...perchance to dream...

A few days ago this country marked the 40^th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  From time to time in this past week I have pulled out my copy of his essential writings and speeches and refreshed my memory of this amazingly inspirational body of literature.  And, as is inevitable when thinking about King, I began to reflect on dreams, and the ability to bring about change.

I took on the job of CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance for one reason—I believe we can change the world.  Reflecting on the paths others have taken to usher in transformation is helpful, even essential.  Let me be very clear.  I do not compare myself to Dr. King, nor do I compare the work of CCA to the remarkable accomplishments of the movement he shepherded.  I do hope, though, we can learn some lessons from him and from others who have dared to work for change.  Here is what I think:

Change requires, first of all, vision.  The absolute conviction that transformation can occur.  Last fall we all read the reports—featured on the front page of papers across the country--that deaths from cancer had declined.  But if you read the details, you find that the change is a matter of 2-3 percentage points.  In contrast, if everyone were screened for colorectal cancer, death rates would drop by 80% or more! I believe we can accomplish this.  I believe we can cut the number of deaths from 50,000 a year to fewer than 10,000.  I believe we can relegate this disease to a footnote in the history of cancer. And I, for one, will not be satisfied with efforts and interventions that increase compliance by 5%.  Or 10%.  That, to me, is a failure of vision.

Change requires risk, exposing yourself to the possibility of failure.  At CCA, we have created new tools and programs designed to be aggressive about the importance of screening.  A new “scratch off” screening awareness tool asks the question, “Do you want to die of colon cancer?”  (Drop me a note if you want one and I will send a copy to you.)  The Undy 5000 calls on people to participate in a 5k run/walk wearing their boxer shorts.  These things will offend some people.  Some groups will want to distance themselves from messages that are too harsh or edgy.  But they will also get people talking about this disease.  Frankly, if we don’t take the risk to do outrageous things we will never change the world.  And that is not an option.

Change requires passion.  For me, that one is easy.  I am sick and tired of meeting people who were diagnosed Stage IV simply because no-one ever told them they should be screened.  I am sick and tired of young people going misdiagnosed—told to eat more fiber or drink more water—simply because their doctor didn’t think they could have colon cancer and refused to order a colonoscopy.  I am fed up with call after call after call from people desperately needing a colonoscopy but unable to afford it.  I am talking about people who have family history, abdominal pain, and blood in their stool and can’t get a colonoscopy.  That tens of thousands of people die needlessly in this country every year is nothing short of moral bankruptcy.  This is wrong.  It is evil, and sinister, and shameful, and it must not stand!

In this world we are faced with much that needs changing.  We cannot win all the battles, nor can we forever chase cause after cause, tilting at windmills.  We must, all of us, choose which fights to fight.  So why engage in this one?  Why colorectal cancer, and not any one of the thousands of other causes?  Maybe because this is a fight we can win.  This is a cause in which we can triumph.  Here, in this space, we can absolutely change the world.  Shall we engage the enemy together?

Comments

[Cameron Thornton]

This blog is great. You are so right about the potential for virtual eradication of colorectal cancer via colonoscopy. I agree 100%, that to deprive anyone for anyreason of this live-saving screening device is abhorent and downright evil. It's also economically stupid, as colonoscopy is a lot less expensive than treatment of colorectal cancer. It is inhumane to deprive anyone of this livesaving procedure. While we have come a long way, most of the patient population did NOT have a screening colonoscopy prior to their diagnosis. I personally believe the recommended screening age should be reduced to @25 years, not 50.