Our friend, Elizabeth Parcells appears in an online video singing The Last Rose of Summer.  Elzabeth, a coloratura soprano, died of colon cancer last December.

She had many friends among colorectal cancer patients and survivors and was an inspiration to members of the ACOR Colon Cancer Discussion List.

Before her death, she worked hard on a website to bring her music to the public and to advocate for screening to prevent colorectal cancer.

And the kicker is, this cancer is indeed preventable.  With timely screening, a colonoscopy by age 50 at the very latest, many cases can be treated effectively and even cured in the early stages.  It is my most fervent wish that everyone who is at all at risk (family history, age, colitis, dumb luck) make that vital appointment for a colonoscopy and avoid becoming dangerously ill.  Remember, denial kills.  I pray for you every night.  Elizabeth Parcells

We spend much of our time at C3 building and equipping advocates who can make the difference in the fight against colorectal cancer. And yes, we often focus our advocates’ attention on what they can do to influence Congress – the House and Senate.

Tuesday, November 7 represents perhaps your easiest and your most important means for influencing Congress. You and your neighbors will determine just who the Congress is.

C3 is not in the business of endorsing candidates. Not only are we not allowed to do so, we don’t think it would be a good idea for us to do so! You see, at C3 we are concerned with one thing and one thing only: fighting colorectal cancer. It’s why we exist.

But we also like to think that there is more to us as people than just that fight. True, it might be the most important thing that you and we are doing right now, but we believe we’re well-rounded enough to know that there are other important, life-changing issues in our lives, too. C3 will never tell you to be a single-issue voter. We do not believe that our issue of colorectal cancer is the only issue that Representatives and Senators should be concerned with or judged upon. It just isn’t so. We expect our elected officials to be well-rounded individuals, too.

We do hope that colorectal cancer is one of the factors – not the only one – that you take into account when you vote. Will this person be responsive to my needs and to the needs of people with colon cancer and rectal cancer?

We are proud to live where we do – proud to be able to be advocates for our single issue, proud that we have the right and ability to speak up for ourselves and for those who cannot do so, proud that we have the ability to select a government that we believe will be responsive to our needs. And whoever is elected, C3 will be monitoring their votes and actions to ensure that they are responsive on colorectal cancer.

So, please make yourself and us proud on Tuesday by exercising your most fundamental right in this great land. Vote!

Leroy Sievers, prizewinning journalist and NPR Morning Edition commentator, writes a daily blog about his life with metastatic colon cancer.

First diagnosed in 2001 with colon cancer, he found out four years later that the cancer had spread to his brain, lungs, and spine.

Cancer patients will recognize the emotions and situations he puts into words so wonderfully and honestly each day.

After that day, your life is never the same. “That day” is the day the doctor tells you, “You have cancer.” Every one of us knows someone who’s had to face that news. It’s scary, it’s sad. But it’s still life, and it’s a life worth living. “My Cancer” is a daily account of my life and my fight with cancer.

You can listen to October 30th NPR commentary on his positive scan results, autumn leaves, Halloween parties, and hope.  He says, “Hope is a new sensation. I don’t want to overdo it.”

There is  a connection to the daily blog is available via e-mail and RSS feed.  In addition, Sievers records a weekly podcast.