“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

~ Margaret Mead

17 years.

It is hard to believe that much time has passed since my kids and I said goodbye to my true love and the dad they adored.

He left a space that can’t be filled. For most of the past 17 years, I think I have tried to heal that emptiness by working to keep other people from knowing it as well as I do.

A Community with One Goal

Throughout all these years, I have had the honor of meeting lots of amazing people who are part of our ECAN community.

Many are researchers who are helping us understand this devastating disease and developing new tools that I believe can lead us to widespread prevention and effective treatments for those who are diagnosed.  Some know the same loss we have and want to make a difference for others.  And it lifts my spirits that I know many, many survivors of Esophageal Cancer.

But right now others are in the fight of their life – and the fight for their life.

Too Many, Too Young

Monte was in his 60’s when we lost him, but today it is the younger patients who have just gotten a start in their lives who twist my heart in two. We’ve seen a tripling of EC among younger patients in recent years.

Even though we never met in person, our interactions over time made me feel particularly close to one young patient. Serenity Shanklin was a no-nonsense, good-hearted, creative woman who, after years of showing no evidence of disease following treatment for Stage I Esophageal Cancer, discovered the beast was back with a vengeance.

By then, Serenity had a beautiful family: a loving husband and adorable little girl who had her mom’s straight-talking attitude – and good humor. Over several years, Serenity stayed vigilant, constantly seeking the best path to survival, even while sometimes needing to battle the healthcare system.

One year ago, Serenity’s husband Sean wrote to let me know that Serenity passed away – on the anniversary of Monte’s death. “I find it a little comforting that we will share an anniversary as meaningful as this,” he wrote. The memory of Serenity will stay with me always.

Far too many of us in this ECAN family have lived this heartbreak. But I believe our work to make a difference can be healing.

 The Path Moves Upward

I’m encouraged that the world for Esophageal Cancer patients today is so different from when Monte was diagnosed. In those days, by and large, a Stage IV diagnosis was a death sentence.

And that is far from the truth today. More and more new therapies are being introduced for our patients and some exciting new research really bolsters my sense of hope. It’s why we work so hard to make sure you are aware of all these new developments.

But even though we have seen the overall

five-year survival rate climb from 15% to 22% – and we have many more long-term survivors – as long as we are losing patients like Serenity, we are far from where we need to be.

We cannot stop.

Everyone Can Make a Difference

That’s why I hope that during this April’s Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, you will take the time to do something to make a difference.

ECAN is personal to me, and I am grateful that it is personal to so many of you as well. I think ECAN has shown that there is much each of us can do, even when we think we have no power.

Just telling people you know that reflux disease can cause cancer can be life-saving. We all can do that.

But I hope you will consider digging a little deeper, going outside your comfort zone, taking an action that can help us keep this positive momentum going for everyone at risk for and diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer.

Here are examples of actions you can take right now to make a difference:

  • You can go to BeatEC.org to let Congress know how important Esophageal Cancer research is to you. It just takes a moment of your time and we’ve proven that it can lead to many millions in new research funding – more than $20 million so far. And right now your voice is more important than ever to maintain the funding so desperately needed.
  • Go to ECAM2025.org to get involved in many ways to share a life-saving message during Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month which begins on Tuesday.
  • For those who are with us for the long haul, please consider joining ECAN’s Fight Club – a dedicated group of donors who give to ECAN every month to make sure there is always someone in the ring fighting for those at risk for Esophageal Cancer.
  • Take Steps to Save Lives from April 22 – 29 by joining our only Virtual 5K this year (it’s not too late to sign up!)
  • Wear your Periwinkle and post it online for Periwinkle Power Day on Friday, April 18th. Our goal is to Paint the Web Periwinkle! Our Buy Periwinkle store can help you out if you don’t have the periwinkle gear you need!
  • If you can make a one-time gift, we try to make it quick and easy at GivetoSaveLives.org. We hope you will agree that investment in ECAN will pay off in meaningful progress!

So many of you have developed your own ways to make an important difference – and there would be no ECAN without you!

Thank You!
For all you have done to support ECAN’s mission, please accept my thanks and the thanks of my family and the other families for whom ECAN’s mission to save lives is personal.

Never doubt the important role you have played to bring us closer to the day when nobody has to remember the anniversary of their loved one’s death because of Esophageal Cancer.

All my best,

Mindy Mintz Mordecai
ECAN President & CEO