Gerritsen Beach Cancer Survivor Dan Foster Honored At Borough Hall
Gerritsen Beach colon cancer survivor Dan Foster was honored at Borough Hall last week for his longtime advocacy and fundraising to support others fighting the disease.
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz presented Foster with with a resolution recognizing his achievements at an event hosted Thursday by the Borough President for “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.”
“I’ve known Dan for many years and his non-stop advocacy and positive energy are remarkable to watch,” Cymbrowitz said in a press release. “He takes some of the fear out of colon cancer by reminding people that it’s survivable and you can lead a vital and fulfilling life after treatment.”
Foster is a 20-year colon cancer survivor and founder of Dan’s 5K Fun Run, an annual event in Gerritsen Beach that has raised thousands of dollars to support colorectal cancer research. He is also a longtime volunteer for the Colon Cancer Alliance, Inc. and works to encourage others to get regular checkups.
Cymbrowitz has also promoted colon cancer awareness. He has hosted colon cancer screenings at his office and organizes a yearly health fair in honor of his late wife, former Assemblywoman Lena Cymbrowitz, who died of colon cancer in 2000.
“Despite the widespread availability of effective screenings, adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines lags behind compliance for other cancers,” Cymbrowitz said. “The month of March is a chance to prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths. It is my personal resolution that no one should ever again die needlessly from this disease.”
Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States among both men and women, according to The National Cancer Institute. It’s also the the second deadliest cancer in New York City, killing about 1,400 people each year, reports the New York Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition.
However, the disease is highly curable if its caught in the early stages. The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, which manages Coney Island Hospital, announced Tuesday they are encouraging people to get screened by offering affordable colonoscopies to patients, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.
“Our intent is to make colon cancer screening a routine part of preventive health care for everyone over the age of 50. Effective early detection of avoidable cancers is an important public health goal,” said Health and Hospitals President Dr. Ram Raju.