John Stossel from the Fox Business Network asks this very important question. Next he asks “Who owns your body?” You can watch his documentary as he weighs in on whether the government should have control over our bodies and the medications we take.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4056081/who-owns-your-body/?playlist_id=87050

This touches all of us at CareToLive since we have been fighting the FDA for three years now for Provenge access for late stage prostate cancer patients. Stossel includes footage from the FDA Rally we held in Rockville, Maryland on September 18, 2007, with myself included at the Rockville Rally.

Stossel uses video of our beloved Bruce Tower. Bruce died while waiting for the FDA to approve Provenge, never having been able to receive it himself. He did participate in the Dendreon Trials, but he unfortunately only received a placebo, and not the actual immunotherapy.

The memory of Bruce, along with other CTL members, Stephen Study, John Fish, Howard Cassell, and Richard Ripp, makes us want to shout right along with John Stossel when he tells the FDA, “Why don’t you just butt out?”

The FDA can say it makes its decision based on science but we know that is all a bunch of baloney. Even Forbes writer, Matthew Herper, can tell you that. Remember this quote from his article back in April 2007:

Provenge’s fate “will be determined by unpredictable politics at the Food and Drug Administration, not the certainties of science.”

And then there was the testimony by Harry Markopolos before Congress during the Bernie Madoff investigation:

Congressman: Are you familiar with the concept of capture when you are talking about regulation? What is that? Do you know that concept?

Harry Markopolos: Yes. It’s basically when the regulator is in bed with the industry they purport to regulate and do not regulate the industry. In fact, they consider the industry the client, not the public citizens.

Congressman: And have you seen that in action.

Harry Markopolos: Yes. At the Food and Drug Administration and at the SEC.

Excerpt starts at 14:14  http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1021435842

Care To Live is glad to hear Harry Markopolos has written a book called “No One Would Listen”  due out March 2nd.

In the meantime, check out John Stossel’s report and then write to your Senators and Congressmen and tell them to tell the FDA to butt out!

Hey, FDA, approve Provenge NOW!

Popularity: 38%

In Memoriam: August 24, 2009
Remembering Bruce Tower

On September 17th, 2007, I arrived at JJ Muldoon’s Pub in Gaithersburg Maryland around 9 PM. Before too long, I heard the thunderous voice of a distinguished looking gentleman. He was being escorted to a mini-van by a woman whom I found out was one of our heroines, Melody Davis. Many around them were making a fuss. As the word spread the atmosphere became electrifying. It’s when we all realized who this man was.

Bruce, suffering from late stage prostate cancer, was not in the best physical condition, but he nonetheless made the trip to Maryland to help us protest the next day outside the FDA Headquarters in Rockville. His gut-wrenching speech captured the audience and delivered the message. Many men, like him, need Provenge NOW. They could be strengthening their immune system, fighting the awful disease we know as prostate cancer.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 2008, I spoke to Bruce on the phone. We chatted a bit and then we discussed our fight for Provenge. It was almost a year now and he was willing to keep fighting right along with us. He gave us permission to use his picture and he wrote a letter which we published as an ad in the Rockville Gazette. It is a sad statement to say we had to pay a lot of money to get the story in the local newspaper in the hometown of the FDA. Several times he appeared on the Andrew Schorr Patient Power radio show with us. He and his wife Carol were there whenever we needed their help.

(click to enlarge)

Week 2 Ad Color caretoliverockvillegazette2ad.pdf

http://caretolive.com/2008-04-09/caretolive-continues-its-in-your-face-ad-campaign-asking-the-fda-to-approve-provenge-for-prostate-cancer-now/

In his letter, Bruce made a simple plea. “Here is my plea; FDA: Please approve Provenge NOW.”

He could have had it working in his body for over two years. Now he will never get the chance to try Provenge to fight for his life.

I can hardly type this now because I just learned we lost Bruce Tower. The emotions run strong. Sadness for Bruce’s family. Anger for the FDA playing the wrong kind of god and withholding a safe and effective treatment. From everything I learned about Bruce, he was a remarkable man, dedicated to his wife, children and grandchildren. He inspired and taught other kids as a soccer coach. He led by example. He was a fine citizen indeed.

From everything I learned about our modern day government, these self-serving fools in charge could basically not give a damn. They are out of touch. They lost control. They are driving a long train full of people to their death tricking them into thinking they are going over a bridge. I can tell you with certainty, there is no bridge.

The empty promises of Andrew von Eschenbach and the nerve of him, makes my blood run cold with contempt. To me, he is the epitome of the captured FDA as declared by Harry Markopolis. To me, he let his friendship with convicted felon Michael Milken ruin his objective mission to serve the American people. Von Eschenbach double-dipped with the FDA and NCI leadership. He already set the Conflict of Interest stage. How could he keep an eye on it when he was wallowing in it?

Poor Bruce and his family. They should have had better. Their goverment let them down. They paid their taxes for nothing, not to mention the pain Bruce endured in his final days. I heard Bruce handled it like the champion he is. He only wanted to see those around him smile and live the good life.

May God richly reward you, Bruce. You should hear those words of old, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” May God comfort your family. May you rest in peace.

Popularity: 41%

Please join us for our Nationwide Protest of the FDA On May 30th. See details here ctlnatlprotest9.pdf and also visit our rally page for additional details http://caretolive.com/rally/ .

Video of the 2007 Rally at the FDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqAx7uZAS90

We are protesting the terrible decision to deny Ted Girgus and thousands of other men like him with end stage prostate cancer ted-girgus-ad1a.pdf

Ted’s Doctor wants Ted on Provenge NOW!

1 in 6 men get prostate cancer. 27,000 American men die from it every years. Provenge is an immunotherapy that harnesses the bodies healthy cells and retrains them to target the cancer.

On May 28, 2007, in an unprecedented and horrendous decision, the FDA decided to delay treatment to these men.We would like to take a few moments to remember two of our CareToLive members who have passed away since the FDA turned its back on the men without explanation or cause.

We tried to get Congress to hold hearings over the shenanigans that went on at the FDA that day, including conflicts of interest with competing drugs, “leaked letters” and the corruption that took place at the dysfunctional FDA.

Congressman John Dingell (Michigan) and Frank Pallone (New Jersey) decided against a Congressional hearing for all the wrong reasons. You can read their response to those calling for hearings.

They prefer to leave these men seeking Provenge in FDA purgatory. It is over a year since denial of Provenge licensure but the FDA claims the decision is not final, it is just a delay. Congress says they won’t hold hearings because the decision is still pending. Tell that to our Ted Girgus. 2/13/08.

Here is Dingell and Pallone’s passing the buck. micha001.pdfThree Congressmen, Mike Michaud (D) of Maine, Dan Burton (R) of Indiana, and Tim Ryan (D) of Ohio called for a congressional hearing into the conflicts of interest and what went wrong at the FDA causing the delay of Provenge. (click this link) Read the Congressional Letter calling for a Hearing 12/13/07.

It is over a year and so many of our members, like Ted Girgus, who is desperately seeking Provenge, could be on Provenge NOW, getting the benefits that people like Eduardo Garcia and Bruce Tower received, two men who participated in the Provenge trials and are both still around to tell.

Come on Congress. Come on FDA. Do the right thing. APPROVE PROVENGE NOW!

Support the ACCESS ACT CareToLive Member Stephen Study’s son writes about the passing of his fatherwho was never given the chance to receive Provenge“I’ll Never forgive the FDA for what they did to Dad” (click to read)part IIhttp://caretolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/caretoliverockvillegazette4ad-part-2web.pdf

Also please support the ACCESS ACT! http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/a-bill-for-experimental-meds-for-terminally-ill/

Popularity: 40%

4/16/08 The Care To Live Awareness Campaign in the Rockville Gazette, continues to confront the FDA to address our Petition for the FDA to Reconsider their decision to delay Provenge in what was an unprecedented action by them to delay a treatment in an end stage disease where no other options exist, despite the fact that Provenge was voted 17-0 Safe and 13-4 Efficacious by an FDA Advisory Panel.

Please email, print and fax our ads to help increase awareness of the Provenge Debacle so we may reverse this tragedy. It is over a year since the Advisory Panel was convened. 30,000 American men die each year of prostate cancer. 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetimes. We need better, safer treatments NOW! The FDA needs to address the needs of the men with end stage prostate cancer, and allow them access to the immunotherapy Provenge IMMEDIATELY!

Stephen H. Study Died without ever receiving Provenge. Shame on those individuals at the FDA responsible for this genocide. They are so concerned about selling men drugs to enhance their sex lives, and have completely ignored the real needs of our men, the approval of drugs that have prolonged survival. Some men who received Provenge in trials are alive 6 years longer.

Week #3 Color Ad caretoliverockvillegazettesstudyad3a.pdf

Week #3 Black & White Ad caretoliverockvillegazettesstudyad3abw.pdf

Popularity: 36%

WEEK #2

Week 2 Ad Color caretoliverockvillegazette2ad.pdf

Week 2 Ad Black & White caretoliverockvillegazette2adbw.pdf

Popularity: 26%