Guest Blogger: Bill Couzens, Founder, Less Cancer
In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I asked my good friend, Bill Couzens, Founder of Less Cancer to write something for us…
Several years ago when a dear friend died of breast cancer I wanted to do something that would make a difference. In response, I became co-founder for a fund that would pay for mammograms at a small hospital in Virginia. At the time I thought it a great idea, and year after year the fund continued to serve more and more patients. Each year the numbers were climbing -and I was at first excited about the response -until the realization of what was happening -yes -good work- but the reality of what this all meant- that there was more cancer.
Armed with good intentions, it was clear that we were helping people help themselves with early diagnoses, and we were part of a life saving process. That said while we were helpful in helping others win the individual battles for cancer patients, we were getting nowhere with the war on cancer. There was nothing we were doing to eliminate the increasing incidences of cancer. Year after year it was more mammograms and more cancer -not Less Cancer.
Despite Richard Nixon’s efforts in 1971 to launch the War on Cancer, the problem has not been solved, and in fact has multiplied. Nearly a lifetime and countless billions later, identifying and treating cancer has become its own economy.
We live in a time when cancer has become so commonplace, that the news of new cases of cancer seems almost expected.
If two-thirds of cancer is thought to come from outside of the body (as opposed to the 1/3 thought to be genetic) we need to reexamine the choices we make and realize if there is the possibility to further understand cancer risks. We know in some cases as with tobacco, sunlight, viruses, alcohol, obesity and some chemicals, we can prevent cancer risks.
When we work to prevent cancer risks, it impacts human health, the environment and the economy.
Today we have staggering environmental health statistics which include 12.8 million missed school days due to asthma; or the fact in the last 30 years, childhood obesity has more than tripled; or the fact that from the 1970’s through 2004, brain cancer has increased by nearly 40%, and leukemia by over 60% in children under 14.
The Less Cancer work is all about the long range plan for change -as an organization we are investing in individuals, families, and communities in over 20 countries around the world, with information that is the basis for healthier choices.
We have been responsible for, and founders of Cancer Prevention Day in Virginia, and now legislation in Michigan for Cancer Prevention Day- both on February 4th.
The concept of Less Cancer was brought to communities by our founding organization, Next Generation Choices Foundation. Previous to 2004 there was very little about the notion of Less Cancer, but rather was more described in terms of “beat”, “cure” and “early detection” . Less Cancer has been an leader in driving awareness for “Less Cancer.” We have see how our work has influenced the “organic”,”green” and “local” marketing and is easily measured by web analysis. We understand our role in seeing people make the choices that reduce risk to human health, the environment and the economy.
While we have made in-roads, we still have so much work to do in the area of reducing cancer risk. A recent report published in Lancet Oncology, this last September, put the worldwide cost burden for cancer care at $895 billion in 2008. By 2030 there will be at least 22 million new cancer patients, and new cancers are estimated to tack on another $286 billion in costs.
The war on cancer must include the work for prevention. We have more cancer now than ever before-not Less.
-Bill Couzens
Thanks Bill. Please vist Less Cancer at www.lesscancer.org and consider making a donation to this worthy cause.
