education; he is a recipient of the Mayo Clinic Individual Achievement Award 2003, the Chair of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Committee for the Cooperative Oncology Research Group Cancer and Acute Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and the President of the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology (ISGIO). https://videos.whiteblox.com/gnb/secure/player.aspx?sid=47183