Cancer Survivor Advocates for Black Men After Early Screening

When Justin Lewis noticed blood in his stool and severe stomach cramps at age 34, doctors repeatedly told him nothing was wrong. After pushing for a colonoscopy despite multiple dismissals, he discovered the truth: a foot-long mass of Stage 2A colon cancer that had been silently growing inside him for ten years.

"You wouldn't be sitting here talking to me," Lewis said about what would have happened without early treatment. His diagnosis came in 2022 after months of urgent care visits and being sent home with reassurances.

The news hit him like a truck. Lewis spent three days in shock, calling family members one by one before finally breaking down on day three.

On May 16, his daughter's fifth birthday, Lewis underwent surgery to remove a foot of his colon. The next day, doctors confirmed it was Stage 2A cancer with no prior symptoms for an entire decade.

Now three years cancer-free, the 37-year-old Chula Vista resident is turning his second chance into a powerful advocacy mission. He's specifically targeting Black men, who face sobering statistics in the fight against colorectal cancer.

"We suffer from this disease at a higher rate than anybody else," Lewis explained. "We have a 40% higher mortality rate."

The data backs up his urgency: Black men have the lowest colorectal cancer screening rates in the United States. Combined with higher mortality rates, this creates a preventable health crisis in the community.

Lewis stays vigilant with regular checkups and is taking his advocacy to the next level. He's entering a coaching certification program to become a resource for patients who need guidance and support through their screening journey.

The Ripple Effect

Lewis' story arrives during Colon Cancer Awareness Month, but his impact reaches far beyond March. By sharing his experience openly, he's creating pathways for conversations that could save countless lives in communities where screening rates remain dangerously low.

His partnership with Kaiser Permanente gives him a platform to reach other patients who might be ignoring symptoms or accepting dismissals from medical providers. Each person he convinces to get screened creates another potential early detection story.

The certification program he's pursuing will formalize his role as a patient advocate, ensuring his message reaches even more people who need to hear it. His lived experience combined with professional training could become a powerful combination for community health outreach.

"If you say you wanna live, live for those whom you love because they need you here," Lewis said, transforming his decade of silent cancer growth into a rallying cry for early detection.