TCF News

Considering Whether Criteria for Clinical Trials Exclude Too Many Patients

Clinical trials are a critical part of the development of new treatments. They rely on people who volunteer to participate and are then closely monitored by medical professionals in order to determine whether an investigational medicine is safe and effective for patients to use. When there is no treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific disease or when no approved treatments are successful for an individual patient, a clinical trial may offer the best chance of survival. This is especially true in rare cancers, which often have no FDA-approved treatment. Continue reading

Announcing new 2018 grants

As our programs at TargetCancer Foundation continue to expand, we remain committed to our primary mission of funding innovative rare cancer research.

We are excited to announce three new grants totaling over $160,000, supporting projects that accelerate progress towards treatments for those facing rare cancers.

Continue reading

Running Against Cholangiocarcinoma in the 2018 Boston Marathon

By Karen Dempsey, TargetCancer Foundation Advocacy Council Member

Though researchers classify cholangiocarcinoma as a rare cancer, we know the reach of the disease is long. With every patient diagnosed, countless friends, family members, colleagues and classmates are impacted. This year’s TargetCancer Foundation Boston Marathon team is emblematic of that impact. All three team members are running to honor someone lost to cholangiocarcinoma. Continue reading

Right to try, access, and safety.

2018 Cholangiocarcioma Foundation Annual Conference: Life-changing, Engaging, and Emotional

By Kim Balkus, TargetCancer Foundation Advocacy Council Member

Writing a blog post after attending the 2018 Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Annual Conference sounds like an easy task, right? Quite the contrary. I returned home from the conference almost two weeks ago. It was an amazing experience! I met new friends and connected with friends I had met at TargetCancer Foundation events in the past. I have never attended a conference with subject matter so close to my heart. I even knew that I would be writing a blog post upon my return. I have thought about the blog post and written it in my head daily since my return. Putting my experience into words has proven to be so much harder! Continue reading

TARGETCANCER FOUNDATION GALA SPOTLIGHT: JONATHAN THE PAINTER

Leading up to the 8th Annual TargetCancer Foundation Gala, we will be sharing stories and perspectives on the gala from many of the people who make up the TargetCancer Foundation community. 

At the 2017 Gala, we are incredibly fortunate to have a special guest joining us: Jonathan Zuker, also known as Jonathan the Painter. Jonathan will be live painting a scene at the Gala, and at the end of the night we will auction off the completed painting.  Continue reading

TARGETCANCER FOUNDATION GALA SPOTLIGHT: LISA CRAINE

Leading up to the 8th Annual TargetCancer Foundation Gala, we will be sharing stories and perspectives on the gala from many of the people who make up the TargetCancer Foundation community. 

Lisa Craine is a patient advocate, a patient mentor, and a cholangiocarcinoma survivor. TargetCancer Foundation was fortunate to have her as a featured speaker at the 2016 Gala. Pictured above are Lisa and TargetCancer Foundation volunteer Jamie Dickerson.  Continue reading

TARGETCANCER FOUNDATION GALA SPOTLIGHT: A FUTURE FASHION MOGUL

Leading up to the 8th Annual TargetCancer Foundation Gala, we will be sharing stories and perspectives on the gala from many of the people who make up the TargetCancer Foundation community. 

In this post, Lauren (age 12) talks about using her “Day as a Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Designer in New York” item that she won in the 2016 gala auction.  Continue reading

A New Rare Cancer Partnership

How do you define a rare cancer?

This is one the most commonly asked questions we receive- and the answer isn’t a simple one. While the default factor cited usually involves the number of patients affected by the disease, that can vary dramatically, from as few as a handful of people a year to as many as 20,000. As a result, the most definitive criteria are often determined by the treatment and research landscape: Continue reading

Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill 2017

Citizen Advocacy – DC legislators welcome our passionate voices during Rare Disease Week 2017

by Bill Drake, TargetCancer Foundation Advocacy Council Member and Rare Disease Advocate 

While my esophageal cancer remains in a state of remission, I’ve been seeking opportunities to help support the efforts of organizations like TargetCancer Foundation. Continue reading